Uthema

Cases
Case status
Unknown
Location of case in SG report
2021-069-001
Relevant SG report
Year of the report
2021
Country Geolocation

Latitude: 3.202778

Longitude: 73.22068

Country Geolocation (linked Cases)
Maldives
From Region
UN body that raised the case prior to the SG report
  • UN Treaty Bodies: CEDAW
Dates of prior UN action
16 July 2020, 24 February 2021
Type of record
Named organization
Was the victim a foreign national?
No
Was the victim a minor?
No
Individual's/organization's activity

women’s human rights organization

Type of rights defended
  • Women’s rights
Was the victim a civil servant or member of the security forces or of the judiciary?
No
Reported trigger of reprisal

submission to CEDAW. Uthema’s submission was prepared for the consideration of the sixth periodic report of the Maldives (CEDAW/C/MDV/6), initially scheduled for June/July 2020 and rescheduled for October/November 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.Submission was posted online May 2020.

Engagement with UN body
  • UN Treaty Bodies: CEDAW
Dates of engagement
May 2020
Type of attempted engagement
  • Submission of information to UN
Location of mentioned reprisals
Maldives, online
Reprisal information

On 16 July 2020 and 24 February 2021, the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women addressed allegations in writing to the Government of online vilification and threats by religious groups and individuals against members of the women’s human rights organization Uthema, following the publication of its submission to the Committee. Uthema’s submission was prepared for the consideration of the sixth periodic report of the Maldives (CEDAW/C/MDV/6), initially scheduled for June/July 2020 and rescheduled for October/November 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.48 70. In May 2020, following the online posting of the submission, a coordinated campaign on social media was reportedly launched against Uthema, suggesting that its content contravened Islam. The campaign was reportedly led by religious groups and individuals, including religious scholars working in State institutions. The NGO was labelled as an “apostate group” and as an anti-Islamic organization. Some of the posts made explicit references to individual members of the organization and included threatening expressions. A formal complaint was filed with the Maldives Police Service, alerting it to harassment and intimidation against Uthema and direct threats against individuals. On 19 January 2021, the Government responded to the Committee’s confidential letters, providing additional information and addressing key aspects of the case and investigation.

Types of reprisals suffered
  • Defamation / Defamation campaign
  • Online harassment
  • Threats/Intimidations (incl. "fear of reprisal")
Alleged/likely perpetrators
Both state and non-state actors
Was the reprisal based on new legislation?
No
Does the report make general comment about country’s environment for engagement with UN?
No
Government response dates
12 August 2021
Government response content

On 12 August 2021, the Government responded to the note verbale sent in connection to the present report indicating that none of the Government agencies are currently pursuing any measures of penalty against the NGO Uthema. The Government further stated that the Maldives Police Service has decided to not proceed with the case lodged against Uthema based on the evidence obtained and is in the process of filing the case. The Government is in regular contact with the Committee on this matter.

Was the case raised by a State at the UN?
No
Is the country cited for a "pattern of reprisal" in the context of this case?
No
Is a pattern of reprisals mentioned otherwise in the context of this case?
No
Does the report cite "self-censorship" as an issue in the context of this case?
No
How many times has the case been followed up in subsequent SG reports?
1
In which SG report was this case followed up on? 0
2023
Follow up information provided in SG report 0

  1. The case of the women’s human rights organization Uthema and its members was included in the 2021 report of the Secretary-General 124 on allegations of online smearing campaigns, threats by religious groups and individuals, and a police investigation for blasphemy following the publication of its alternative report submitted to the Committee on Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). 125 The Committee addressed the allegations and the Government responded.

  2. According to information received by OHCHR, and following repeated enquiries, Uthema was officially informed by the Maldives Police Service in March 2023 that the case against it has been temporarily put on hold – not closed – due to insufficient evidence. To date, Uthema has reportedly not received updates on the investigation undertaken in response to the communication it submitted in June 2020 to the Maldives Police Service regarding the targeted on-line harassment, intimidation and smear campaign against the organization, including direct threats against individuals affiliated with Uthema.

  3. On 31 July 2023, the Government responded to the note verbale sent in connection to the present report indicating that the Maldives Police Service (MPS) did not carry out an investigation for blasphemy following the publication of Uthema’s alternative report submitted to the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women. The Government noted that MPS investigated the alleged threats and harassment against Uthema members, that most of the social media accounts used for the threats were deactivated at the time when the complaint had been filed and added that the investigation was ongoing to identify the accounts reactivated and their users. It also provided information on another investigation related to a complaint filed against Uthema that MPS filed due to lack of evidence.

Followup Trends 0
Significant positive and negative developments
Did the government respond? 0
Yes