Maldives News

Man falls to death during suspected robbery in Malé

The 29-year-old man fell from the second floor of the Sunny Coast house in the Maafanu ward of the capital around 3:20am. “As of now, we know that the man does not reside in the building,” a police spokesman said, declining to confirm local reports that the individual fell during an attempted robbery.

11 arrested in ongoing clashes between police and Malé’s gangs

The police claim the arrests are linked to a “special operation to curb violence” while the gangs are accusing the police of attempting to cover up an unlawful assault by Specialist Operations officers and vandalism of three gang hangouts on Friday.

Maldives urged to ‘end arbitrary actions targeting judges’

The International Commission of Jurists condemned today “arbitrary and politically motivated actions against judges” in the Maldives, shining the spotlight on the arrest of a magistrate judge and the abrupt transfer of two top judges in the past year.

New artificial beach closed to swimmers after sewage pipe bursts

The recently opened ‘Rasfannu’ artificial beach in Malé’s west coast has been closed to swimmers after an underwater sewage pipe in the area burst open.

Supreme Court begins review of its first murder conviction

State prosecutors asked the Supreme Court today to uphold a death sentence handed to Hussain Humam Ahmed by the criminal court over the brutal murder of MP Dr Afrasheem Ali in October 2012.

Police set new restrictions on lawyer visits to detainees

Detainees can now meet their lawyers for 90 minutes, twice a week, between 9:00am to 10:00pm on working days. Family visits are limited to one hour every two weeks.

Government cancels auction of protected islands in UNESCO biosphere reserve

The fisheries ministry is cancelling auctions of four protected islands in the Baa Atoll UNESCO biosphere reserve following a social media outcry.

Yameen defends death penalty

Ex-defence minister in Singapore on medical leave from prison

Jailed former defence minister Mohamed Nazim left the Maldives for Singapore on Friday on government-authorised 21-day medical leave from prison.

Islam, patriarchal discourses and gender-based violence in the Maldives

What we are witnessing in the Maldives today is the selective use of religious scriptures to give ‘divine’ endorsement of power and privilege to men and reinforce patriarchy, argues Hawwa Lubna

Army deployed amidst clashes between police and gangs

Soldiers were deployed to the streets of Malé at midnight on Saturday in the wake of reported clashes between riot police officers and a number of gangs.

Criminal court bench overhauled

The judicial watchdog has launched a major overhaul of the criminal court bench as the court prepares to begin hearing terror charges against officials and soldiers implicated in an alleged assassination attempt on President Abdulla Yameen.

Yameen concedes need for judicial reform, appeals for MDP to join talks

President Abdulla Yameen conceded Wednesday the need for reforming the Maldivian judiciary and renewed appeals for the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party to engage in dialogue with the government to resolve a year-long political crisis.

Human rights watchdog slams “unacceptable” misogynistic behaviour from MPs

Misogynistic remarks and behaviour from MPs that were derogatory towards women at recent sittings of the People’s Majlis are “unacceptable,” the human rights watchdog has said, urging lawmakers not to undermine national efforts for women’s empowerment.

Abu Dhabi pledges US$40m loan for Maldives airport project

The Abu Dhabi Fund for Development has pledged a US$40million loan to develop the Maldives’ main airport, the finance ministry has said. The government is also in talks with the IDB to obtain an additional US$110million loan for the project.

Majlis votes to keep list of designated terror groups secret

The new law states that the home minister must compile a “positive list” comprising of organisations that Maldivians are permitted to join. An individual who wants to join or promote an unlisted group has to seek permission from the home ministry.

Ex MP denies bribing president, judges to avoid jail sentence

Former MP Abdulla Jabir has denied paying MVR10 million (US$648,500) to President Abdulla Yameen to influence the outcome of his trial in early 2014 after the opposition-aligned station Raajje TV aired a phone conversation between the resort businessmen and former Tourism Minister Ahmed Adeeb.

MP pledges to build US$5m hospital in northern island

An opposition MPhas pleged to spend US$5million on upgrading a healthpost to a hospital in the island of Fokaidhoo in northern Shaviyani Atoll.

Opposition accused of campaigning for tourism boycott at ITB fair

Maldives cancels PR deal with Podesta

The government of Maldives has cancelled a US$300,000 PR deal with Washington-based lobbyist Podesta, following former Vice President Ahmed Adeeb’s arrest on a charge of plotting to kill President Abdulla Yameen.