Beleaguered Maldives President Abdulla Yameen is adamant that the first execution of a convict in sixty years will take place under his watch, as a reiteration of Maldives&#39; Islamic credentials. 
 
The politically isolated president, who is shunned by colleagues and family, is refusing to intervene despite several scholars calling the proposed execution un-Islamic. 
 
He has also ignored appeals of human rights groups and even the United Nations to stay the execution. 
 
Twenty two-year-old Hussain Humaam Ahamed was condemned to death by the Maldives Supreme Court in 2014 for the murder of a Member of Parliament, Afrasheem Ali, in 2012. 
 
The verdict was based on a confession that was obtained while he was in custody, and which he retracted later.&nbsp; 
 
The Supreme Court, over which President Yameen has a stranglehold, disregarded the claim that Humaam has a mental disability and the request for an independent psychiatric evaluation. If the death sentence is carried out, it will be the first execution in the Maldives since 1953. 
 
Islamic scholar calls execution &#39;un-Islamic&#39;&nbsp; 
 
The voices of protest have been crushed in the Maldives due to strict curbs, but renowned Islamic scholar at the University of Oxford, Tariq Ramadan, in a letter to President Yameen, has listed out reasons why the proposed execution is un-Islamic. 
 
Citing extensively from the Hudud -- the Islamic Penal Code, Ramadan has argued that 22-year-old Humaam&#39;s death penalty contravened many basic prescriptions in the Shariah.&nbsp; 
 
Stating that Humaam`s &#39;confession&#39; was forcefully obtained, undermining fairness of his trial at a basic level, Ramadan has pointed out that pleas made by Humaam`s family that he was suffering from mental disability, has been totally disregarded by the court. This, Ramadan argues, is also against Islamic law and jurisprudence as any doubt about the mental health of a murderer should play in his or her favour. 
 
The heavy conditions found in the Islamic legislation have as a raison d`etre (`illah) to avoid any doubt; if there is the slightest doubt, then the punishment should be suspended. Ramadan also emphasises that it was un-Islamic on the part of President Yameen to ignore requests of the victim`s father and brother, who have stated that they do not wish the death sentence to be implemented. 
 
This call to spare Humaam&#39;s life by two members of the victim&#39;s family cannot be ignored under Sharia law.&nbsp; 
 
According to the principles of qisas, if the family of the victim asks for the sentence not to be implemented at any time before the execution (for the majority of the `ulama`), the latter should be suspended whatever the public authority might decide. 
 
If Yameen were to respect Shariah conditions, it is imperative for him to listen to the family`s position, says the scholar. Ramadan adds that the above and beyond all of this, Rahmah (compassion) is an absolute necessity and an essential principle even if there is no element of doubt and conditions are met. 
 
Ramadan has categorically stated in his letter to President Yameen that Humaam`s execution would contravene the fundamental principles of Islamic law and urged the latter to take all possible actions to prevent the execution. 
 
The scholar also got support from human rights groups around the world who have appealed to the Maldivian president that International law prohibits the use of death penalty against people with mental disabilities.&nbsp; 
 
But President Yameen, who has reintroduced capital punishment after a moratorium of 60 years, seems determined to not just stop the arbitrary deprivation of life but also break the tenets of Islamic law. Ever since President Yameen reintroduced the death penalty in Maldives, execution facilities have been constructed at the Maldives` Maafushi Prison. The age of criminal responsibility is 10 in the Maldives which means that even juvelines could potentially face execution. 
 
(ANI)&nbsp;

The politically isolated Abdulla Yameen refuses to intervene despite several scholars calling the execution un-Islamic

