I guess we had it coming. With a bunch of extremists acting as cheerleaders for the government waving imaginary pompoms and doing verbal cheer routines, what else can we expect? Home Minister Umar Naseer signed an order mandating Maldives Correctional Services to implement the death penalty couple of days ago. What's worse, he says it's unnecessary to wait for formulation of necessary regulations. According to this article in Minivan News, he says “We will not wait for laws to be drafted and passed. The law allows for implementation, and it is at the discretion of the home minister to order implementation". The minister has ordered to set up the necessary equipment and set up to execute the death sentence through lethal injection at Maafushi prison. This worries me no end.
This decision on capital punishment came close at heels of the verdict of a very high profile case - the brutal murder of MP and religious scholar Dr Afrasheem in October 2012. Hussain Humaam Ahmed was found guilty of the murder and sentenced to die. This verdict itself was highly disturbing. It is not secret that Humaam has given incredibly contradicting statements regarding the murder of Dr Afrasheem. He has even denied any involvement at one point. This haphazard nature of his confessions had always had me racking my brains. Especially why nobody is concerned about the motive. Why would Humaam, admittedly a youth with quite a colorful track record, want to target this politician and scholar? While Humaam's previous crimes have involved violence they have been regarding gang rivalries and such conflicts. Dr Afrasheem seem so far removed from this world of gangs and drugs and crime. Is it likely for Humaam to just get it in his head one day to attack Dr Afrasheem on his doorstep and kill him? But once Humaam was framed arrested no other questions seem to be asked. And following a long delayed and much talked about trial, the sentence is out. He is sentenced to death, and thanks to the Home Minister's sudden order, it might actually be carried out. The sliver of hope that remains is President Yameen has stated that the Minister's decision had not been discussed at cabinet and perhaps the rest of the cabinet might, just might, take a vehement stand against this order.
I've always worried too much of John Grisham and Tom Crichton books will end me up looking for intricate plots and conspiracies in the most simplest of things. However I don't think this is one of those instances. I don't think I'm blowing it out of proportion to say I think Humaam is sent to his death to cover up something far bigger regarding this mysterious and shocking murder. The entire country remembers what Minister Naseer has said during his time campaigning in the presidential primary election against current president Abdulla Yameen. Half of them might deny or might choose not to recall, but we know what we heard. He did insinuate that President Yameen was responsible for a wide array of wrongdoings happening in society, had connections with gangs and drug lords, and most shockingly that he had some involvement in Dr Afrasheem's murder. He specifically said a youth who was suspected of being involved was seen with Yameen. After famously leaving their party PPM following his defeat in the primary elections, he is now back as the Home Minister of the current coalition government. He is now serving the very person he alleged was involved in such heinous activities. This alone is mind boggling. But what's more alarming is that he is now rushing to put to death the person supposedly connected with the murder he had accused Yameen of being involved in. We all connect the dots. Why are we not saying anything?
Lets leave my conspiracies aside. Let's look at the dismal state of our judiciary. I think it'd be safe to say that the majority of the country understand and accept that our judiciary needs urgent and extensive reform. We acknowledge numerous cases of gross miscarriage of justice, and people from differing political ideologies can agree on this one issue. Do we really think we should let these dubious judges decide the fate of a human being? Can we trust them to make just fair judgments knowing what we know about the state of judges and the judiciary? Can we leave people's lives in their hands? Whenever I say this people jump quickly to label me unIslamic or 'laadheenee', completely missing the point that I'm more worried about the people who make these judgments, about the failed system that the country has lost faith in, about taking an innocent life. I am emphasizing the fact that Islam emphasizes the death sentence should not be executed even if there is the slightest doubt. And in cases as Humaam's there is so much of it!
I always say we Maldivians love to poke our noses into other people's business. But when it really matters that we speak up, sadly we don't.
Friday, January 24, 2014
Off With Your Head! Capital Punishment in the Maldives
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Nobody knows who killed Afrasheem. It's likely that Humam was contracted to do it. But in the end, who knows?
ReplyDeleteAt first the murder was pinned on MDP, and I understand they even arrested some MDP members initially only to release them after a short while. For the life of me I cannot imagine what the MDP would have to gain from Afrasheem's death. Afrasheem was a moderate religious scholar who vehemently opposed the extremist Wahhabi and Salafist ideologies. Afrasheem's death could only have been a loss, not only to MDP, but to the whole country which is still laregly religiously moderate.
So I found myself asking, what group of Maldivians has a habit of assassinating those who oppose their ideology? I leave you to think about the answer.
Humam coukd have been contracted but by whom and with what motive. Yes they trie to pin it on MDP but they couldn't. I'm sure if there was any connection even most remotely they would have exposed the link. They tried every dirty trick during elections after all. Its obvious there is none, and like you said Dr Afrasheem was the religious scholar who spoke most in line with MDP policies. His death was a terrible blow and loss. Hopefully the real people behind his murder will be exposed!
DeleteI think Humam was just a "patsy" Who ever thinks about this clearly knows that there is something hidden up in this. Something "some" doesn't want us to know. Quite frankly though the ppl in power right now, labels the late Afrasheem as a "shaheed" it was them who mocked him..It was them who made his life unbearable when he was alive.
ReplyDeleteAnyway back to the topic;
Capital punishment!! Well I believe no govt should have the right to kill, No one should. Some may say that the state is acting on behalf of the person murdered. Which reminds us of the quote by Gandhi "An eye for an eye would leave the whole world blind"
Yes I too believe Humam was framed or he was involved but the real people behind his involvement and who masterminded this awful crime are protected, for whatever reason. Maybe we'll never know. Sadly half the population are fine not knowing. They dont want to think about these things and that does bug me. Too many loose ends and too many unanswered questions here, it will be a crime to put him to death without getting to the depths of the murder.
DeleteVery true!! The recent attack on MP Alhan is a good example of whats going to come when the "masterminds" are left to roam free
ReplyDelete