Where to start???!

Working for a human rights organisation you get used to the organisation being unpopular with governments who don't like being criticised for their violations of human rights. However, sometimes their response is just unbelievable! 

"Amnesty's self-righteous and pretentious claims against flogging, a punishment prescribed not only for fornication..., is and will always be seen as an Islamophobic, racist and spiteful attack on the Maldivan people, intended to inflict hurt."

So flogging doesn't inflict hurt, being against people being flogged inflicts hurt... hmm

There are no words to describe this statement from the Supreme Court of the Maldives. Context: Last week the annual report which assesses human rights worldwide was published. It included this about the Maldives. The Supreme Court has now issued a 3 page press release slating the organisation. In 2013 we worked on the case of a 15 year old girl who had been abused by her step-father and was sentenced to be flogged with 100 lashes for the "crime" of fornication.  

And most people think of the Maldives as a paradise holiday destination!