CSOs Call for Transparency and Due Process in Police Investigation of 18 April Incident
Third-Day Protest of “Dhuleh Nukuraanan” | Photo credit: MV+
Ten civil society organisations have jointly called for transparency, accountability and due process in the Maldives Police Service (MPS) investigation into the serious incident involving a 21-year-old woman in Malé on 18 April 2025.
In a joint statement issued by Transparency Maldives, Family Legal Clinic, Association for Democracy in the Maldives, Mental Health Support Group, Uthema, Project ThimaaVeshi, Ecocare Maldives, Hope for Women, Save Maldives, and Zero Waste Maldives, the organisations expressed grave concern over the conduct of the ongoing investigation and urged all authorities to prioritise the victim’s rights and dignity. They also extended their well wishes for the victim’s full recovery and expressed solidarity with her family and the wider public in calls for justice.
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18 އޭޕްރިލް ގައި ހިނގައިދިޔަ ސީރިޔަސް ހާދިސާއާ ގުޅޭގޮތުން މަދަނީ ޖަމްއިއްޔާތަކުން ގުޅިގެން ނެރޭ ނޫސްބަޔާން.https://t.co/R0YwRFeQ0J pic.twitter.com/OSSBowpRGO— ADMv (@AssocDemocracy) April 27, 2025
The statement outlined three key concerns: the dissemination of information by the police which, according to the organisations, contributed to victim-blaming narratives; delays in conducting required sexual assault testing; and concerns about impunity and preferential treatment for those with political or social connections.
The organisations criticised the Maldives Police Service for disclosing personal information about the victim at a closed-door press conference on 22 April, while withholding other case-related information. They further noted that the public release of CCTV footage during a second press conference on 24 April risked sensationalising the case and perpetuating harmful stereotypes about victims of gender-based violence.
Concerns were also raised regarding procedural delays, specifically in relation to sexual assault testing. The statement cited the family’s claims that initial testing was delayed pending confirmation from the Family Protection Unit, and that the tests were eventually conducted five days after the incident — despite the time-sensitive nature of such examinations.
The organisations highlighted a broader pattern of public disillusionment with the criminal justice system, citing a perceived culture of impunity, lack of accountability, and systemic failures in addressing gender-based violence and substance abuse. They warned that continued preferential treatment for influential individuals risks undermining the rule of law and public confidence in institutions.
In their statement, the organisations issued specific calls to action. They urged the Maldives Police Service to conduct a timely, comprehensive and unbiased investigation, the Prosecutor General’s Office to ensure evidence is properly handled and presented, and the media to adhere to ethical reporting standards that respect the victim’s privacy and dignity.
They also called on the Ministry of Social and Family Development to strengthen survivor support services and introduce reforms to better protect vulnerable communities. The Human Rights Commission of the Maldives was asked to monitor institutional responses and publicly report systemic failures, while the People’s Majlis 241 Committee was urged to carry out a rigorous inquiry into the matter and publish its findings. The National Integrity Commission was called upon to investigate the conduct of the Maldives Police Service independently and transparently.
Additionally, the statement called on all sectors — including the media, politicians and the general public — to avoid victim-blaming and gender-based stereotyping. The organisations emphasised that persistent social issues, if left unaddressed, would continue to undermine the dignity of young people and vulnerable communities.
The statement concluded by noting that youth-led protests demanding justice and transparency reflect growing concerns over the allocation of public funds to law enforcement agencies, amid allegations of selective justice and cover-ups to protect those with influence and wealth. The organisations reiterated the importance of equality before the law, in line with Article 20 of the Maldivian Constitution, and stressed the need for transparent performance reviews to restore public trust in law enforcement authorities.
