( CNN ) -- The Maldives overturned a six-decade-old moratorium on capital punishment with the adoption of a new regulation this week that allows for the death penalty to be used to punish certain crimes . The Maldivian government enacted the regulation , which makes provision for execution by lethal injection , for the crimes of premeditated murder or deliberate manslaughter . While the age of criminal responsibility is 10 in the Maldives , some crimes under the country 's Sharia laws -- known as Hadd offenses -- have an age of responsibility of 7 . This means that juveniles could potentially face execution in the archipelago . Execution facilities at the Maldives ' Maafushi Prison were being built to carry out sentences . Since reenacted , 20 people have been sentenced to death , although one of these sentences was overturned by the High Court , a report in the country 's Haveeru newspaper said . Local Maldives media reported that Minister of Home Affairs Umar Naseer defended the decision to reinstate the penalty , saying that the Maldives was suffering from overcrowded prisons and a `` lively criminal environment . '' He was also quoted as saying that the Maldives was `` a hundred percent Islamic country and there are certain values that we all believe in . '' The U.N. and EU have expressed their concerns about the move , which could potentially see minors killed by the state . `` According to the new regulation , minors convicted of intentional murder shall be executed once they turn 18 . Similar provisions in the recently ratified Penal Code , allowing for the application of the death penalty for crimes committed when below the age of 18 , are also deeply regrettable , '' Ravina Shamdasani , a spokeswoman for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights , said in a statement . `` We urge the Government to retain its moratorium on the use of the death penalty in all circumstances , particularly in cases that involve juvenile offenders and to work towards abolishing the practice altogether . '' EU High Representative Catherine Ashton was also `` deeply concerned '' about the adoption of the regulations and urged the Maldives to retain the moratorium on the death penalty . `` The High Representative holds a strong and principled position against the death penalty , '' a statement issued by her office said . `` The death penalty is cruel and inhumane , and has not been shown in any way to act as a deterrent to crime . '' READ MORE : Execution , a 19th-century relic we still ca n't get right .
Maldives reinstates the death penalty after 61 years . The Maldives' new president has said he will reinstate capital punishment for those convicted of murder. U.N and EU have expressed their opposition to the decision .