Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) Chairperson Fayyaz Ismail on Sunday criticised the government-proposed amendment to reduce the Supreme Court bench, calling it an attack on judicial independence and a major setback for democracy.
In a post on X, Ismail urged members of Parliament not to support what he described as a “stupid and ugly act” by the government. He also called on the judiciary to protest against the move, warning that it threatens the integrity of the country’s legal system.
“The strongest step taken to reform the judiciary in the Maldives was the change in the Supreme Court bench in 2019,” Ismail said. “Following the filing of a constitutional case, the government resorted to threatening and intimidating judges and is now attempting to reduce their numbers.”
Ismail accused the administration of attempting to undermine judicial independence, likening its actions to “removing the tin sheets from the roof of the Supreme Court.”
His remarks follow a strongly-worded statement from the MDP, which accused President Mohamed Muizzu of attempting to subvert judicial independence and consolidate power. The party criticised Muizzu’s decision to remove Mohamed Sameer from the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) and appoint Yazmeed Mohamed, a former anti-corruption official and parliamentary candidate for the ruling People’s National Congress (PNC), in his place. The MDP called the appointment a “blatant attempt to undermine judicial independence,” noting that Yazmeed has no legal experience.
The JSC, which oversees judicial conduct, plays a key role in appointing and removing judges. The MDP warned that changes to its composition, along with the government-proposed amendment to reduce the number of Supreme Court justices, were aimed at influencing an ongoing constitutional case.
The Supreme Court is currently hearing a case challenging a recent constitutional amendment that would strip lawmakers of their seats if they leave or are expelled from the party under which they were elected. The first hearing took place on 17 February.
The opposition has also alleged that ruling party lawmakers have been instructed to file complaints against Supreme Court justices as part of a broader effort to pressure the judiciary.