A digest of news and opinion from the Maldives.
TV stations have been warned against broadcasting footage live-streamed on social media by MPs who are inside the parliament chamber. In a circular released Monday, the Broadcasting Commission of Maldives said such videos contained “obscene language and content contrary to standards of public decency”. These contents also defamed members of parliament, the statement said. The […]
Jumhooree party leader Gasim Ibrahim can be declared a fugitive, the Maldives prison authority has said, after the latest deadline for his return to Male passed on Monday night. Gasim, sentenced to three years in absentia for attempted bribery, was released on medical furlough for cardiovascular treatment in September. He was initially given 10 days […]
Legal measures for the prosecution and prevention of sorcery and black magic need to be ‘streamlined’, authorities have told the Maldives Independent. Belief in sorcery and black magic, known locally as fanditha and sihuru, is common in the Maldives. Fanditha is allowed for licensed parties under a 1978 law. Sihuru, enlisting demons to harm others, […]
A man has been fined almost $10,000 for caging endangered green turtle hatchlings. Mohamed Musthafa from the island of Maakurathu in Raa atoll was fined MVR149,000 ($9,600), the first penalty of its kind imposed for caging the creatures. Five out of the seven species of sea turtle are found in the Maldives. Green turtles are […]
There are staggeringly low conviction rates for corruption-related crimes in the Maldives, a new reported has revealed. The report, from NGO Transparency Maldives, said only one corruption-related case reached conviction between 2010 and 2014 despite 175 cases being submitted for prosecution by the Anti-Corruption Commission. The single conviction refers to the sentencing of Kaashidhoo MP […]
The gender ministry’s monthly statistics of reported cases have shown a drop from 260 cases in July to 246 in August, despite a rise in cases of child sexual abuse. According to the ministry, 131 out of the 246 cases in August were connected to different forms of child abuse. Child abuse cases have continued […]
A 23-year-old has been arrested for “physically taking part” in the murder of a man in Hulhumalé, police said Sunday, but they refused to comment on whether they were looking for anyone else who might have been involved. Haris Abdul Gafoor from the island of Dhaandhoo in Gaaf Alif atoll was pronounced dead at the […]
The council president of Dhidhoo island in northern Haa Alif atoll has been suspended in connection to a pending investigation related to newly built housing units on the island. Ali Hashim’s indefinite suspension came on Thursday with the Local Government Authority alleging the councillor, from the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party, tried to prepare a […]
The administrative arm of the Maldives judiciary has lifted the suspension of 16 lawyers who signed a petition calling for judicial reform. The Department of Judicial Administration – which functions under the direct supervision of the Supreme Court – announced Saturday that the suspension was lifted after the investigation of their cases was completed. According to local media, the […]