The Maldives’ absence from a UN vote on the prevention of mass atrocities amid global concern over the exodus of Rohingya Muslims from Myanmar has drawn fierce criticism with the opposition speculating that the move was dictated by China. On Friday, 113 countries voted in favour of including a debate on ‘The Responsibility to Protect […]
Three young men have been charged with terrorism over the abduction of Ahmed Rilwan, more than three years after the Maldives Independent journalist was forced into a car at knifepoint outside his apartment building in Hulhumalé. The Prosecutor General’s office pressed charges against suspected gang members Aalif Rauf, Mohamed Nooradeen, and Mohamed Suaid on August 15, a […]
The anti-corruption watchdog has launched a probe after an anonymised list of 661 flat winners caused an uproar from unsuccessful applicants of the government housing programme. Complaints were lodged last week over the lack of transparency and the housing ministry’s failure to explain how points were awarded, Anti-Corruption Commission officials told the press. About 15,000 […]
The health authorities have drawn up new rules to stop the sale of single cigarettes and introduce graphic warning images on packs and tobacco products. The sale of single sticks of cigarettes needs to be banned because “it is a tactic mainly used to lure children and young adolescents into smoking,” Dr Aishath Aroona, vice chair […]
A port worker was severely burned and two others injured when an oil barrel exploded Tuesday morning near the welding workshop at the Maldives Ports Limited’s commercial harbour in Malé. A police spokesman said the victims were rushed to the hospital shortly after the incident was reported around 10 am. The three MPL staff were working near […]
The following is a translation of a petition signed by 56 lawyers outlining serious concerns with the Maldivian judiciary. We, lawyers, are signing this petition because we are concerned about the situation of justice in the Maldives. We, therefore, call upon the relevant state authorities to address the concerns outlined herein. A majority of the […]
A group of international human rights groups have called on the Supreme Court to lift the suspension of more than 50 lawyers who signed a petition calling for judicial reform, criticising the lack of due process before the unprecedented move. “None of the 56 lawyers has been allowed to exercise their right to defend themselves or […]
The Prosecutor General’s office has revised charges raised against MP Faris Maumoon from accepting bribes to offering to bribe fellow lawmakers to back the impeachment of the speaker. An official from the PG office said the change was made without withdrawing the case from the criminal court, which has since handed over case documents to […]
The Maldives has urged the UN high commissioner for human rights to “present a more balanced view of the democratic reality of the country” after strong criticism over the reversal of democratic gains. In his opening statement Monday at the UN Human Rights Council’s 36th session, Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussain said the Maldivian government was “increasingly […]