Beleaguered Maldives President Abdulla Yameen is adamant that the first execution of a convict in sixty years will take place under his watch, as a reiteration of Maldives' Islamic credentials. The politically isolated president, who is shunned by colleagues and family, is refusing to intervene despite several scholars calling the proposed execution un-Islamic. He has also ignored appeals of human rights groups and even the United Nations to stay the execution. Twenty two-year-old Hussain Humaam Ahamed was condemned to death by the Maldives Supreme Court in 2014 for the murder of a Member of Parliament, Afrasheem Ali, in 2012. The verdict was based on a confession that was obtained while he was in custody, and which he retracted later. The Supreme Court, over which President Yameen has a stranglehold, disregarded the claim that Humaam has a mental disability and the request for an independent psychiatric evaluation. If the death sentence is carried out, it will be the first execution in the Maldives since 1953. Islamic scholar calls execution 'un-Islamic' The voices of protest have been crushed in the Maldives due to strict curbs, but renowned Islamic scholar at the University of Oxford, Tariq Ramadan, in a letter to President Yameen, has listed out reasons why the proposed execution is un-Islamic. Citing extensively from the Hudud -- the Islamic Penal Code, Ramadan has argued that 22-year-old Humaam's death penalty contravened many basic prescriptions in the Shariah. Stating that Humaam`s 'confession' was forcefully obtained, undermining fairness of his trial at a basic level, Ramadan has pointed out that pleas made by Humaam`s family that he was suffering from mental disability, has been totally disregarded by the court. This, Ramadan argues, is also against Islamic law and jurisprudence as any doubt about the mental health of a murderer should play in his or her favour. The heavy conditions found in the Islamic legislation have as a raison d`etre (`illah) to avoid any doubt; if there is the slightest doubt, then the punishment should be suspended. Ramadan also emphasises that it was un-Islamic on the part of President Yameen to ignore requests of the victim`s father and brother, who have stated that they do not wish the death sentence to be implemented. This call to spare Humaam's life by two members of the victim's family cannot be ignored under Sharia law. According to the principles of qisas, if the family of the victim asks for the sentence not to be implemented at any time before the execution (for the majority of the `ulama`), the latter should be suspended whatever the public authority might decide. If Yameen were to respect Shariah conditions, it is imperative for him to listen to the family`s position, says the scholar. Ramadan adds that the above and beyond all of this, Rahmah (compassion) is an absolute necessity and an essential principle even if there is no element of doubt and conditions are met. Ramadan has categorically stated in his letter to President Yameen that Humaam`s execution would contravene the fundamental principles of Islamic law and urged the latter to take all possible actions to prevent the execution. The scholar also got support from human rights groups around the world who have appealed to the Maldivian president that International law prohibits the use of death penalty against people with mental disabilities. But President Yameen, who has reintroduced capital punishment after a moratorium of 60 years, seems determined to not just stop the arbitrary deprivation of life but also break the tenets of Islamic law. Ever since President Yameen reintroduced the death penalty in Maldives, execution facilities have been constructed at the Maldives` Maafushi Prison. The age of criminal responsibility is 10 in the Maldives which means that even juvelines could potentially face execution. (ANI)

Maldives President adamant first execution in 60 years will go ahead, to reiterate country's 'Islamic credentials'

The political face-off in the Maldives between President Yameen and his half-brother former President Gayoom has reached its latest flashpoint with foreign minister Dunya Maumoon resigning from her post, hours after her brother and member of Parliament Faarish Maumoon was expelled from the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM). &nbsp; 
 
This is yet another high-profile loss for the cabinet of President Abdullah Yameen.&nbsp; 
 
Amongst the senior-most Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) leaders, Ibrahim Soleih said: &quot;We are watching the situation very closely as there are a lot of developments taking place very rapidly.&quot; 
 
When asked if the MDP would be open to supporting a splinter group of the PPM, led by former President Gayoom, he did not rule out the possibility, and said: &quot;We will take steps in the benefit of the country. We will support anyone who is against corruption and in favour of democracy in the Maldives.&quot;&nbsp; 
 
The MDP national executive is scheduled to hold an emergency meeting in a few hours from now and is expected to decide on whether or not to support a splinter group of the PPM led by former President Gayoom. &nbsp; 
 
Meanwhile, sources in the PPM have told WION that President Yameen has found himself increasingly isolated within his own party while &nbsp;support for former President Gayoom has been growing. The latter is understood to still have substantial control over the PPM amid growing unrest within the party over corruption allegations and the ad-hoc decision making style of President Yameen.&nbsp; 
 
Yameen&#39;s isolation within his own party was magnified following the imprisonment of his right hand man and Vice-President Ahmed Adeeb, who was jailed on charges of an assassination attempt on President Yameen and his wife on their way back from Haj last year.&nbsp; 
 
Pertinently, Maumoon is the eleventh member of the government to resign.&nbsp;In the past fortnight itself, home minister Umar Naseer has also resigned.&nbsp; 
 
Gayoom&#39;s move to reject a petition signed by a majority of the PPM council asking him to grant President Yameen the party ticket for the 2018 presidential election without a party primary proved to be the latest flashpoint in the power struggle with his half-brother.&nbsp; 
 
The 82-year-old Gayoom ordered secretary general Mohamed Tholal to seek his permission before calling executive council meetings and later sent a text message to PPM deputy leader Abdul Raheem Abdulla, stripping him of the authority to administer the party. &nbsp; 
 
As WION spoke to Faarish, he said: &quot;Yes, things are very strained. The issues we face are national issues. However, at this stage, we are still trying to address these by internal party reforms. But things are moving at an alarming pace.&quot; 
 
