HRCM Investigates Government's Deportation Threat Against Bangladeshi Protesters

The investigation follows concerns over potential violations of constitutional rights, as the Maldives Constitution and international treaties uphold the right to peaceful assembly for all, including expatriates.

According to Article 21 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and Article 32 of the Maldives Constitution, the right to protest is guaranteed to all persons. The HRCM emphasized this in a statement after Home Minister Ali Ihusan announced plans to deport the protest organizers, citing a breach of visa conditions by engaging in "political activity."

Transparency Maldives, an NGO, also criticized the government's decision, highlighting that imposing visa conditions that infringe on constitutional rights is illegal. They called the move a serious violation of migrants' fundamental rights and expressed concern over the arbitrary arrest, termination, and deportation of migrants in the Maldives. The organization urged the government to reverse the Home Ministry's decision and to ratify the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families.

With migrants constituting 32% of the working population, Transparency Maldives called on both state and non-state actors to ensure the protection of constitutional and international human rights for migrants in the country.