Maldives

Two attempted suicides reported on Saturday

A woman in Malé stabbed herself in the stomach after her husband left to Syria, local media report. A young man attempted suicide in Muli after a quarrel with his family, police said.

Special laws must not pre-empt general criminal law

Laws like on anti-terror are legitimised under the pretext that “special circumstances require special procedures” but are often an excuse to let the inefficiencies of the state continue at the expense of civil liberties, writes Devyani Srivastava.

Maldives celebrates historic penal code

A new penal code came into effect today, repealing a law written in 1968. Government offices, the opposition and influential figures have welcomed the law as a momentous change that will usher in major reforms to the Maldives’ criminal justice system.

Comment: New penal code comes into effect! A truly historic moment

“Today is July 16, 2015, a momentous day in the history of the Maldives’ criminal justice system. The penal code of 1968 expired at 11:59pm on July 15. In this historic moment, 12am on July 16, 2015, a brand new penal code comes into force in the Maldives,” writes Hussein Shameem, the former deputy Prosecutor General.

Only three judges trained on new penal code

A new penal code is due to come into force at midnight tonight, but the Juvenile Court judges are the only judges who have been trained on the provisions in the new law. Minivan News understands that the training took place without the Supreme Court’s permission.

Majlis shutdown to ‘block changes to new penal code’

Sittings of the People’s Majlis were suspended this week to block MPs from submitting changes proposed by the Supreme Court to the long awaited penal code. The court wants to set the age of criminal responsibility to seven years and set jail terms and hefty fines for defaming state employees, excerpts obtained by Minivan News reveal.

Rumors abound over PPM split on appointment of new vice president

President Abdulla Yameen’s silence on the new appointment, rumors over Gayoom’s opposition and the “ISupportAdeeb4VP” campaign has triggered speculation that Adeeb’s appointment as the new deputy may not be as certain as it appeared in late June.

Comment: Will the new anti-terror bill deter Maldivian ‘Jihadists’?

The anti-terror bill metes out up to 20 years in jail for Maldivians who join foreign wars. But how effective can harsh penalties be when the government is yet to publicly acknowledge how wide spread extremism is in the Maldives? asks Mohamed Hameed, the former head of the police intelligence directorate.

Freedom for ex president on the horizon, suggests MDP

Following a third meeting of talks with the government, the MDP has raised hope of freedom for convicted opposition leader and former president Mohamed Nasheed by July 26, the day Maldives marks 50 years of independence from the British.

Islamic ministry flags publication of religious books without permission

In a recent announcement, the Islamic ministry noted that the 1994 religious unity law requires written permission from the ministry to preach, deliver sermons, and publish books concerning religion.

Mandhu College announces partnership with international universities

JP leader Gasim returns to Maldives

Gasim Ibrahim, the leader of Jumhooree Party (JP) returned to Maldives today after the government removed a freeze on his Villa Group accounts over an alleged unpaid fine of US$90.4million.

On social media, an outpouring of support for ex university vice chancellor

The resignation of Dr Hassan Hameed, the vice chancellor of the Maldives National University, has elicited an outpouring of support on social media and a campaign requesting President Abdulla Yameen to re-appoint him to the university board.

Comment: Did former Maldives leader receive a fair trial?

In such a politically charged case, media reporting can take a sensationalist and selective approach, writes Toby Cadman. “As with all cases, there are two sides to any argument, but the government’s position has not been given any attention and the offence for which the former president was convicted has been unnecessarily trivialized.”

Government responds to UN on ex-president’s terrorism trial

The Maldivian government, in a response to the UN working group on arbitrary detention today, contended a terrorism conviction against former president Mohamed Nasheed was not politically motivated and that allegations of lack of due process is factually incorrect.

The campaign for the vice presidency

Vice president Mohamed Jameel Ahmed remains in London and will issue a written response ahead of his imminent impeachment as supporters of the tourism minister Ahmed Adeeb began a campaign backing him for the position. His appointment as the new vice president appeared momentarily in doubt this week

Third meeting of talks rescheduled for Sunday

The president’s office has scheduled a third meeting in ongoing talks with the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) for Sunday, July 12.

Ex-president’s wife continues high-profile campaign in Europe

Laila Ali met with the president of the European Union parliament Martic Schulz in Strausberg, Germany, on Tuesday and met the UN high commissioner on human rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein in Geneva, Switzerland in a campaign to free ex-president Mohamed Nasheed.

Third meeting of talks cancelled

The government has cancelled a third meeting in ongoing talks with the MDP as some ministers are out of the country, the president’s office has said.

Journalist’s family backs independent inquiry into disappearance

Minivan News journalist Ahmed Rilwan’s family has supported the opposition’s call for an independent inquiry into his disappearance a year ago in a Malé suburb.