Calls to Ahmed Nihaan, PPM Member of Parliament, and house majority leader went unanswered.&nbsp; 
 
(With inputs from Royden D&#39;Souza) 
 
&nbsp;

Dunya Maumoon is the eleventh member of the government to resign, putting President Yameen in a critical situation

The political face-off in the Maldives between President Yameen and his half-brother former President Gayoom has reached its latest flashpoint with foreign minister Dunya Maumoon resigning from her post, hours after her brother and member of Parliament Faarish Maumoon was expelled from the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM). This is yet another high-profile loss for the cabinet of President Abdullah Yameen. Amongst the senior-most Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) leaders, Ibrahim Soleih said: "We are watching the situation very closely as there are a lot of developments taking place very rapidly." When asked if the MDP would be open to supporting a splinter group of the PPM, led by former President Gayoom, he did not rule out the possibility, and said: "We will take steps in the benefit of the country. We will support anyone who is against corruption and in favour of democracy in the Maldives." The MDP national executive is scheduled to hold an emergency meeting in a few hours from now and is expected to decide on whether or not to support a splinter group of the PPM led by former President Gayoom. Meanwhile, sources in the PPM have told WION that President Yameen has found himself increasingly isolated within his own party while support for former President Gayoom has been growing. The latter is understood to still have substantial control over the PPM amid growing unrest within the party over corruption allegations and the ad-hoc decision making style of President Yameen. Yameen's isolation within his own party was magnified following the imprisonment of his right hand man and Vice-President Ahmed Adeeb, who was jailed on charges of an assassination attempt on President Yameen and his wife on their way back from Haj last year. Pertinently, Maumoon is the eleventh member of the government to resign. In the past fortnight itself, home minister Umar Naseer has also resigned. Gayoom's move to reject a petition signed by a majority of the PPM council asking him to grant President Yameen the party ticket for the 2018 presidential election without a party primary proved to be the latest flashpoint in the power struggle with his half-brother. The 82-year-old Gayoom ordered secretary general Mohamed Tholal to seek his permission before calling executive council meetings and later sent a text message to PPM deputy leader Abdul Raheem Abdulla, stripping him of the authority to administer the party. As WION spoke to Faarish, he said: "Yes, things are very strained. The issues we face are national issues. However, at this stage, we are still trying to address these by internal party reforms. But things are moving at an alarming pace." Calls to Ahmed Nihaan, PPM Member of Parliament, and house majority leader went unanswered. (With inputs from Royden D'Souza)

Maldives opposition 'open' to support former President Gayoom in regime change

The Maldives Civil Court today banned former employees of the defunct Haveeru from working in any other media station, ordering Ministry of Home Affairs to penalise any employee who does, within the next two years, according to reports. 
 
The issue could force the closure of&nbsp;Mihaaru newspaper,&nbsp;which was set up last year by former&nbsp;Haveeru&nbsp;journalists who resigned en masse after the ownership dispute. 
 
Mihaaru&#39;s&nbsp;assistant editor Ali Naafiz spoke to&nbsp;The Maldives Independent: 
 
&quot;If we continue, the home ministry can enforce the order and take back the operating license of&nbsp;Mihaaru.&nbsp;If we still continue we can be arrested and charged individually.&nbsp;We will be jobless for the next two years. This is an absolute violation of our fundamental rights, our right to work anywhere we want. This is part of the government&#39;s continuing crackdown on the press.&quot; 
 
This comes after the shutting down of a media outlet, Channel News Maldives,&nbsp;known for being critical of the current administrtion. Four journalists from&nbsp;Raajje TV,&nbsp;known for supporting the opposition, are soon to stand trial. 
 
Haveeru&nbsp;shuttered last April after the paper&#39;s founder, Doctor Mohamed Zahir Hussain, was sued by its three new shareholders for a share of the assets and profits acquired over the past 35 years.&nbsp; 
 
This High Court ruling controversially cited a 1983 agreement, resulting in three former editorial staff getting a controlling stake of the paper.&nbsp; 
 
Reportedly, sources close to Zahir claim the lawsuit was politically motivated, and sought to compromise the newspapers journalistic independence. 
 
Many argue that today&#39;s ruling infringed on the constitutional rights of the former&nbsp;Haveeru&nbsp;employees. 
 
&quot;Every citizen has the right to engage in any employment or occupation,&quot; states article 37(a) of the constitution, which also prohibits slavery and forced labour. 
 
