Former Chief Justice Ahmed Abdulla Didi said the 14 May removal of Supreme Court Justices Mahaz Ali Zahir and Azmiralda Zahir was unconstitutional, making their replacements' appointments invalid and leaving a 'de facto court'. The UN Human Rights Office also expressed concern over the dismissals, which were backed by 68 MPs and opposed by 11 MDP lawmakers.
One outlet so far Only Maldives Republic has reported this among the sources we monitor. A gap in what we monitor, not proof that others did not report it.
It is a principle that after the removal of judges under an unconstitutionally invalid procedure, the judges appointed must also be appointed under an invalid procedure,
Any court formed without the appointment of judges under a constitutionally valid procedure will be considered a de facto court
The dismissal by the Maldives Parliament of two Supreme Court justices raises serious concerns about respect for the independence of the judiciary,
Checks and balances between the different branches of the State, including a strong and independent judiciary, play a vital role in ensuring fidelity to the rule of law by all branches of Government and the effective protection of human ri…
Nothing to compare yet. If another monitored source reports it, its headline appears beside this one.
The final vote saw 68 MPs supporting the dismissals, while 11 opposition lawmakers from the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) voted against.
Word for word from the report in Maldives Republic. Open the report
The final vote saw 68 MPs supporting the dismissals, while 11 opposition lawmakers from the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) voted against.
Word for word from the report in Maldives Republic. Open the report
Earlier reports gave 11 MPs 20 May, 17:14 Maldives Republic
The final vote saw 68 MPs supporting the dismissals, while 11 opposition lawmakers from the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) voted against.
Word for word from the report in Maldives Republic. Open the report
The justices were removed following an investigation by the JSC and the Anti-Corruption Commission, initiated in February 2025
Word for word from the report in Maldives Republic. Open the report
Last week, the United Nations expressed serious concern over the dismissals, warning that the actions of the Maldivian Parliament and the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) posed a threat to the independence of the judiciary.
Word for word from the report in Maldives Republic. Open the report
In the days that followed, a third justice resigned and Chief Justice Ahmed Muthasim Adnan retired, sparking further concerns about judicial independence.
Word for word from the report in Maldives Republic. Open the report
