Maldives News
Majority leader seeks to assuage journalists’ concerns over defamation bill
Speaking to reporters after a meeting Tuesday afternoon with the Maldives Media Council, the parliamentary group leader of the ruling Progressive Party of Maldives said the government is willing to address press freedom concerns raised by journalists and amend the proposed defamation and freedom of expression law.
06 Apr 2016, 09:00
Notorious gangster arrested over Rilwan’s abduction
The owner of a car suspected to have been used in the abduction of The Maldives Independent journalist Ahmed Rilwan was arrested Tuesday.
06 Apr 2016, 09:00
Maldives parliament strips ex-presidential benefits for opposition leader
Shortly after the amendments to withdraw privileges and state benefits were passed at today’s sitting of parliament, the opposition leader tweeted: “I have always believed that respect and privilege come from within the hearts of the people. It is not something that can be created or abolished by a law.”
06 Apr 2016, 09:00
Time stands still: Maldivians react to Haveeru closure
Maldivians reacted with despair as the country’s oldest newspaper remained closed for a third day amidst a bitter ownership battle. “Three days without Haveeru is like deleting three days from the calendar,” one reader said.
06 Apr 2016, 09:00
Judge in ‘coup plot’ pleads not guilty to terrorism charge
A judge detained over a “forged” warrant to arrest President Abdulla Yameen in connection with the Maldives’ biggest corruption scandal pleaded not guilty to a corruption charge at a hearing Tuesday. Ahmed Nihan, senior judge of the Maamigili magistrate court, also pleaded not guilty to charges of abuse of authority, official misconduct, and forgery.
06 Apr 2016, 09:00
Ex-president’s daughter quits government
Deputy Education Minister Yumna Maumoon, daughter of former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, has resigned last week, local media reports. It is not clear why Yumna, who heads the department of national heritage, quit her uncle’s government.
05 Apr 2016, 09:00
Parliament creates second deputy prosecutor general post
Pro-government MPs say having more than one deputy prosecutor general will ensure that the criminal justice system will function in the absence of a PG. But opposition MPs contend that the change is aimed at ensuring that one of the deputies will do President Abdulla Yameen’s bidding if the PG refuses to unfairly prosecute a political opponent.
05 Apr 2016, 09:00
Sheikh Imran, ex-defence minister transferred to house arrest
Home Minister Umar Naseer said the high-profile prisoners were transferred while their special protection unit in ‘Asseyri’ jail undergoes maintenance. But the main opposition party contends that the move is aimed at appeasing the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group ahead of an upcoming review of the Maldives’ progress on resolving a year-long political crisis.
05 Apr 2016, 09:00
Deputy minister labels detained journalists ‘criminals’ as HRCM investigates mistreatment in custody
While international human rights and press freedom organisations have condemned the mass arrests as symptomatic of declining press freedom in the Maldives, the Human Rights Commission of Maldives has launched an inquiry after all 18 journalists, including seven young women, were strip-searched twice in 20 minutes in what they say was a deliberate attempt by police officers to humiliate the detainees.
05 Apr 2016, 09:00
Reporters barred from ex-vice president’s graft trial
The criminal court blocked reporters from observing proceedings in a graft trial against former Vice President Ahmed Adeeb and his associates today citing a lack of space in the courtroom.
05 Apr 2016, 09:00
Concerns mount over Maldives press freedom after mass arrests
US Ambassador to the Maldives Atul Keshap met this morning with some of the 18 journalists arrested Sunday from a sit-in protest outside the president’s office amidst mounting concern over declining press freedom in the Maldives. The reporters were released after ten hours.
04 Apr 2016, 09:00
Government wants to grant police prosecution powers
Home Minister Umar Naseer says the government is planning to grant police the authority to prosecute petty crimes in a bid to speed up long-pending criminal trials. The opposition has labelled the move an attempt to jail dissidents.
04 Apr 2016, 09:00
Campaign workers for President Yameen appointed to broadcasting regulator
The ruling party-dominated parliament has approved six of President Abdulla Yameen’s nominees to the Maldives Broadcasting Commission, including the regulator’s incumbent president and two campaign workers. A group of journalists staged a silent protest outside the People’s Majlis while voting on the nominees took place around 1:30pm.
04 Apr 2016, 09:00
16 journalists arrested in police crackdown on sit-in protest
The police have violently cracked down on a peaceful sit-down protest staged by journalists outside the president’s office this morning, arresting more than 15 reporters from various media outlets. Riot police officers used pepper spray and violently pushed and shoved journalists behind barricades in front of the Velaanage office building.
03 Apr 2016, 09:00
Government orders ex-defence minister to cut short Singapore medical trip
The home ministry has ordered former Defence Minister Mohamed Nazim to cut short a medical trip to Singapore and return to the Maldives to serve the remainder of his 11-year jail sentence.
02 Apr 2016, 09:00
Rilwan was abducted, confirms police
The Maldives police have confirmed links between The Maldives Independent reporter Ahmed Rilwan’s disappearance and an abduction reported outside his apartment building on August 8, 2014, some 600 days ago.
02 Apr 2016, 09:00
Maldives democracy on ‘negative trajectory,’ warns top US diplomat
Assistant Secretary of State Nisha Biswal said the Maldives has seen “a steady weakening of its fragile democracy and an erosion of the rule of law” with the imprisonment of opposition leaders, who “remain behind bars simply because they gave voice to their views, and because the government’s skin is too thin to brook any criticism or competition.”
31 Mar 2016, 09:00
Court halts publication of Haveeru newspaper
The civil court has issued an order halting the publication of local daily Haveeru pending the outcome of a dispute over the ownership of the Maldives’ oldest newspaper. However, Haveeru Online version will continue to publish as the injunction only applies to the newspaper.
31 Mar 2016, 09:00
Opposition women handed suspended sentences over airport protest
The 13 women and one man were sentenced to three months in jail, suspended for three years, on a charge of disobeying orders by protesting at a restricted zone.
31 Mar 2016, 09:00
HRCM launches inquiry into Malé jail altercation
Several inmates and prison guards at the Malé jail sustained injuries Sunday night after “a random cell check” escalated into a violent confrontation. “The inmates aggressively pushed and shoved prison guards who attempted to conduct the check,” said the Maldives Correctional Services’ spokesperson.
30 Mar 2016, 09:00
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