Author

Shafaa Hameed

Shafaa Hameed is a senior journalist at the Maldives Independent. She first joined the newsroom in 2015 and reported for more than four years until its closure in 2020. Before returning to journalism, she worked as a programme coordinator at the American Center Malé and later with the Consortium for Elections and Political Process Strengthening (CEPPS) and the International Republican Institute (IRI). During her time there, she served as programme officer and later as monitoring, evaluation and learning coordinator, focusing on assessing impact and delivering training under US State Department and USAID-funded initiatives, including the Strong and Inclusive Maldivian Democracy (SIMD) programme. Shafaa rejoined the Maldives Independent in August 2025 following its relaunch.

121 articles

Jailed ex-defense minister brought to Malé for medical treatment

Rumors swirled in Malé that the retired colonel’s 11 year jail-term may be commuted to house arrest, as part of ongoing negotiations between the opposition and the government. But a family member said Nazim was taken back to the low-security ‘Asseyri’ jail in Himmafaushi about an hour after his doctor’s consultation.

23 Jul 2015, 1:00 PM

Council ‘defied’ court order to change un-Islamic Eid banner

The Villigili magistrate court ordered the island’s council to change the phrasing on banners put up on behalf of ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) Saud Hussain, which read, “MP Saud’s Eid Happiness.”

19 Jul 2015, 5:00 PM

Victim’s family welcomes Interpol red notice for murder suspect

The family of murder victim Ahmed Jailam Shakir has welcomed an Interpol red notice issued to locate a suspect and a High Court order for the criminal court to accept the case.

16 Jul 2015, 1:30 PM

UN rights team calls on ex president

A team from the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) met on Tuesday with former president Mohamed Nasheed at his residence, where he remains under house arrest over a terrorism conviction.

15 Jul 2015, 1:00 PM

Indian arrested on child abuse charges, MP seeks publication of sex offenders registry

Opposition Jumhooree Party MP Abdulla Riyaz has meanwhile asked the parliament’s government oversight to investigate the failure to publicise a mandatory national registry of child sex offenders.

14 Jul 2015, 4:49 PM

Elderly man found in Malé lagoon “died of natural causes”

A 71-year-old man identified as Mohamed Jaleel from Galolhu Hemlock was found dead floating in the lagoon in Malé’s northern waterfront last night. The police said the elderly man appears to have died of natural causes.

13 Jul 2015, 4:03 PM

Police deny rumoured pregnancy of Fuvahmulah child prostitution victim

Underaged female victims of a child prostitution ring uncovered in Fuvahmulah last week is not pregnant despite media reports to the contrary, the police have said.

12 Jul 2015, 8:36 PM

Islamic ministry flags publication of religious books without permission

In a recent announcement, the Islamic ministry noted that the 1994 religious unity law requires written permission from the ministry to preach, deliver sermons, and publish books concerning religion.

12 Jul 2015, 8:33 PM

Police disrupt MDP feast

The police stopped and cleared out a gathering by supporters of the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) outside its main office in Malé last night. Police officers confiscated tables set up with food on Sosun Magu and used pepper spray to disperse the gathering.

11 Jul 2015, 4:21 PM

MDP required to re-register half of its members

The Elections Commission (EC) has asked the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) to resubmit forms for some 23,058 members registered without fingerprints. The figure amounts to nearly half of the MDP’s 46,608 registered members.

07 Jul 2015, 7:45 PM

Young man dies in attempt to flee from police

The young man was driving the motorbike when the police attempted to stop him in a drug operation near Flat 133 in Malé’s suburb Hulhumalé at 9:10pm. The young man sped away at high speed and crashed into a car.

06 Jul 2015, 5:33 PM

20 inmates released under pilot tagging project

The inmates were released with an electronic tagging device attached to their feet, which will send out a signal if he or she steps out of the confined area.

05 Jul 2015, 4:23 PM

All parties, except PPM, required to re-register members

The Elections Commission has ordered all political parties, except the ruling Progressive Party of the Maldives, to re-register members who had previously submitted membership forms without fingerprints.

04 Jul 2015, 11:05 PM

Maldives threatens to leave the Commonwealth, again

The Maldives “will seriously consider its membership at the Commonwealth” if it is placed on the agenda of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) for a second time in four years, foreign minister Dunya Maumoon has said.

02 Jul 2015, 8:24 PM