President Mohamed Muizzu on Wednesday appointed Abdulla Hameed and Mohamed Saleem as Supreme Court justices, filling two key vacancies after a contentious shake-up in the judiciary that has drawn sharp criticism from opposition figures and international human rights bodies.
The newly appointed justices were sworn in at a ceremony held at the President’s Office, where Supreme Court Justice Aisha Shujune Muhammad administered the oath of office. The appointments come less than a month after the dismissal of justices Mahaz Ali Zahir and Azmiralda Zahir, which former chief justice Ahmed Abdulla Didi has labelled unconstitutional.
“There is no doubt that the 14 May dismissals violated established laws and procedures,” Didi said in a post on X, warning that judges appointed under such a process form a “de facto court” lacking constitutional legitimacy.
The United Nations has also expressed concern, with spokesperson Jeremy Laurence stating last month that the actions of the Parliament and the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) pose a serious threat to judicial independence.
“The dismissal by the Maldives Parliament of two Supreme Court justices raises serious concerns about respect for the independence of the judiciary,” Laurence said. He added that the lack of due process, including the justices being denied a chance to present their defence or address Parliament, undermines safeguards designed to protect the judiciary from political interference.
The removed justices had been under investigation by the JSC and the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) since February, shortly after the Supreme Court began hearing a politically sensitive challenge to constitutional amendments that could disqualify MPs who switch parties. The same month, Justice Husnu Al Suood resigned, accusing the government of exerting pressure on the court to prevent it from hearing the case.
In a letter to the UN human rights office, Suood claimed that the government, including President Muizzu and Attorney General Ahmed Usham, sought to “seize control” of the judiciary. The opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has echoed these claims, alleging that Muizzu is systematically attempting to dismantle judicial independence and calling for a probe into what it described as executive overreach.
The government has denied any political interference, maintaining that the dismissals were carried out according to proper procedures and were unrelated to the ongoing constitutional case. However, critics highlight that the appointments follow closely after legal changes pushed through by the People’s National Congress (PNC)-led Parliament to reduce the number of Supreme Court justices from seven to five — a move the opposition claims was intended to shift the court’s balance in favour of the ruling party.
Legal experts warn the shake-up could further undermine public confidence in the courts and set a troubling precedent for the separation of powers in the Maldives, a country still finding its democratic footing after years of authoritarian rule.