Politics

MDP vice president accused of defaming Elections Commission

Shifaz, a former lawmaker, was summoned for questioning Tuesday night for alleging during the 2017 local council elections campaign that the independent electoral body was subject to undue influence from President Abdulla Yameen.

Court releases MP Waheed and JP secretary-general

MP Mohamed Waheed Ibrahim has been released by the criminal court after 23 days in police custody on the condition that the lawmaker shares his phone number and refrains from committing any crimes.

Judge decides to proceed with MP Ibrahim Didi’s terrorism trial

The judge overruled objections from the defence lawyer who contended that the lawmaker could not be prosecuted for the second time on the same charge as the Prosecutor General’s office had withdrawn the case two years ago.

‘The cash that entered my house was not halal’: Yameen

The opposition has seized upon President Abdulla Yameen’s apparent admission that he benefited from a historic corruption scandal pinned on his jailed former right-hand man.

Dozen opposition MPs face charges for entering parliament building

The police are seeking charges against 12 opposition MPs alleged to have scaled security barricades to enter the People’s Majlis building on July 24.

PPM rallies support for government

The ruling Progressive Party of Maldives staged rallies across the country Saturday in a show of support for the administration of embattled President Abdulla Yameen.

Yameen wins Asia HRD lifetime achievement award

Supreme Court hears appeals from disqualified lawmakers

The Supreme Court has begun hearing appeals from four former ruling party lawmakers contentiously deemed to have been stripped of their seats by the Elections Commission.

Maldives ready for executions in September, president declares

The Maldives will be ready to carry out the first executions in more than 60 years next month, President Abdulla Yameen declared Sunday amid growing international concern over the reintroduction of the death penalty.

Gasim’s bribery trial on hold after hospitalisation

The court threatened to proceed with the trial in absentia but the hearing was cancelled after neither Gasim nor his legal counsel showed up.

People of Meedhoo march for murdered youth

Hundreds of people clad in black and carrying banners and placards came out in solidarity with grieving family and friends. The walk ended with an emotional prayer and the signing of a petition to the authorities.

Opposition holds protest marches in southern atolls

Opposition supporters in the capital and five southern islands took to the streets calling for the release of four lawmakers detained after the collapse of the government’s majority in parliament.

Minister under fire for blaming murders on opposition

“We cannot accept arson and the murder of our youth aimed at disrupting peace in the greed for power @maumoonagayoom,” the minister tweeted Monday after a 25-year-old man was killed in the second fatal stabbing in less than a week.

In leaked audio, defence minister vows to seek charges against lawmakers

During a meeting with officers from the Special Protection Group, Shareef praised the restraint of soldiers in the face of protesting MPs, saying he would have broken a lawmaker’s jaw.

Parliament sitting cancelled after toilet fire

Opposition MP Ahmed Mahloof alleged that the toilet was deliberately set on fire for a pretext to cancel the sitting.

MP Saud charged with terrorism

Saud is the fourth lawmaker to face criminal prosecution since the four-party opposition coalition secured a majority in the parliament to impeach Speaker Abdulla Maseeh Mohamed.

Soldiers surround speaker as opposition MPs protest in Majlis chamber

A week after the unprecedented expulsion of lawmakers by the police and military, the People’s Majlis resumed Monday with opposition MPs protesting in the chamber and soldiers surrounding the speaker’s chair.

UN censures ‘erosion of democratic norms’ as arrest of lawmakers continue

Three MPs have been arrested and several others summoned for questioning since the unprecedented expulsion of opposition lawmakers from the parliament building by the police and military last Monday.

Seven journalists arrested from opposition protest

The journalists were accused of obstructing police duty while Specialist Operations officers attempted to disperse the “unlawful gathering”.

Gasim’s bribery trial resumes after hospital stay

Jumhooree Party leader Gasim Ibrahim’s trial on charges of attempting to bribe lawmakers restarted Tuesday, a day after he was released from a nine-day stay at the hospital.