(WION with inputs from The Maldives Independent)

'This is part of the government's continuing crackdown on the press'--former Haveeru editor

The Maldives Civil Court today banned former employees of the defunct Haveeru from working in any other media station, ordering Ministry of Home Affairs to penalise any employee who does, within the next two years, according to reports. The issue could force the closure of Mihaaru newspaper, which was set up last year by former Haveeru journalists who resigned en masse after the ownership dispute. Mihaaru's assistant editor Ali Naafiz spoke to The Maldives Independent: "If we continue, the home ministry can enforce the order and take back the operating license of Mihaaru. If we still continue we can be arrested and charged individually. We will be jobless for the next two years. This is an absolute violation of our fundamental rights, our right to work anywhere we want. This is part of the government's continuing crackdown on the press." This comes after the shutting down of a media outlet, Channel News Maldives, known for being critical of the current administrtion. Four journalists from Raajje TV, known for supporting the opposition, are soon to stand trial. Haveeru shuttered last April after the paper's founder, Doctor Mohamed Zahir Hussain, was sued by its three new shareholders for a share of the assets and profits acquired over the past 35 years. This High Court ruling controversially cited a 1983 agreement, resulting in three former editorial staff getting a controlling stake of the paper. Reportedly, sources close to Zahir claim the lawsuit was politically motivated, and sought to compromise the newspapers journalistic independence. Many argue that today's ruling infringed on the constitutional rights of the former Haveeru employees. "Every citizen has the right to engage in any employment or occupation," states article 37(a) of the constitution, which also prohibits slavery and forced labour. (WION with inputs from The Maldives Independent)

Maldives' Court bans 'Haveeru' employees from working in other media stations for two years

The Maldives&#39; president appointed a new vice president Wednesday, weeks after his former deputy was convicted of attempting to assassinate him. 
 
President Yameen Abdul Gayoom appointed Abdulla Jihad as vice president. 
 
Jihad, who was previously finance minister, is the third vice president to be appointed by Gayoom since he was elected in October 2013. 
 
Jihad&#39;s predecessor, Ahmed Adeeb, was sacked eight months ago after being accused of trying to assassinate Gayoom by exploding a bomb in his speedboat. Gayoom escaped the blast unhurt but his wife, an aide and a bodyguard were injured. 
 
Adeeb was sentenced to 25 years in prison earlier this month on two counts of terrorism, including the assassination attempt. 
Gayoom&#39;s running mate in 2013, Mohamed Jameel, was also sacked and now lives in exile. 
 
Widely known for its luxurious tourist resorts, Maldives became a multiparty democracy in 2008 after years of autocratic rule. 
 
Human rights groups have accused Gayoom of harassing and jailing political opponents. Those imprisoned since last year include 
former President Mohamed Nasheed, former Defense Minister Mohamed Nazim and opposition party leader Sheik Imran Abdulla. 
Nasheed was allowed medical leave for back surgery earlier this year and traveled to Britain, where he was given asylum. 
 
(AP)

New VP comes after former deputy was convicted of attempting to assassinate him

The Maldives' president appointed a new vice president Wednesday, weeks after his former deputy was convicted of attempting to assassinate him. President Yameen Abdul Gayoom appointed Abdulla Jihad as vice president. Jihad, who was previously finance minister, is the third vice president to be appointed by Gayoom since he was elected in October 2013. Jihad's predecessor, Ahmed Adeeb, was sacked eight months ago after being accused of trying to assassinate Gayoom by exploding a bomb in his speedboat. Gayoom escaped the blast unhurt but his wife, an aide and a bodyguard were injured. Adeeb was sentenced to 25 years in prison earlier this month on two counts of terrorism, including the assassination attempt. Gayoom's running mate in 2013, Mohamed Jameel, was also sacked and now lives in exile. Widely known for its luxurious tourist resorts, Maldives became a multiparty democracy in 2008 after years of autocratic rule. Human rights groups have accused Gayoom of harassing and jailing political opponents. Those imprisoned since last year include former President Mohamed Nasheed, former Defense Minister Mohamed Nazim and opposition party leader Sheik Imran Abdulla. Nasheed was allowed medical leave for back surgery earlier this year and traveled to Britain, where he was given asylum. (AP)

Maldives leader appoints new Vice President after ex-deputy is jailed

The Maldives&#39; president appointed a new vice-president today, weeks after his former deputy was convicted of attempting to assassinate him. 
 
President Yameen Abdul Gayoom appointed Abdulla Jihad as vice-president. 
 
Jihad, who was previously finance minister, is the third vice-president to be appointed by Gayoom since he was elected in October 2013. 
 
Jihad&#39;s predecessor, Ahmed Adeeb, was sacked eight months ago after being accused of trying to assassinate Gayoom by exploding a bomb in his speedboat. Gayoom escaped the blast unhurt but his wife, an aide and a bodyguard were injured. 
 
