The Human Rights Commission today condemned remarks made at a public meeting in Henveiru that sexually harassed Supreme Court Justice Aisha Shujoon. At a meeting held at Kalafanu School on the 7th of this month where President Dr. Muizzu met with citizens, Sheikh Iyaz Abdul Lateef’s father Abdul Lateef Umar criticized Shujoon for not wearing a burqa while serving on the Supreme Court.

He said that if she wants to hold that position without covering her awra (body), she should go to places like massage parlors where she could get a job and earn a lot of money. However, HRCM’s statement said that using sexually harassing language targeting educated and capable women is an obstacle to women’s advancement. It also said such harassment would create fear in the hearts of women who want to enter public service.

The Commission noted that freedom of expression is not permission to dishonor others. The statement said that harassing a member of the Maldives’ judicial system would diminish the dignity and honor of the entire system. The Commission appealed not to make remarks at public forums that demean human dignity and disrespect others.