Banning ‘India Out’, Expat Murder, Judges Facing Impeachment

Thursday, April 21

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih issued a decree to ban the opposition’s ‘India Out’ campaign, which was deemed by the national security council to pose a threat to public order and national security as well as regional security with the incitement of hatred for “political purposes”.

Shortly after the president ordered law enforcement bodies to put a stop to the campaign, police removed a massive ‘India Out’ banner from former president Abdulla Yameen’s residence. The criminal court granted a warrant to seize the banner on the grounds that it constituted an act of sowing discord and fomenting hatred towards India and demeaning the country’s honour and dignity, which could adversely affect diplomatic relations and harm the interests of Maldivians visiting India.

Opposition supporters protested outside as police took down the banner.

The opposition party vowed to challenge the legality of the president’s decree in court as prominent lawyers questioned whether it could legitimately restrict freedom of expression. The move fails the test of “necessity in a democratic society” to limit a constitutional right, contended Dr Ahmed Shaheed, a UN special rapporteur and former Maldives foreign minister.

Thursday, April 21

A 59-year-old woman arrested on suspicion of sexually abusing a six-year-old girl in Addu City was released from custody. The Prosecutor General’s office decided not to raise charges due to a lack of evidence, according to the police.

Wednesday, April 20

The judicial watchdog recommended the dismissal of two High Court judges. The Judicial Service Commission investigated a complaint about Judges Abdulla Hameed and Abdul Rauf Ibrahim buying government-owned apartments at discounted prices, transactions that were found to have been in violation of both the rules for providing housing to state officials and the constitutional requirement for parliament to determine the salary and allowances of judges.

Earlier in the week, Judge Ali Sameer, who was also under investigation over the purchase of a flat during the previous administration, resigned from the High Court.

A judge can be removed if the JSC finds that he is grossly incompetent or guilty of gross misconduct. A resolution submitted to parliament must be approved by a two-thirds majority of MPs present and voting. The ruling party has a three-quarters majority with 65 lawmakers in the 87-member People’s Majlis.

Wednesday, April 20

Five adult turtles “discovered immobilised and unnaturally rolled over on their backs” on the uninhabited island of Athahendha were rescued by the Olive Ridley Project based in the Six Senses resort in Laamu atoll.

Tuesday, April 19

President Solih inaugurated the ‘Honorary Consuls Scholarship Programme,’ which aims to offer 44 scholarship opportunities arranged by seven contributing honorary consuls over the next two years.

Tuesday, April 19

The judicial watchdog launched a probe into alleged misconduct by Drug Court Judge Mohamed Naeem, who is accused of breaching ethical standards with a message sent to a social media group.

On the previous day, the Judicial Service Commission suspended Magistrate Ali Adam for expressing political views on Facebook.

Monday, April 18

MoUs were signed under an Indian grant aid scheme for projects worth US$1.7 million, including a mental health centre in Addu, a speech therapy unit in Kulhudhufushi, and a prosthetics and orthotics manufacturing workshop at the Hulhumalé’ Hospital, as well as the preservation of cultural places in Noonu Landhoo Maabudhuge and Thaa Dhiyamigili Ganduvaru, and the development of a multi-sports complex in Noonu Manadhoo and youth centres in Gaafu Alif Gemanafushi and Alif Dhaalu Dhigurah.

Monday, April 18

Sunday, April 17

A Pakistani chef wanted in connection with the murder of a Bangladeshi man in a Hulhumalé restaurant was arrested in the early hours of the morning. A manhunt was launched for 26-year-old Muhammad Abid after the victim was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital.

The Bangladeshi waiter at the Pakistan food restaurant Khanji was reportedly stabbed multiple times during an altercation in the late afternoon on Saturday.

The body of the victim, identified to the media as M D Shahin, 29, was repatriated to Bangladesh later in the week.

Muhammed Abid

Sunday, April 17