Responding to the announcement that the Maldives government has decided to “leave” the Commonwealth because of criticism of its human rights record, Amnesty International’s South Asia Director Champa Patel said:

The Maldives authorities should address their own human rights situation rather than lash out at legitimate criticism

“The Maldives authorities should address their own human rights situation rather than lash out at legitimate criticism.

“Human rights have been in a complete freefall in the country over the past few years. The government has locked up opponents through politically motivated trials and led an unprecedented crackdown on independent media. Authorities have also threatened to end a decades-long moratorium on the death penalty and carry out the first executions in more than 60 years.

“Instead of complaining about unfair treatment, the Maldives government should look at engaging more constructively with the international community.”