Adeeb was sentenced to 25 years in prison earlier this month on two counts of terrorism, including the assassination attempt. 
Gayoom&#39;s running mate in 2013, Mohamed Jameel, was also sacked and now lives in exile. 
 
Widely known for its luxurious tourist resorts, Maldives became a multi-party democracy in 2008 after years of autocratic rule. 
 
Human rights groups have accused Gayoom of harassing and jailing political opponents. Those imprisoned since last year include former President Mohamed Nasheed, former Defense Minister Mohamed Nazim and opposition party leader Sheik Imran Abdulla. 
 
Nasheed was allowed medical leave for back surgery earlier this year and traveled to Britain, where he was given asylum. 
 
(PTI)

Abdullah Jihad's predecessor, Ahmed Adeeb, was sacked eight months ago after being accused of trying to assassinate President Gayoom

The Maldives' president appointed a new vice-president today, weeks after his former deputy was convicted of attempting to assassinate him. President Yameen Abdul Gayoom appointed Abdulla Jihad as vice-president. Jihad, who was previously finance minister, is the third vice-president to be appointed by Gayoom since he was elected in October 2013. Jihad's predecessor, Ahmed Adeeb, was sacked eight months ago after being accused of trying to assassinate Gayoom by exploding a bomb in his speedboat. Gayoom escaped the blast unhurt but his wife, an aide and a bodyguard were injured. Adeeb was sentenced to 25 years in prison earlier this month on two counts of terrorism, including the assassination attempt. Gayoom's running mate in 2013, Mohamed Jameel, was also sacked and now lives in exile. Widely known for its luxurious tourist resorts, Maldives became a multi-party democracy in 2008 after years of autocratic rule. Human rights groups have accused Gayoom of harassing and jailing political opponents. Those imprisoned since last year include former President Mohamed Nasheed, former Defense Minister Mohamed Nazim and opposition party leader Sheik Imran Abdulla. Nasheed was allowed medical leave for back surgery earlier this year and traveled to Britain, where he was given asylum. (PTI)

Maldives President appoints new Vice-President after former deputy is jailed

Almost 22 months ago, Maldivian journalist, Ahmed Rilwan, 28, disappeared in Mal?. He was last seen&nbsp;on a closed-circuit television camera while trying to buy a ferryboat ticket on his way home. His family still believes he will return one day, but his colleagues have a far more grim take on this. They believe Ahmed has been murdered.&nbsp; 
 
A police chief inspector recently confirmed that he was in fact abducted on the same night from his apartment. &nbsp; 
 
&quot;The situation is very bad. The media is under attack from all fronts,&quot; said Zaheena Rasheed, editor of the online newspaper, The Maldives Independent, where Rilwan worked as a reporter. 
 
For most travellers, Mal?, the capital city of the Maldives, is just a quick stopover on their way to dreamlike beaches and crystal blue waters. However, the dreamy landscape has a much more sinister side to it and Zaheena has good reason to be worried. &nbsp; 
 
&quot;I am very afraid. I myself have received death threats. I could disappear or I could be killed. My office has already been attacked. Other media offices have been burned to the ground,&quot; he fears are not unfounded. 
 
The streets of Mal? are home to criminal gangs involved in drug dealing, robberies and violence on commission. A survey by the Asia Foundation, based on interactions with 130 gang affiliates, reports that there are &quot;between 20 and 30 different gangs operating in Mal?, with 50 to 400 members in each group.&quot; This means that more than a thousand individuals are involved in such criminal activities in a city of 150,000. &nbsp; &nbsp; 
 
These gangs often carry out violence on behalf of political groups. The report reads: &quot;Politicians and businessmen often offer drugs and alcohol when they (the gang members) complete an illegal task (commissioned by them). Hence, there is a reciprocal relationship between gang members and politicians and businessmen.&quot; They often act in an atmosphere of impunity.&nbsp; 
 
Gang members are most likely to get away with it given the protection offered by the rich and influential. Even if some are caught they are able to get out of police stations without their crimes being brought to book. Escaping a gang is nearly impossible for a designated victim. Mal? is a small town on an island. Hiding is not really a viable option.&nbsp; 
 
It is not only about the fear of gangs. The Maldivian media is facing an increasingly difficult situation. In April, a group of journalists was arrested for a day. They were part of a protest against a draft law aiming to reintroduce defamation as a crime that was abolished seven years ago. Just a month before, the Civil Court had halted the printing of Haveeru, the oldest and most widely-circulated Maldivian newspaper. An order issued against a three-decade old ownership dispute. &nbsp;&nbsp; 
 
The turbulent situation took off in 2008, a turning point in the history of the archipelago. The human rights activist and environmentalist Mohamed Nasheed became the first democratically elected president of the country. His victory ended three decades of autocratic rule by Maumoon Abdul Gayoom who was the longest-serving politician in South Asia. Gayoom granted economic growth to the archipelago, but democracy paid a high price. One-party elections, politicians appointed only by the president, heavy restrictions on freedom of press, religion and dissent were the norm. 
 
