Maldives News

Raajje TV journalists denied monitor passes by elections commission

The elections commission rejected applications from 32 Raajje TV journalists to monitor Saturday’s local council elections and report from inside polling stations with accredited passes.

Raajje TV pays MVR1m defamation fine

Council election campaign concludes

The May 6 local council election is due to take place despite the refusal of opposition candidates to endorse the final voter list due to concerns over its accuracy.

State withdraws case against PPM candidate

The Prosecutor General’s office has withdrawn a case seeking to detain a ruling party candidate for the Malé city council on an assault charge.

Two arrested as Yameen’s family sue police for negligence

Two suspects have been arrested in the brutal murder of liberal blogger Yameen Rasheed, the police said in a statement Wednesday afternoon, shortly after the victim’s family sued the police for negligence.

President Yameen on hate speech and limits of free expression

On Thursday, President Abdulla Yameen spoke about hate speech and the limits of freedom of expression. The remarks were widely seen as a reference to the murder of liberal blogger Yameen Rasheed.

‘Not free’

On this year’s World Press Freedom Day, the Maldives Independent spoke to journalists from top media outlets in the country for their views on the state of press freedom in the country.

Government seizes island leased for coral reef research

The government has moved to take back an island lease to Professor Hassan Ugail’s Korallion Lab for use as a marine station to conduct research on coral reefs.

Projects and price cuts ahead of local council elections

Ahead of Saturday’s local council elections, ministers have been travelling across the country to launch infrastructure projects, urging voters to choose ruling coalition candidate to ensure the development of their constituencies.

Police reject letters from Yameen’s family

Yameen’s father Hussain Rasheed was told that each of the 811 letters must be submitted by the individual who signed it.

A call for a new politics

Justice for Yameen and Rilwan will remain elusive without a radically different politics built on an honest assessment of all parties, including the Maldivian Democratic Party, argues Fathima Musthaq and Azim Zahir.

Hundreds sign petition calling for credible investigation of Yameen’s murder

Hundreds of people have been signing a petition to be sent to parliament and the commissioner calling for a credible investigation into the murder of liberal blogger Yameen Rasheed and the abduction of journalist Ahmed Rilwan.

Faris escapes prosecution over statute of limitations

The Prosecutor General’s office declined to prosecute Faris Maumoon, son of former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, over alleged failure to reimburse the state for expenses from the presidential palace.

Campaign for council elections enters final stretch

After multiple delays, campaigning for the May 6 local council elections has entered the final stretch with both the ruling and opposition parties walking door to door and holding rallies across the country.

Yameen murder suspect in custody

The suspect was arrested from a residence near Yameen’s apartment building in Malé and was reportedly tailing the blogger on the night of his murder.

Yameen’s father appeals for foreign involvement in murder probe

Despite claiming to have identified two suspects, the police have yet to make any arrests a week after the 29-year-old was found with multiple stab wounds in the stairway of his apartment building.

Remembering Yameen: part two

Part two of an interview with murdered blogger Yamin Rasheed’s mother Mariyam Shafeega and sister Yumna Rasheed.

Remembering Yameen

The Maldives Independent sat down with murdered blogger Yamin Rasheed’s mother Mariyam Shafeega and sister Yumna Rasheed as they mourned and remembered the young man who inspired many with his writing, empathy and activism.

Maldives slides on press freedom index

Based on developments during the past year, RSF said the government continues to “persecute the independent media” after a new law criminalised defamation and allowed the authorities to shut down media outlets.

Investor’s woes in the Maldives

A history of abruptly terminating contracts with foreign companies does not bode well for the foreign investment climate in the Maldives, writes a Maldives Independent reader.