Politics

Parliament to consider mandatory Shariah punishments

Nasheed’s lawyers, including Amal Clooney, to visit Maldives in September

The international legal team representing former President Mohamed Nasheed, including Amal Clooney, are set to visit the Maldives in early September.

Vilimalé health centre upgraded to tertiary hospital

The health centre in the capital’s suburb Vilimalé has been upgraded and reopened as a tertiary hospital.

Jailed ex-defence minister seeks Supreme Court order to expedite appeal

An appeal of Nazim’s 11-year jail sentence on weapons smuggling charges remains stalled at the High Court after the Supreme Court transferred two judges on the five-judge-panel to a newly created branch in the south.

PPM MP proposes authority for president to alter penalties for convicts

The parliament today accepted for consideration changes proposed to the Clemency Act to grant authority to the president to alter the type of punishment for convicts.

State to allocate office space for PPM and MDP

The parliament today amended the Political Parties Act, mandating the state to allocate office space or plots of land to political parties with more than 20,000 members.

Maldives extends Independence Day greetings to India

The government and main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) have extended greetings to the Indian government and people on the occasion of the country’s Independence Day (August 15).

Committee sets 10,000-member threshold for political party funding

The parliament’s independent institutions committee has approved amendments proposed to the Political Parties Act to set a threshold of 10,000 registered members for political parties to be eligible for state funding.

Indian High Commissioner to Maldives transferred to Denmark

The Indian High Commissioner of India to the Maldives Shri Rajeev Shahare has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to Denmark, the Indian external affairs ministry has said.

New US ambassador to Maldives takes oath of office

The 44-year-old Indian-American was sworn yesterday, becoming only the second US diplomat of Indian origin to be posted to the South Asia region.

PG appeals Nasheed’s terrorism conviction at High Court

The Prosecutor General’s (PG) office has appealed former President Mohamed Nasheed’s conviction on terrorism charges at the High Court.

Only ruling party MPs can propose bills on taxes, state expenditure

The ruling party dominated People’s Majlis amended today its standing orders to prevent opposition MPs from submitting legislation relating to taxes and public finance.

Courts ordered to clear backlog in one month

Chief Justice Abdulla Saeed today ordered all courts to clear backlog of long-pending cases within one month. Lawyers say the move is “practically impossible.”

Government rejects calls for third-party mediation in talks

The President’s Office rejected today a call by MDP to seek third-party mediation in talks, saying it does not want “foreign parties to intervene in domestic affairs of the Maldives.” Talks have been stalled since mid-July.

Majlis approves ex MP of ruling party to human rights watchdog

The parliament today approved former MP Shifaq Mufeed, Aishath Afreen Mohamed, and Aminath Eenas to the Human Rights of Commission of the Maldives (HRCM).

Street protests could be labeled terrorism by new bill, contends MDP

In a document listing issues of concern with the draft legislation the MDP argued that the definition of terrorism is too broad and could be used as a catch-all provision.

Criminal court urged to expedite Imran’s trial

Prosecutor General Muhthaz Muhsin has written to the criminal court urging it to expedite a terrorism trial against Sheikh Imran Abdulla, indicted on terrorism and held without trial for two months.

President’s ‘fear of black magic’ behind felling of trees and changes to traffic flow

Major changes to traffic flow in central Malé, the uprooting of old trees at the Republic Square and the removal of a monument at the Sultan Park have fuelled speculation that the sudden changes were caused by President Abdulla Yameen’s alleged fear of black magic and sorcery.

State yet to appeal Nasheed’s terrorism conviction

The Prosecutor General’s (PG) Office is yet to appeal former President Mohamed Nasheed’s terrorism conviction, despite nearly three weeks passing since the announcement of intent to appeal.

Opposition MPs concerned over failure to summon ministers for questioning

At today’s sitting, MDP MPs representing constituencies in Addu City, Rozaina Adam and Ali Nizar, raised points of order and noted that ministers have not appeared for questioning despite a backlog of queries submitted by opposition MPs dating back to the first session of year.