The Human Rights Commission of Maldives (HRCM) has strongly condemned the torture and public humiliation of a man accused of theft, describing the act as inhuman and uncivilized.
In a statement issued Wednesday, the commission expressed concern over a video circulating on social media that shows the man being brutally dragged and thrown into the sea. HRCM urged the public not to share such footage, warning that it could normalize violence and erode societal empathy.
The commission emphasized that every individual is presumed innocent until proven guilty under Sharia law, and that vigilante justice undermines the rule of law.
“Attempting to administer justice on one’s own will create a spirit of revenge. Circulating such videos will make society accustomed to such acts and destroy human sympathy,” the statement read.
HRCM called on the public to report such incidents to the relevant authorities and urged law enforcement to investigate the matter.
The video shows a man wearing only jeans being dragged across the ground, pinned down by a booted assailant, and eventually thrown into the sea from a jetty. Bystanders can be seen watching without intervening. The video includes a silent exchange between the man and another individual, with the uploader claiming the man was accused of stealing.
Police said the incident had not been reported initially, but an investigation was launched once it came to their attention.
The incident has sparked debate over disproportionate public reactions to petty theft, with some pointing out that the man was allegedly accused of stealing MVR 15, while others accused of embezzling millions from the state continue to receive public support.