Rights activists condemn 'inhuman' verdict of public flogging for 16-year-old girl in Maldives
Tuesday 04 September 2012
Printable
EmailA Maldives court has ordered the public flogging of a 16-year-old girl who confessed to having pre-marital sex in a ruling that triggered widespread criticism from rights groups today.
A 29-year-old man was given 10 years in jail on Sunday.
Rights activists slammed the judgement and called for it to be overturned.
Human Rights Watch women's rights researcher Aruna Kashyap said: "Degrading and inhuman punishments should find no place in a democracy
"Maldives should immediately halt the punishment and take action to amend its discriminatory laws."
Asian Centre for Human Rights director Suhas Chakma said the sentence reflected the government's intention to consolidate its support among sharia law followers.
"This could be used by the government to say they're committed to Islam," he said.
"Courts are not independent in the Maldives."
He said the lashes were also a breach of the UN Convention against Torture.
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