A digest of news and opinion from the Maldives.
Two minors are in custody after a stabbing in Hithadhoo, Addu City, the southernmost Maldives atoll. Police were alerted to the incident Sunday night which involved two 17 year olds. One was stabbed with a sharp object, but both received injuries. “The assault involved two minors. They are currently under police custody after receiving treatment […]
Parliament reconvened after a one-month recess Monday morning with opposition lawmakers protesting behind a new five-foot wall built in front of the speaker’s well. In the face of vociferous chants for his resignation, Speaker Abdulla Maseeh Mohamed concluded the sitting in less than 15 minutes after calling a vote on minor changes to the Majlis standing […]
The legal team of MP Faris Maumoon have questioned the court’s authority to proceed with his identity fraud trial. Faris, the son of former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, was charged with identity fraud over the use of the flag and logo of the ruling Progressive Party of Maldives at a joint opposition press conference in […]
Suspects arrested in connection with the sudden and unexplained deaths of two young people in Hulhumale have been released. Ahmed Haameen, a 22-year-old from the island of Thimarafushi in Thaa atoll, and 18-year-old Fathmath Sama, from the capital Malé, died at Hulhumalé beach after renting a guesthouse room for a birthday party on September 28. […]
Police are investigating two migrant workers who were arrested for brewing alcohol in Male’. One Bangladeshi and one Indian worker were arrested late Thursday in an operation carried out by the Drug Enforcement Department. The officers searched the residential premises with a court warrant. Possession and distribution of alcohol without a licence is a crime […]
The Maldives has lashed out at the European Parliament after it called for individual targeted sanctions over “the deteriorating political and human rights situation in the Maldives and the increasingly authoritarian rule of President Abdulla Yameen”. European lawmakers passed a resolution Thursday urging Maldivian authorities to reform the judiciary, release political prisoners, and to guarantee […]
Three opposition lawmakers were Thursday summoned to police headquarters as investigations continue into the alleged obstruction and assault of security officers inside the parliament chamber earlier this year. Ali Azim and Mohamed Nazim of the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party, and independent MP Hussain Areef signed statements after being interrogated at the Shaheed Hussain Adam […]
The European parliament Thursday adopted a resolution calling on member states to consider imposing individual targeted sanctions in response to a “dramatic deterioration” of democracy and human rights in the Maldives. The resolution called on Maldivian authorities to reform the judiciary, release political prisoners, and to guarantee the constitutional rights to freedom of speech and […]
State utility firms are operating at a loss, a parliamentary committee has heard, with one power company’s debt standing at around MVR1.6 billion (US$103 million). Environment and energy minister Thoriq Ibrahim, as well as utility company bosses, were summoned to a government oversight committee session on Wednesday to answer questions on unequal prices between the […]