Nasheed&#39;s liberal agenda came as a break with the past. After decriminalising defamation, his government passed a bill to establish a Media Council &quot;to preserve the freedom of media&quot;. He allowed foreign journalists to travel freely to the country and granted greater access to the local press. Minivan News, then the only local English online newspaper, could start working in the Maldives rather than in exile in Sri Lanka. &nbsp; 
 
Young democracies, however, are often fragile, and so was Nasheed`s presidency. After less than three years, a police mutiny and weeks of protest staged by his opponents, he decided to resign &ndash; or was forced to do so &quot;at &nbsp;gunpoint&quot;. &nbsp; &nbsp; 
 
In a contested run-off, Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom, half-brother of the man who ruled for 30 years, became the new Maldivian President. &nbsp; &nbsp; 
 
In 2015, events abruptly turned and Nasheed&#39;s situation plummeted. Following a trial that Amnesty International called &quot;deeply flawed and politically motivated&quot;, the former president was sentenced to 13 years for terrorism. He was accused of arbitrarily removing the criminal court chief judge during his presidency. &nbsp;&nbsp; 
 
Some Maldivians did not accept the verdict in silence and took to the streets in Mal?. The police arrested many protesters, including three reporters, who were covering the protest. &nbsp;&nbsp; 
 
&quot;There is a big crackdown on media freedom. It is very difficult for a person who is critical of the government to find any kind of work in the country,&quot; said Azra Naseem, a Maldivian research fellow at the Institute for International Conflict Resolution and Reconstruction in Dublin City University. &quot;If you are not with the government there is no space for you in the Maldives.&quot; 
 
Former president Nasheed is currently in London. 
 
He was authorised to leave his prison cell for a delicate surgery on the condition that he would return to jail once the treatment was done. However, that may not happen now. The British government has granted former president Nasheed political refugee status. A news welcomed by the media community and sections of Maldivian citizens who are not keen to toe the totalitarian line. 
 
&quot;Maldivians want to see better days. I am not alone and this is my home. I grew up in a dictatorship and I don&#39;t want to see my country regress into fear. I want to see a freer and more equal Maldives,&quot; Zaheena Rasheed said.

Journalists arrested, a former president on the run, criminal gangs, political unrest, radical Islamists and more...

