IPU has condemned the stabbing of Maldivian opposition MP Alhan Fahmy on 1st February and has called for violence to stop in the country ahead of next month´s parliamentary elections.
A member of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), Fahmy was stabbed in the back in a restaurant in Malé and is receiving treatment after being flown to Sri Lanka.
The attack is the latest act of violence against an MP in a country where many parliamentarians have been victim of arbitrary arrests, attacks and intimidation in recent years. This includes the murder of MP Afrasheem Ali in October 2012.
IPU´s Committee on the Human Rights is currently working on cases involving human rights violations of nearly 25 Maldivian MPs.
IPU believes the Indian Ocean island nation is at a critical juncture with parliamentary elections due to be held on March 22nd. It is calling on new President Abdulla Yameen to keep his promise of reaching out to all political groups to promote reconciliation and unity.
The Organisation is also urging all political sides to remain calm and for full protection to be given to MPs to ensure the elections are conducted peacefully.
IPU has repeatedly voiced its concern about the continued political polarisation in Maldives. The country has been fraught with tension since a contested transfer of power in February 2012 brought an end to the presidency of Mohamed Nasheed.
IPU has carried out several missions to the Maldives, most recently in November last year to meet executive, parliamentary and judicial authorities. The missions were aimed at promoting confidence between state institutions, measures to ensure parliamentary independence and a better understanding of the action taken by the authorities to ensure those responsible for the violence are brought to justice.
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