Maldives News

Gasim’s lawyers accuse police of lying in court

Council elections turnout at 66 percent

Contrary to media reports and claims by ruling party lawmakers and ministers, the turnout in the capital was 42 percent and voters turned out in much higher numbers in the rest of the country.

Man stabbed in Malé

A 20-year-old man was stabbed Monday night near the Villimalé ferry terminal in the capital Malé. No arrests have been made so far.

Opposition candidate secures Kuribee council seat after recount

A recount of votes from a ballot box on the island of Kuribee in Haa Dhaal atoll has changed the result and averted a second round of voting between three candidates tied in third place.

Supreme court asked to restrict parliament’s powers to sack ministers

The Attorney General’s office has asked the supreme court to determine that the parliament can only dismiss cabinet ministers for committing an impeachable offence.

Finance ministry defends Ramadan bonus policy

The finance ministry has defended the government’s policy on issuing the annual Ramadan bonus for civil servants after media reports focused on the exclusion of employees on paid and non-paid leave.

Lawyer arrested for obstructing Yameen’s murder investigation

Ali Shah, a criminal defence attorney, has been arrested on charges of obstructing the investigation into the brutal murder of liberal blogger Yameen Rasheed.

Yameen murder suspects caught on camera in custody

The two men were caught on security camera footage “entering and exiting the scene of the crime after brutally stabbing Mr Yameen Rasheed,” the police said in a statement Monday.

Female candidates win majorities on four island councils

Female candidates won majorities on island councils for the first time in the Maldives’ third municipal elections on May 6.

Independent councillor-elect joins MDP

The Vaadhoo councillor-elect is the first of 101 independent candidates who won seats in the Maldives’ third local council elections to join a political party.

Faris Maumoon barred from travelling overseas

Faris was stopped at the Velana International Airport’s immigration checkpoint Sunday morning after he checked in to fly to Bangalore, India to visit a sick relative.

Human rights commissioner resigns

Shifaq Mufeed ‘Histo,’ the vice president of the Human Rights Commission of Maldives, resigned from his post on Thursday.

Powerhouse manager transferred after election loss

The assistant manager of the state-owned powerhouse on the southern island of Thimafarushi in Thaa atoll has been transferred after refusing to resign in the wake of the ruling party’s loss in the local council elections.

Tourist arrivals increase 4.3 percent in first quarter

Arrivals grew by 15.6 percent in January, the peak season for the industry which also coincided with the Chinese New Year. But the growth rate was marginal in February at 0.3 percent and registered a 2.1 percent decrease in March.

Abusive judicial discretion in the Maldives

The Maldivian judiciary has restricted the media’s right to report court proceedings, undermined the autonomy of independent bodies, and arbitrarily disbarred lawyers, writes Shamsul Falaah.

JP headquarters closed after court’s ‘unconstitutional’ conditions

JP leader Gasim Ibrahim was released from police custody on the condition that he refrains from speaking in a manner that sows discord or incites unrest or allowing others to use his property to deliver such speeches.

Yameen’s family petitions UN for international investigation

The appeal for urgent action was submitted to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and four Special Rapporteurs on the family’s behalf by pro bono international counsel Jared Genser.

Man arrested for raising Islamic State flag

Superintendent Ahmed Shifan told Maldives Independent that the suspect was arrested earlier this week and the criminal court has since remanded him to police custody for seven days.

A tribute to Yameen Rasheed – and a call for justice and accountability

Police Chief Ahmed Areef must accept an independent international investigation or resign as he is ultimately responsible for the failure to protect Yameen despite numerous death threats, writes Jared Genser.

Gasim released with conditions

The conditions for his release include refraining from “holding meetings with people who sow discord and strife in society,” speaking in a manner that sows discord or incites unrest and allowing others to use his home or property to deliver such speeches.