Almost 22 months ago, Maldivian journalist, Ahmed Rilwan, 28, disappeared in Mal?. He was last seen on a closed-circuit television camera while trying to buy a ferryboat ticket on his way home. His family still believes he will return one day, but his colleagues have a far more grim take on this. They believe Ahmed has been murdered. A police chief inspector recently confirmed that he was in fact abducted on the same night from his apartment. "The situation is very bad. The media is under attack from all fronts," said Zaheena Rasheed, editor of the online newspaper, The Maldives Independent, where Rilwan worked as a reporter. For most travellers, Mal?, the capital city of the Maldives, is just a quick stopover on their way to dreamlike beaches and crystal blue waters. However, the dreamy landscape has a much more sinister side to it and Zaheena has good reason to be worried. "I am very afraid. I myself have received death threats. I could disappear or I could be killed. My office has already been attacked. Other media offices have been burned to the ground," he fears are not unfounded. The streets of Mal? are home to criminal gangs involved in drug dealing, robberies and violence on commission. A survey by the Asia Foundation, based on interactions with 130 gang affiliates, reports that there are "between 20 and 30 different gangs operating in Mal?, with 50 to 400 members in each group." This means that more than a thousand individuals are involved in such criminal activities in a city of 150,000. These gangs often carry out violence on behalf of political groups. The report reads: "Politicians and businessmen often offer drugs and alcohol when they (the gang members) complete an illegal task (commissioned by them). Hence, there is a reciprocal relationship between gang members and politicians and businessmen." They often act in an atmosphere of impunity. Gang members are most likely to get away with it given the protection offered by the rich and influential. Even if some are caught they are able to get out of police stations without their crimes being brought to book. Escaping a gang is nearly impossible for a designated victim. Mal? is a small town on an island. Hiding is not really a viable option. It is not only about the fear of gangs. The Maldivian media is facing an increasingly difficult situation. In April, a group of journalists was arrested for a day. They were part of a protest against a draft law aiming to reintroduce defamation as a crime that was abolished seven years ago. Just a month before, the Civil Court had halted the printing of Haveeru, the oldest and most widely-circulated Maldivian newspaper. An order issued against a three-decade old ownership dispute. The turbulent situation took off in 2008, a turning point in the history of the archipelago. The human rights activist and environmentalist Mohamed Nasheed became the first democratically elected president of the country. His victory ended three decades of autocratic rule by Maumoon Abdul Gayoom who was the longest-serving politician in South Asia. Gayoom granted economic growth to the archipelago, but democracy paid a high price. One-party elections, politicians appointed only by the president, heavy restrictions on freedom of press, religion and dissent were the norm. Nasheed's liberal agenda came as a break with the past. After decriminalising defamation, his government passed a bill to establish a Media Council "to preserve the freedom of media". He allowed foreign journalists to travel freely to the country and granted greater access to the local press. Minivan News, then the only local English online newspaper, could start working in the Maldives rather than in exile in Sri Lanka. Young democracies, however, are often fragile, and so was Nasheed`s presidency. After less than three years, a police mutiny and weeks of protest staged by his opponents, he decided to resign – or was forced to do so "at gunpoint". In a contested run-off, Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom, half-brother of the man who ruled for 30 years, became the new Maldivian President. In 2015, events abruptly turned and Nasheed's situation plummeted. Following a trial that Amnesty International called "deeply flawed and politically motivated", the former president was sentenced to 13 years for terrorism. He was accused of arbitrarily removing the criminal court chief judge during his presidency. Some Maldivians did not accept the verdict in silence and took to the streets in Mal?. The police arrested many protesters, including three reporters, who were covering the protest. "There is a big crackdown on media freedom. It is very difficult for a person who is critical of the government to find any kind of work in the country," said Azra Naseem, a Maldivian research fellow at the Institute for International Conflict Resolution and Reconstruction in Dublin City University. "If you are not with the government there is no space for you in the Maldives." Former president Nasheed is currently in London. He was authorised to leave his prison cell for a delicate surgery on the condition that he would return to jail once the treatment was done. However, that may not happen now. The British government has granted former president Nasheed political refugee status. A news welcomed by the media community and sections of Maldivian citizens who are not keen to toe the totalitarian line. "Maldivians want to see better days. I am not alone and this is my home. I grew up in a dictatorship and I don't want to see my country regress into fear. I want to see a freer and more equal Maldives," Zaheena Rasheed said.

Mal?: Political hit jobs, drugs, robberies - the grime under the sun and sand

Last&nbsp;year &ndash; 2015 &ndash; was the worst year ever to be a journalist in South Asia.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Reporters are routinely threatened, attacked, jailed, and murdered every year in the region according to a new Reporters Without Borders report.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Working with the constant fear of being killed or hurt is no easy task. The feeling that something bad could happen at any time&nbsp;affects every aspect of your life. And you suddenly start feeling unsafe everywhere&nbsp;and all the time.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

According to the World Press Freedom Index 2016,&nbsp;there has been a &ldquo;deep and disturbing&rdquo; decline in media freedom around the world.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

The news from South Asia is particularly bad. &ldquo;The media freedom situation worsened significantly or stagnated&rdquo; in the region the report says.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The Maldives came in at 112 out of 180 countries on the index. It turns out the country is not just an earthly paradise of palms and coral. Radical Islam has been gaining in strength in the archipelago; freedom of the press has been one of its victims.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The Communication Authority of the Maldives&nbsp;which controls all communication in the country,&nbsp;including the media,&nbsp;launched the first attack on the press in 2011 by shutting down journalist Ismail&nbsp;Khilath&nbsp;Rasheed&#39;s blog accusing him of producing anti-Islamic material.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Rasheed fought back&nbsp;by&nbsp;organising&nbsp;a small rally in the capital&nbsp;Mal?&nbsp;in support of the freedom of expression. He was attacked by a group of men armed with stones.&nbsp;They ended up fracturing his skull. A year later, while he was walking near his home, a man tried to slit his throat. Fortunately, the attacker missed a vital artery and Rasheed survived,&nbsp;but his attacker remains unidentified and at large.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

The situation has not improved since. This April, the Maldivian police attacked a rally&#39;s participants demanding greater press freedom. Sixteen journalists were arrested.&nbsp;Four other reporters covering demonstrations against the imprisonment of former&nbsp;president&nbsp;Mohamed&nbsp;Nasheed&nbsp;were imprisoned.&nbsp;&nbsp;

