Maldives News

Maldives blogger killed for ‘mocking Islam’, say police

Yameen wins Asia HRD lifetime achievement award

Supreme Court hears appeals from disqualified lawmakers

The Supreme Court has begun hearing appeals from four former ruling party lawmakers contentiously deemed to have been stripped of their seats by the Elections Commission.

Court remands Anas murder suspects

Mohamed Anas’ family urges police to name the twelve suspects remanded over his brutal murder.

The road to justice is paved with answers to Rilwan’s abduction

The non-action of the authorities has created and nourished a culture of impunity for criminals that have made Malé one of the most dangerous cities in the world to live, writes Azra Naseem.

Police crack down on march for abducted journalist

The police cracked down Tuesday afternoon on a march led by the family of abducted journalist Ahmed Rilwan, snatching banners and placards and arresting nine people.

Multi-resort project underway in lagoon near Malé

Phase one of the project comprises “a three-island-resorts concept, with a core island township bringing a veritable wealth of world-class food and beverage, retail, entertainment, recreation and leisure-lifestyle experiences to the Maldives for the very first time,” according to the Thai developer.

Three years after Rilwan’s abduction

“Where is Rilwan? What happened to Rilwan?” asks the missing journalist’s family three years after his abduction at knifepoint outside his apartment building.

Maldives ready for executions in September, president declares

The Maldives will be ready to carry out the first executions in more than 60 years next month, President Abdulla Yameen declared Sunday amid growing international concern over the reintroduction of the death penalty.

Gasim’s bribery trial on hold after hospitalisation

The court threatened to proceed with the trial in absentia but the hearing was cancelled after neither Gasim nor his legal counsel showed up.

Former Islamic minister’s remarks on female judges divides opinion

Addressing rumours about the imminent appointment of former Attorney General Azima Shukoor to the apex court at an opposition rally on July 30, Bari claimed that there was consensus among religious scholars that women can only serve as judges in civil cases.

Stabbed policeman undergoes surgery

A police officer who was stabbed during an operation to stop drug smuggling into the Maafushi prison underwent surgery on Sunday at the Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital in Malé.

People of Meedhoo march for murdered youth

Hundreds of people clad in black and carrying banners and placards came out in solidarity with grieving family and friends. The walk ended with an emotional prayer and the signing of a petition to the authorities.

Opposition holds protest marches in southern atolls

Opposition supporters in the capital and five southern islands took to the streets calling for the release of four lawmakers detained after the collapse of the government’s majority in parliament.

Minister under fire for blaming murders on opposition

“We cannot accept arson and the murder of our youth aimed at disrupting peace in the greed for power @maumoonagayoom,” the minister tweeted Monday after a 25-year-old man was killed in the second fatal stabbing in less than a week.

Garbage piles up as state company takes over collection services

Less than half of the approximately 27,000 households in Malé were registered for the WAMCO service when expatriate workers stopped collecting garbage after a ban on carrying garbage bags on bicycles came into force on August 1.

In leaked audio, defence minister vows to seek charges against lawmakers

During a meeting with officers from the Special Protection Group, Shareef praised the restraint of soldiers in the face of protesting MPs, saying he would have broken a lawmaker’s jaw.

Family and friends mark 100 days since Yameen Rasheed’s murder

The family and friends of slain liberal blogger Yameen Rasheed marked 100 days since the murder with a tweetstorm and a silent vigil outside his home in Malé.

An examined life: Yameen Rasheed

“The killing of Yameen is so difficult to come to terms with because it symbolises the death of potential,” writes Azra Naseem.

Parliament sitting cancelled after toilet fire

Opposition MP Ahmed Mahloof alleged that the toilet was deliberately set on fire for a pretext to cancel the sitting.