Politics

UN political chief assures support for ‘dead on arrival’ talks

Senior UN political official Miroslav Jenča has assured President Abdulla Yameen of UN assistance for all-party talks announced amidst continuing international concern over human rights in the Maldives. The talks however appear dead on arrival with the government and the opposition at loggerheads over the release of opposition politicians.

British MPs’ defence of Maldives regime stirs controversy

Three British MPs who defended President Abdulla Yameen’s regime against calls for sanctions during a government-sponsored visit to the Maldives have been accused of “deliberate manipulation of facts” by the opposition.

Judge requests criminal inquiry over photo

Abdul Bari Yoosuf, a controversial judge involved in the jailing of four high-profile opposition politicians, has requested a criminal inquiry against a man who allegedly threatened the judge by taking a photo “without consent.”

Government defends imprisonment of ‘extremist’ Sheikh Imran

“Extremism does not necessarily take the form of religious extremism; a call by an individual to commit violence in the name of a political ideology is as dangerous, and must be dealt with in the same way,” the foreign ministry said in a statement defending Adhaalath Party leader Sheikh Imran’s terrorism conviction.

Omnia paid £200,000 by company implicated in Maldives’ biggest corruption scandal

Omnia Strategy, a legal consultancy firm chaired by Cherie Blair, the wife of former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, was paid more than £200,000 by a company implicated in the Maldives’ biggest corruption scandal, The Daily Mail has revealed.

‘A step backward’: US and UK condemns Sheikh Imran’s terrorism conviction

Nasheed seeks 60-day extension of medical leave

Doctors estimate “it would take six to eight weeks for the initial stages of the treatment,” reads a letter Nasheed’s lawyer Hassan Latheef sent to Commissioner of Prisons Mohamed Husham on February 14.

Translation: Sheikh Imran’s speech at May Day mass rally

Adhaalath Party leader Sheikh Imran was found guilty of terrorism last night over a speech he made at a mass anti-government protest on May 1 last year. The court said Imran’s speech led to violent clashes between protesters and police officers on the night of May 1.

President asks bank to disclose account details to anti-corruption watchdog

The Maldives Islamic Bank had refused to share information about Yameen’s private bank account with the Anti-Corruption Commission for its investigation into the embezzlement of nearly US$80 million from the state-owned tourism promotion company.

Sheikh Imran sentenced to 12 years in prison

Adhaalath Party leader Sheikh Imran Abdulla has been found guilty of terrorism and sentenced to 12 years in prison.Imran was accused of inciting violence at a historic 20,000-strong anti-government demonstration on May 1 last year. He was charged under article two of the 1990 Anti-Terrorism Act, which states that promoting fear amongst the public or causing destruction of property are acts of terrorism.

President blames Nasheed for Maldives losing correspondent bank

President Abdulla Yameen has blamed former President Mohamed Nasheed’s claims of Maldivians joining extremist groups in Syria for an international bank dropping the Maldives from its client list.

Criminal court chief judge transferred to family court

The judicial watchdog has approved a proposal by the Supreme Court to transfer the chief judge of the criminal court to the family court effective February 21.

Amnesty International submits Colonel Nazim’s case to UN rights panel

Amnesty International has petitioned the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention on behalf of former Defence Minister Mohamed Nazim’s case, seeking a judgment declaring his imprisonment illegal.

Bomb scare in Maldives capital

The military’s bomb squad has removed a suspected improvised explosive device found near the vacant presidential palace this morning.

Maldives opposition condemns police obstruction of anti-corruption walk

The main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party has said that the government’s infringement of the constitutional right to freedom of assembly shows its “lack of sincerity” in inviting political parties for talks.

MPs summoned to police after dumping fake dollars outside president’s residence

Opposition MPs Ahmed Mahloof and Eva Abdulla were summoned for questioning by the police on Friday after the pair dumped fake dollar bills with President Abdulla Yameen’s face outside his private residence on Wednesday morning.

Maldives central bank denies money laundering allegations

MDP Chairperson Ali Waheed had told the opposition-aligned Raajje TV last week that US$1.5 billion in cash was brought to the Maldives last year on a chartered flight, stored at the state treasury, and transferred to private bank accounts through the MMA.

Maldives police arrest journalist at opposition-aligned TV station

A sports journalist at the opposition-aligned Raajje TV was arrested this afternoon after police officers allegedly entered the private station’s office in Malé without a court warrant. Hussain Fariyaz was arrested around 1:00pm and released about two hours later. He has alleged physical mistreatment and verbal abuse by police officers.

Maldives bans Raajje TV documentary on ‘president’s sorcerer’

The Maldives’ broadcasting regulator has ordered the opposition-aligned Raajje TV not to air a documentary about a Sri Lankan man who allegedly performed sorcery or black magic to help President Abdulla Yameen win the 2013 election.

Government decides to relaunch political party talks

The move follow warnings from a visiting delegation from the European parliament that the EU will consider imposing sanctions against top Maldivian officials if the government does not release “political prisoners” and convene “genuine inter-party talks” with an international mediator if required.