A digest of news and opinion from the Maldives.
The Maldives continues to be plagued by a centuries-old social problem of secular, atheistic and extremist ideologies, Defence Minister Adam Shareef Umar said Friday night. Speaking at an event to mark the 29th anniversary of Victory Day, Shareef said both secular or irreligious thought and religious extremism pose a threat to Maldivian independence, referring to […]
A local company implicated in a historic corruption scandal deposited US$1 million into President Abdulla Yameen’s private account at the Maldives Islamic Bank, according to the Anti-Corruption Commission. The ACC confirmed the longstanding allegations in a document quietly published on Thursday with summaries of cases closed during August. Both Yameen and his jailed former deputy were […]
The joint opposition has denounced the Elections Commission’s disqualification of three former ruling party lawmakers, calling it unconstitutional and an “egregiously partisan move designed to please President [Abdulla] Yameen.” The EC informed parliament Tuesday that MPs Mohamed Musthafa, Saudhulla Hilmy and Ali Shah have lost their seats following their expulsion from the Progressive Party of […]
An inquiry by a special committee at the president’s office is underway into a quarrel between the country’s top two police officers, it has been widely reported. Both the police and president’s office spokesmen refused to comment but sources have told several local media outlets that President Abdulla Yameen set up the committee about two weeks […]
The High Court decided Tuesday to proceed with appeal hearings on MP Faris Maumoon’s arrest and detention after overruling strong objections over the change of the bench. The three-judge panel overseeing the appeal was changed after hearings concluded in early August. The MP for the Dhiggaru constituency was arrested in late July and placed under […]
More than 40 staff at the ministry of housing and infrastructure who worked to set up a ruling party meeting hall in Malé joined the Progressive Party of Maldives at the jagaha opening ceremony Monday night. “I thank Minister [Dr Mohamed] Muiz very sincerely for making this jagaha so perfect. And Muiz’s talent is such that he […]
The opposition coalition has disputed the expulsion of three lawmakers from the ruling party, a move that could unseat the MPs due to a Supreme Court anti-defection ruling. The ethics committee of the Progressive Party of Maldives reportedly decided on Saturday to expel MPs Mohamed Musthafa, Saudhulla Hilmy and Ali Shah for defaming the government […]
Recent campaign activities and events of the ruling Progressive Party of Maldives have been funded by the government, the joint opposition parties have alleged. At a coalition press briefing Sunday evening, MP Imthiyaz Fahmy also accused the PPM of using civil servants and employees of independent institutions and state-owned companies to organise party activities. “The […]
Representatives of the opposition coalition met with a visiting European Union delegation Sunday night and sought help to pave the way for an inclusive, free and fair presidential election in 2018. The visit comes after the European Parliament adopted a resolution earlier this month urging Maldivian authorities to reform the judiciary, release political prisoners, and to […]