A digest of news and opinion from the Maldives.
MP Imthiyaz Fahmy has filed a police complaint over articles on a pro-government tabloid site that he claims could put his life at risk, local media has reported. The Maafannu-Uthuru lawmaker urged police to investigate Vaguthu Online over three articles about him, according to Vnews. Vaguthu claimed the parliamentarian had called for Buddhism in the […]
Authorities must investigate the “defamatory acts and incitement to violence” against a human rights defender who tweeted about Islam. Shahindha Ismail has become the focus of criticism, threats and even a police probe for saying that Allah allowed for other faiths after President Abdulla Yameen said he would only permit Islam to be practiced in […]
There can only be one religion in the Maldives, the Islamic Ministry has said, urging people to avoid implying otherwise. The remarks follow media criticism of human rights defender Shahindha Ismail who tweeted that Allah allowed for other faiths, challenging President Abdulla Yameen’s assertion that he would only permit Islam to be practiced in the […]
The original Dhivehi article was published on Rumaalu2.com website on 20th December 2017. The following is a loose translation: When local online news ‘Vaguthu’, covered a report on several threats India was making towards Maldives government, former President Maumoon and Nasheed burst out in anger. In their language ‘Vaguthu’ was not a suitable news source. […]
A leading human rights defender has blasted a pro-government website for inciting hatred and trying to get her murdered, as police confirmed Thursday they were investigating one of her tweets about religion in the Maldives. Shahindha Ismail, from the Maldives Democracy Network, tweeted that Allah allowed for other religions after President Abdulla Yameen said the […]
India has scotched rumours of a rift with the Maldives, saying the two countries enjoyed a close relationship with shared development and security interests. External Affairs spokesman Raveesh Kumar made the remarks Thursday after a scathing anti-India editorial appeared on a Maldivian pro-government website. The main opposition MDP, which condemned the editorial, described Vaguthu as […]
The joint-opposition coalition has condemned a pro-government news website for attacking India’s prime minister and promoting anti-India sentiments. The editorial, published in Vaguthu, was titled “India is not a best friend, but an enemy!” and said the way India treated the Maldives had changed despite the “heart-to-heart” relationship the two countries had traditionally enjoyed. India […]