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A digest of news and opinion from the Maldives.

Society & Culture

Maldivian model committed suicide, conclude Bangladesh police

Maldivian model committed suicide, conclude Bangladesh police

3 min read

Bangladeshi police have concluded that Raudha Athif, a 21-year-old Maldivian medical student who was found hanged in her college dorm room, committed suicide after a breakup with her boyfriend. In a report submitted Tuesday to the Rajshahi metropolitan court, the criminal investigation department dismissed allegations of murder from her father, Dr Mohamed Athif, Bangladesh’s The Daily Star reported. […]

Abdullah Rasheed Mohamed with Maldives Correctional Service officers

HRCM and law enforcement oversight body probe May Day Protestor’s death

2 min read

Abdullah Rasheed Mohamed with Maldives Correctional Service officers — The Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (HRCM) and the National Integrity Commission (NIC) have finally begun investigating the death of the May Day protestor who passed away suddenly whilst serving his sentence. Abdullah Rasheed Mohamed, 51, passed away at the state-run Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital […]

Government creating ‘youth slums’ in Maldives, says ex-minister

Government creating ‘youth slums’ in Maldives, says ex-minister

2 min read

The government is “creating youth slums” with new flats in Hulhumalé aimed at married couples, a former housing minister told the Maldives Independent on Tuesday. The Housing Development Corporation (HDC) earlier this month invited bidders to submit proposals for the construction of a 14-storey residential block comprising 322 one-bedroom apartments with 23 apartments on each […]

Maldives Police Service has Highest Percentage of Female Officers in South-east Asia Region

Maldives Police Service has Highest Percentage of Female Officers in South-east Asia Region

4 min read

Aminath Suzee, Chief Inspector of Police in Male, with colleagues (PRNewsfoto/Maldives Police Force) The Maldives has the highest percentage of female police officers in south-east Asia and, according to two serving Chief Inspectors, that figure is set to rise within the next few years. “We are actively trying to encourage more females in the service,” […]

RaajjeGate: A Timeline

RaajjeGate: A Timeline

2 min read

In August 2016, the Maldives passed a controversial law that criminalised defamation and restricted freedom of expression. The Maldives Broadcasting Commission has punished opposition-aligned Raajje TV several times under this law, increasing tensions between journalists and the government-backed regulator. Following is a timeline of actions taken by MBC against Raajje TV this year. March 7: […]

RaajjeGate: Fines, fundraising and lawsuits

RaajjeGate: Fines, fundraising and lawsuits

5 min read

During a daily team meeting one Sunday at Raajje TV, journalists and producers debated on ways to minimise the impact of their third fundraising drive for the year on their work. The campaigns – the current one launched on October 8 – battle exorbitant fines imposed by the Maldives Broadcasting Commission (MBC) after the introduction […]

Can't ignore, the prisoners deaths

Can’t ignore the prisoners’ death rise

5 min read

The original Dhivehi article was published on Avas.mv website on 15th October 2017. The following is a loose translation: Prison is a target of huge criticisms always. The prisoners and their lawyers always raise complaints against the poor prison conditions. However, most of the times it is ignored saying those are attempts to evade jail. […]

Anti-graft NGO resumes campaign for MP asset declaration

Anti-graft NGO resumes campaign for MP asset declaration

2 min read

Anti-corruption NGO Transparency Maldives has relaunched a campaign urging the public to pressure lawmakers to disclose their personal finances. The Haamakurey or ‘Make it Public’ campaign calls on MPs to make their asset declaration available to the public. The constitution requires them to annually submit to the parliament’s secretary-general “a statement of all property and monies owned by him, business interests […]

The Vogue model was allegedly murdered by Islamic extremists, her family claims.Source:Instagram

60 Minutes investigates alleged suicide of famous Vogue model

4 min read

The Vogue model was allegedly murdered by Islamic extremists, her family claims.Source:Instagram RAUDHA Athif was just 21 and the model who grew up in the picturesque Maldives appeared to have the world at her feet — until she turned up dead in a hostel room in Bangladesh. After posting pictures of herself on social media, […]