Politics
Charges filed against fourth Raajje TV journalist
Adam Zareer, a videographer at the privately-owned station, was served summons yesterday to appear for a first hearing next Sunday. He is accused of obstructing police duty during an anti-government protest on March 25 last year.
13 Apr 2016, 09:00
Majlis creates new Islamic affairs council
The parliament has amended the 1994 Religious Unity Act to set up a new Supreme Council for Islamic affairs with the authority to issue fatwas or legal opinions on religious disputes.
13 Apr 2016, 09:00
Mystery deepens over convicted ex-MP’s departure from Singapore
The immigration depart has claimed that MP Ahmed Nazim’s passport is in its possession despite reports of the former ruling party lawmaker fleeing from Singapore to the United Kingdom last week.
13 Apr 2016, 09:00
Judicial watchdog passed over qualified nominees in appointment of judges
A leaked marks sheet compiled after evaluating some 26 candidates shows that the Judicial Service Commission passed over three judges who topped the list with the highest marks based on educational qualifications and experience.
13 Apr 2016, 09:00
India did not raise issue of political prisoners, says foreign minister
Briefing the press this afternoon on Yameen’s official two-day visit to India, Dunya said: “According to my information, the names of any these people did not come up during discussions between the president and India’s prime minister and they did not criticise our affairs either.”
12 Apr 2016, 09:00
Maldivian man arrested over gangster’s murder in Colombo
The arrest of the 28-year-old is the first made in Malé over the killing of the murder of Maldivian national and notorious gangster Hussain Razeen ‘Rabarey’ in Colombo.
12 Apr 2016, 09:00
Supreme Court throws out Haveeru ownership appeal
The Supreme Court threw out today an appeal filed against a controversial ruling that split the ownership of Maldives’ oldest newspaper Haveeru, which resulted in the paper’s closure nearly two weeks ago. The government has announced that it intends to intervene to restart the paper’s publication.
12 Apr 2016, 09:00
Maldives, India sign defence action plan
“It is clear that the contours of India-Maldives relations are defined by our shared strategic, security, economic and developmental goals. The prompt implementation of a concrete action plan in the defence sector will strengthen our defence cooperation,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi said at a joint press conference with President Abdulla Yameen yesterday.
12 Apr 2016, 09:00
Broadcasting regulator ‘concerned’ over charges against Raajje TV journalists
The Maldives Broadcasting Commission has expressed concern over charges filed against three journalists from the opposition-aligned Raajje TV, but stopped short of condemning the unprecedented criminal prosecution of journalists.
11 Apr 2016, 09:00
Maldives seeks Indian protection from ‘unfair punitive action by CMAG’
“The reason I visited Mr Prime Minister in India today is to express my appreciation for the very steadfast leadership India has shown in protecting Maldives in the CMAG deliberations. We look at India for continued support in preventing any unfair, any punitive action by the CMAG on the Maldives,” President Yameen said today in his ongoing official visit to India.
11 Apr 2016, 09:00
183 Maldives journalists sign petition for press freedom
Some 183 Maldivian journalists have signed a historic petition urging the authorities to tackle threats to press freedom, including the withdrawal of a bill criminalising defamation and ending impunity for crimes committed against reporters.
10 Apr 2016, 09:00
Shumba Gong tortured in jail, says lawyer
Ahmed ‘Shumba Gong’ Ashraf was forced to sit on the floor, in handcuffs, while prisons officers alternately poured hot and ice-cold water on him, said lawyer Moosa Siraj.
10 Apr 2016, 09:00
Talks are ‘an exercise in futility,’ MDP tells Commonwealth rep
Government-initiated all-party talks are an “exercise in futility” unless jailed political leaders are freed, the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party told a visiting Commonwealth representative today.
10 Apr 2016, 09:00
US senate urges Maldives to redress “injustice” of Nasheed’s jailing
Expressing “profound disappointment” with the bipartisan resolution, which was passed unanimously on Thursday, the government has defended the opposition leader’s conviction on a terrorism charge and insisted that there are no political prisoners in the country.
09 Apr 2016, 09:00
Police defend blocking silent march for press freedom
The journalists were not allowed to march as closing down the capital’s main thoroughfare would have caused traffic jams and posed difficulties to pedestrians and businesses, the police said. The journalists accused the police of violating their right to freedom of assembly, which is guaranteed in the constitution “without prior permission of the state.”
09 Apr 2016, 09:00
Ex-President Nasheed ordered to return to prison
The government has refused to extend former President Mohamed Nasheed’s medical leave in the United Kingdom, and ordered him to return to the Maldives to serve the remainder of his 13 year jail sentence.
08 Apr 2016, 09:00
President Yameen to make official visit to India
President Abdulla Yameen is scheduled to make an official visit to India ahead of a crucial Commonwealth summit. He is due to call on Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 10.
08 Apr 2016, 09:00
Government denies ordering surveillance on ministers, lawyers
Two former attorneys general, a minister at the president’s office, and the former Islamic affairs minister have been under secret police surveillance for nearly a year on suspicion of plotting a coup d’état, a credible source has said.
07 Apr 2016, 09:00
Ex-MP flees Singapore after order to return to prison
Ahmed Nazim, a former MP with the ruling Progressive Party of the Maldives who was allowed to travel to Singapore on medical-leave from prison, has left the country and traveled to the United Kingdom, The Maldives Independent understands.
07 Apr 2016, 09:00
Three journalists facing trial on charges of obstructing police duty
The unprecedented prosecution of three journalists comes amidst a campaign launched by the Maldivian media against a government crackdown on press freedom in the country.
07 Apr 2016, 09:00
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