A digest of news and opinion from the Maldives.
Former principal of Hiriya School, Ali Nazim, who drowned while trying to rescue four students during an excursion in September 2011. Ghiyasuddin International School has launched a special award to honour the late former principal of Hiriya School, Ali Nazim, who drowned while trying to rescue students during a school excursion in 2011. The “Late […]
Plans to destroy a 12-acre mangrove system in Kulhudhuffushi to make way for an airport have raised alarm among activists and islanders who fear environmental and economic damage due to the loss of the unique ecosystem. The Maldives Independent travelled to Kulhudhuffushi to meet a community of ropemakers whose way of life is under threat. […]
A 75-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of sexually abusing four siblings on an island in Gaaf Dhaal atoll. A police spokesman confirmed that the suspect was arrested in Malé last Thursday “on charges of sexually abusing four underage girls.” On Friday, the criminal court remanded him to 15 days under house arrest. The arrest […]
Islamic minister Dr Ziyad Baqir and defence minister Adam Shareef speak at press conference regarding the funds raised for the Rohingya. PHOTO: HUSSAIN WAHEED/MIHAARU The Maldives will hand over MVR 18 million, raised to relieve the plight of the Rohingya, to the Bangladesh Red Crescent in a week, announced Islamic minister Dr Ahmed Ziyad Baqir […]
The Maldives is tightening its grip on the media and freedom of speech by using the broadcasting regulator to silence and intimidate journalists, a leading NGO has warned, as the government pushes a draft law that could see newspapers and TV stations temporarily shut down or fined. Transparency Maldives, in a statement Monday, condemned the […]
Jailed former defence minister Mohamed Nazim arrives for a court hearing. PHOTO: NISHAN ALI/MIHAARU The family of jailed former defence minister Mohamed Nazim released a statement to mark his 1,000th day of imprisonment on Monday, declaring that each passing day is another blow of judicial injustice to Nazim. Nazim is currently serving 11 years in jail […]
IGMH staff pictured at the new cardiac centre at the state-run hospital. MIHAARU FILE PHOTO/NISHAN ALI The Ministry of Health has said that it made the mass job vacancy announcement last week in an attempt to increase employment opportunities for Maldivian citizens. The health ministry announced on Thursday that it would be recruiting 160 specialist […]
Journalist Hawwa Rasheed* was in a near-deserted newsroom compiling headlines for an upcoming bulletin when two rough hands grappled her from behind and grabbed at her breasts. “I was completely numb. Those few minutes felt like years,” Hawwa said while fiddling with her headscarf, trying to cover her chest. She slapped away the invasive hands […]
The elderly man who has been accused of sexually assaulting four sisters on the back of a motorbike in the capital Male. Reportedly he fled from his island when the allegations surfaced and moved to Male — The elderly man who was arrested on Thursday after being accused of sexually assaulting four sisters in the […]