Politics
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, 9:00 AM
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, 9:00 AM
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, 9:00 AM
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, 9:00 AM
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, 9:00 AM
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, 9:00 AM
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, 9:00 AM
Businessman charged over MMPRC scandal seeks order to remove cameras in jail cell
Hamid’s lawyer Husnu Suood told The Maldives Independent that the four surveillance cameras in the cell and one in the cell toilet represents a “serious human rights violation.”
06 Apr 2016, 9:00 AM
Majority leader seeks to assuage journalists’ concerns over defamation bill
Speaking to reporters after a meeting Tuesday afternoon with the Maldives Media Council, the parliamentary group leader of the ruling Progressive Party of Maldives said the government is willing to address press freedom concerns raised by journalists and amend the proposed defamation and freedom of expression law.
06 Apr 2016, 9:00 AM
Maldives parliament strips ex-presidential benefits for opposition leader
Shortly after the amendments to withdraw privileges and state benefits were passed at today’s sitting of parliament, the opposition leader tweeted: “I have always believed that respect and privilege come from within the hearts of the people. It is not something that can be created or abolished by a law.”
06 Apr 2016, 9:00 AM
Time stands still: Maldivians react to Haveeru closure
Maldivians reacted with despair as the country’s oldest newspaper remained closed for a third day amidst a bitter ownership battle. “Three days without Haveeru is like deleting three days from the calendar,” one reader said.
06 Apr 2016, 9:00 AM
Judge in ‘coup plot’ pleads not guilty to terrorism charge
A judge detained over a “forged” warrant to arrest President Abdulla Yameen in connection with the Maldives’ biggest corruption scandal pleaded not guilty to a corruption charge at a hearing Tuesday. Ahmed Nihan, senior judge of the Maamigili magistrate court, also pleaded not guilty to charges of abuse of authority, official misconduct, and forgery.
06 Apr 2016, 9:00 AM
Ex-president’s daughter quits government
Deputy Education Minister Yumna Maumoon, daughter of former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, has resigned last week, local media reports. It is not clear why Yumna, who heads the department of national heritage, quit her uncle’s government.
05 Apr 2016, 9:00 AM
Parliament creates second deputy prosecutor general post
Pro-government MPs say having more than one deputy prosecutor general will ensure that the criminal justice system will function in the absence of a PG. But opposition MPs contend that the change is aimed at ensuring that one of the deputies will do President Abdulla Yameen’s bidding if the PG refuses to unfairly prosecute a political opponent.
05 Apr 2016, 9:00 AM
Sheikh Imran, ex-defence minister transferred to house arrest
Home Minister Umar Naseer said the high-profile prisoners were transferred while their special protection unit in ‘Asseyri’ jail undergoes maintenance. But the main opposition party contends that the move is aimed at appeasing the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group ahead of an upcoming review of the Maldives’ progress on resolving a year-long political crisis.
05 Apr 2016, 9:00 AM
Deputy minister labels detained journalists ‘criminals’ as HRCM investigates mistreatment in custody
While international human rights and press freedom organisations have condemned the mass arrests as symptomatic of declining press freedom in the Maldives, the Human Rights Commission of Maldives has launched an inquiry after all 18 journalists, including seven young women, were strip-searched twice in 20 minutes in what they say was a deliberate attempt by police officers to humiliate the detainees.
05 Apr 2016, 9:00 AM
Concerns mount over Maldives press freedom after mass arrests
US Ambassador to the Maldives Atul Keshap met this morning with some of the 18 journalists arrested Sunday from a sit-in protest outside the president’s office amidst mounting concern over declining press freedom in the Maldives. The reporters were released after ten hours.
04 Apr 2016, 9:00 AM
Campaign workers for President Yameen appointed to broadcasting regulator
The ruling party-dominated parliament has approved six of President Abdulla Yameen’s nominees to the Maldives Broadcasting Commission, including the regulator’s incumbent president and two campaign workers. A group of journalists staged a silent protest outside the People’s Majlis while voting on the nominees took place around 1:30pm.
04 Apr 2016, 9:00 AM
16 journalists arrested in police crackdown on sit-in protest
The police have violently cracked down on a peaceful sit-down protest staged by journalists outside the president’s office this morning, arresting more than 15 reporters from various media outlets. Riot police officers used pepper spray and violently pushed and shoved journalists behind barricades in front of the Velaanage office building.
03 Apr 2016, 9:00 AM
Government orders ex-defence minister to cut short Singapore medical trip
The home ministry has ordered former Defence Minister Mohamed Nazim to cut short a medical trip to Singapore and return to the Maldives to serve the remainder of his 11-year jail sentence.
02 Apr 2016, 9:00 AM
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