Ahmed Shaheed

Ahmed Shaheed (born 1964) is a Maldivian politician. He served as Minister of Foreign Affairs from November 2008 to December 2010; previously, he had served as Minister of Foreign Affairs for two years, from 14 July 2005 until August 20, 2007.

Political career

Shaheed is a career diplomat. Prior to being appointed Foreign Minister, Shaheed served as the first ever Chief Government Spokesperson of Maldives, a ministerial position within the President's Secretariat.

In July 2005, Shaheed used his position as Government Spokesperson to reject the condemnation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the Chief Justice of the Maldives. The Opposition MDP accused him of being the chief "spin doctor" for President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom while independent human rights NGOs such as Hama Jamiyya hail him as a champion of human rights.

He is one of the co-founders of New Maldives, a group within the former regime who spearheaded the drive to make the Maldives a modern liberal democracy. Shaheed is also the founder of the Open Society Association dedicated to the promotion of human rights, tolerance and democracy.

Although a very high profile sponsor of the DRP, he was defeated in his bid to win the Vice Presidency of the Party in April 2006.

Human rights advocacy

Shaheed had come under strident criticism for his advocacy of international human rights norms, such as extending standing invitations to United Nations Human Rights special mandates to visit Maldives and...
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