Government bill would make treason and genocide crimes under the Penal Code

The government has proposed amendments to the Penal Code that would make genocide, treason and acts threatening the Maldives' economic security criminal offences, and increase the penalties for offences against Islam.

The bill (No. 20/2026/B-34) was submitted to the People's Majlis on the government's behalf by Abdulla Rifau, MP for South Maafannu, according to parliamentary records. It was listed for the 10th sitting of Parliament's third session this year.

Treason and economic security

Under the bill, treason would cover waging war against the Maldives, joining a party at war with the country, and siding with an enemy of the Maldives to help it, whether inside the country or abroad.

The bill defines enemies as foreigners who commit acts that harm the Maldives' independence and sovereignty, and Maldivians who join them in such acts.

A separate chapter would make it an offence to deliberately commit an act that could cause substantial damage to the national economy, knowing the likely consequences or with reckless disregard for them. The bill lists examples such as damaging infrastructure or computer systems linked to essential facilities, disrupting essential services, and acting to halt operations in a major revenue-earning sector where this causes substantial economic damage.

Genocide

The bill would add a chapter on genocide, with the stated aim of bringing Maldivian law into line with the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, to which the Maldives is a party. It covers acts against national, ethnic, racial or religious groups, including killing members, causing serious physical or mental harm, imposing conditions of life meant to destroy a group, preventing births and forcibly transferring children. Direct and public incitement to genocide would also be an offence.

The offences would be classed as first-degree crimes carrying prison sentences. Anyone convicted would also be permanently barred from senior state posts and public office.

Attorney General Ahmed Usham said in a post on X on 26 October that the Maldives, which joined the convention on 24 April 1984, had not passed the implementing law the treaty requires. He said the gap could weaken the country's arguments in the genocide cases it has joined at the International Court of Justice, brought by The Gambia against Myanmar and by South Africa against Israel.

The amendments must be passed by Parliament and ratified before they become law.