Journalists and politicians have questioned the independence of a broadcasting commission member after she was pictured organising a campaign event for President Abdulla Yameen. Fathimath Zaina, who worked as an aide to First Lady Fathimath Ibrahim before joining the Maldives Broadcasting Commission, was photographed handing out seating arrangements to people at a rally Monday night. […]
The finance ministry has been criticised for the delay in issuing political party funds. The Political Parties Act mandates the issue of state funds to parties with members over 10,000 within the first three months of the year. This year approximately MVR27 million (US$1.75 million) of state funds – 0.1 – 0.2 percent of the […]
President Abdulla Yameen condemned the opposition’s “anarchist and ruinous ideology” at an event with senior citizens Monday night. While the “main source of guidance” for the Maldives at present are the principles of democracy, Yameen said, “nothing can come before the nation’s stability and peace and love of the country.” “Democracy will not be instilled through […]
Speaker Abdulla Maseeh Mohamed conducted Tuesday’s sitting of parliament over the din of protesting opposition lawmakers, paying no heed to the disorder and adjourning proceedings after calling two votes. MPs clamouring for Maseeh’s resignation as he went through the day’s agenda could be heard in the live-feed provided to TV stations. Reporters and members of […]
Legal teams have been decimated and trials could end up paralysed because of the mass suspension of lawyers in the Maldives, a United Nations rights expert said Monday. The comments from the UN Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, Diego García-Sayán, follow the suspension triggered by scores of lawyers calling for judicial […]
Public hearings will be held in Yameen Rasheed’s murder trial, the Prosecutor General’s office has told the Maldives Independent, amid mounting criticism of the closed-door sessions. Following a statement from 20 regional rights groups, the PG office’s spokesman Ahmed Thaufeeg said all criminal cases were carried out according to the criminal procedure code. “All the […]
The Maldives has issued a sovereign guarantee for a US$370 million (MVR5.6 billion) loan for the development of 7,000 housing units in the capital’s suburb Hulhumalé. The development of the housing units, by China Construction Company Limited, is financed by the Industrial Commercial Bank of China. The government’s decision to issue a sovereign guarantee for […]
The family of Jumhooree Party leader Gasim Ibrahim has asked Maldivian authorities to extend his medical leave for a fourth time on doctor’s advice. According to local media reports, Gasim’s son Ibrahim Siyad Gasim wrote to the Maldives Correctional Service saying doctors had advised him to stay in Singapore until October 28 for tests. Gasim, […]
Raajje TV has plans to appeal the Maldives Broadcasting Commission decision to fine the station, also saying Monday it is suing the police for negligence over a 2013 arson attack that destroyed its studio. The opposition-aligned station was fined MVR 500,000 ($32,467) for airing comments the broadcasting regulator claimed posed a threat to national security […]