A digest of news and opinion from the Maldives.
The government has pledged 1,000 flats to civil servants out of the 7,000 flats to be built in a social housing scheme in Hulhumalé. Housing ministry spokesman Ahmed Fazal said the flats would be reserved for those working in the Greater Malé region. There are around 24,000 civil servants in the Maldives with the majority […]
Hundreds of non-Maldivian fishing vessels have been operating illegally in the nation’s waters, according to an assessment from the Ministry of Fisheries and Agriculture. The assessment was conducted with help from international cooperation, based on Automatic Identification System (AIS) data collected through satellite service providers. The two-year study identified 432 vessels performing unauthorized activities in […]
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. […]
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 […]
Delays in carrying out the death penalty due will be resolved by October 8, the home minister has said, despite international condemnation of the country resuming executions. The Maldives in 2014 ended a six-decade moratorium on capital punishment, with President Abdulla Yameen previously declaring the island nation would be ready for executions last month. “By […]
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, […]
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 […]
Flogging. Pre-marital sex. Suicide. Maverick film-maker Abdul Faththaah’s latest flick touches on taboo subjects in the Maldives. Hahdhu (Limits), written by Mahdi Ahmed, has been watched by more than 10,000 people since its release earlier this month, garnering a 4.6 rating out of 5 on its Facebook page. One of the most talked-about scenes is […]
Almost 100 expatriates suspected of being undocumented have been taken for screening to the expat detention centre in Hulhumalé Thursday. The Immigration and Emigration Department’s media official Hassan Khaleel told the Maldives Independent it was a routine inspection and not based on a complaint. The 87 people were standing near Zikra mosque in the capital. […]