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.

135 articles

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, 20:36

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, 20:33

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, 16:21

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, 19:45

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, 17:33

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, 16:23

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, 23:05

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, 20:24