Politics

Supreme court to decide legitimacy of parliament’s removal of state officials

The supreme court has declared itself the final authority to determine the validity of the parliament’s removal of the president, vice president, ministers, judges, the auditor general, prosecutor general and members of independent institutions.

President’s office denies filing defamation complaints

Despite the denial, the Maldives Media Council has asked six Raajje TV journalists and VFP’s editor to respond to several complaints filed by the president’s office about articles deemed defamatory towards First Lady Fathmath Ibrahim.

President departs to attend Arab Islamic American Summit

Leaders from more than 50 Arab and Islamic states from around the world will meet with US President Donald Trump at the summit “to renew their collective commitment to confronting the threat of violent extremism and global terrorism,” according to the Saudi government.

Court hears closing arguments in MP Riyaz’s trial

The criminal court heard closing arguments Tuesday in Jumhooree Party MP Abdulla Riyaz’s trial on an obstruction charge raised over his refusal to unlock his mobile phone.

Judge lifts conditions imposed on Gasim

The move comes after the police apologised for falsely claiming in court that a case against the opposition lawmaker had not been sent for prosecution.

Yameen lashes out at opposition after election loss

The ruling coalition should learn lessons from the loss in the May 6 local council elections, Yameen said, but contended that an “alternative narrative” could be told about the results.

Gasim’s lawyers accuse police of lying in court

Council elections turnout at 66 percent

Contrary to media reports and claims by ruling party lawmakers and ministers, the turnout in the capital was 42 percent and voters turned out in much higher numbers in the rest of the country.

Man stabbed in Malé

A 20-year-old man was stabbed Monday night near the Villimalé ferry terminal in the capital Malé. No arrests have been made so far.

Opposition candidate secures Kuribee council seat after recount

A recount of votes from a ballot box on the island of Kuribee in Haa Dhaal atoll has changed the result and averted a second round of voting between three candidates tied in third place.

Supreme court asked to restrict parliament’s powers to sack ministers

The Attorney General’s office has asked the supreme court to determine that the parliament can only dismiss cabinet ministers for committing an impeachable offence.

Female candidates win majorities on four island councils

Female candidates won majorities on island councils for the first time in the Maldives’ third municipal elections on May 6.

Independent councillor-elect joins MDP

The Vaadhoo councillor-elect is the first of 101 independent candidates who won seats in the Maldives’ third local council elections to join a political party.

Faris Maumoon barred from travelling overseas

Faris was stopped at the Velana International Airport’s immigration checkpoint Sunday morning after he checked in to fly to Bangalore, India to visit a sick relative.

Human rights commissioner resigns

Shifaq Mufeed ‘Histo,’ the vice president of the Human Rights Commission of Maldives, resigned from his post on Thursday.

Powerhouse manager transferred after election loss

The assistant manager of the state-owned powerhouse on the southern island of Thimafarushi in Thaa atoll has been transferred after refusing to resign in the wake of the ruling party’s loss in the local council elections.

JP headquarters closed after court’s ‘unconstitutional’ conditions

JP leader Gasim Ibrahim was released from police custody on the condition that he refrains from speaking in a manner that sows discord or incites unrest or allowing others to use his property to deliver such speeches.

Yameen’s family petitions UN for international investigation

The appeal for urgent action was submitted to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and four Special Rapporteurs on the family’s behalf by pro bono international counsel Jared Genser.

Gasim released with conditions

The conditions for his release include refraining from “holding meetings with people who sow discord and strife in society,” speaking in a manner that sows discord or incites unrest and allowing others to use his home or property to deliver such speeches.

UN rights experts call for public inquiry into Yameen’s murder

The three Special Rapporteurs observed that the unsolved murder was “the latest in a series of attacks against journalists and human rights defenders expressing liberal views,” which occurred “against a backdrop of rising religious intolerance in the Maldives”.