There was good news,&nbsp;at least on paper,&nbsp;from Sri Lanka. The country moved 24 positions up the rankings as compared to 2014. Newly-elected President&nbsp;Maithripala&nbsp;Sirisena&#39;s government seems to be better for journalists. It lifted restrictions on foreign journalists visiting the country &ndash; they are now free to move about and no longer have to get their visas cleared by the&nbsp;defence&nbsp;ministry. And all exiled journalists have been invited to return to the country.&nbsp;

During the 10 years that Mahinda Rajapaksa was president, reporters allegedly received constant threats,&nbsp;and as many as 34 lost their lives. The murder of&nbsp;Lasantha&nbsp;Manilal&nbsp;Wickrematunge, founder of the newspaper The&nbsp;Sunday&nbsp;Leader, remains unsolved. In 2009, while he was driving to office, armed motorcyclists flanked his car and shot him. The Sirisena government has now decided to reopen the case and, interestingly, his brother has been appointed Sri Lanka&#39;s consul general in Sidney.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Pakistan remains the most dangerous place to work. Journalists in the country are faced with threats from all fronts &ndash; extremist groups,&nbsp;hardline&nbsp;Islamist&nbsp;organisations&nbsp;and government institutions. The resulting atmosphere of fear often leads to high levels of self-censorship.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Bangladesh,&nbsp;too,&nbsp;has become increasingly deadly for journalists. Several bloggers critical of Islamist extremists have recently been hacked to death; fundamentalist groups claimed responsibility for a number of the killings.&nbsp;&nbsp;

India is also surprisingly bad for reporters. Despite a lively media scene, the world&#39;s largest democracy does not seem to be a good place for a free press. India ranked 133rd on the World Press Freedom Index.&nbsp;&nbsp;

It is also among the top 15 countries in which a reporter is most likely to face abuse&nbsp;and even Afghanistan fares better. The report states: &ldquo;The governments of India&hellip; took little action in response to violence against media personnel and were sometimes directly involved in violations of their freedom.&rdquo;&nbsp;&nbsp;

The report&#39;s findings are not just bad news for journalists, they&nbsp;are bad news for everybody.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Journalists&nbsp;can end up self-censoring if they&nbsp;find&nbsp;themselves threatened. That is perhaps the most dangerous threat to journalism.&nbsp; A journalist must question, verify versions, and find discrepancies. And if he does his job honestly and professionally&nbsp;it should be made public. Sometimes&nbsp;this means exposing influential people. A reporter who fears for his or her life might decide to look away, to pretend something just did&nbsp;not happen. That is exactly what ruins a good investigation. Fortunately, some journalists have been brave enough to continue reporting despite having&nbsp;been&nbsp;badly&nbsp;threatened,&nbsp;but this cannot&nbsp;and should not&nbsp;be the norm.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Media is useful to society so long as it is independent and safe -- rights that any democratic government should protect.&nbsp;Media&nbsp;needs to be free to do its job without fear&nbsp;and&nbsp;to be effective.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Journalists in India more likely to face abuse than those in Afghanistan: Reporters Without Borders

Last year – 2015 – was the worst year ever to be a journalist in South Asia. Reporters are routinely threatened, attacked, jailed, and murdered every year in the region according to a new Reporters Without Borders report. Working with the constant fear of being killed or hurt is no easy task. The feeling that something bad could happen at any time affects every aspect of your life. And you suddenly start feeling unsafe everywhere and all the time. According to the World Press Freedom Index 2016, there has been a “deep and disturbing” decline in media freedom around the world. The news from South Asia is particularly bad. “The media freedom situation worsened significantly or stagnated” in the region the report says. The Maldives came in at 112 out of 180 countries on the index. It turns out the country is not just an earthly paradise of palms and coral. Radical Islam has been gaining in strength in the archipelago; freedom of the press has been one of its victims. The Communication Authority of the Maldives which controls all communication in the country, including the media, launched the first attack on the press in 2011 by shutting down journalist Ismail Khilath Rasheed's blog accusing him of producing anti-Islamic material. Rasheed fought back by organising a small rally in the capital Mal? in support of the freedom of expression. He was attacked by a group of men armed with stones. They ended up fracturing his skull. A year later, while he was walking near his home, a man tried to slit his throat. Fortunately, the attacker missed a vital artery and Rasheed survived, but his attacker remains unidentified and at large. The situation has not improved since. This April, the Maldivian police attacked a rally's participants demanding greater press freedom. Sixteen journalists were arrested. Four other reporters covering demonstrations against the imprisonment of former president Mohamed Nasheed were imprisoned. There was good news, at least on paper, from Sri Lanka. The country moved 24 positions up the rankings as compared to 2014. Newly-elected President Maithripala Sirisena's government seems to be better for journalists. It lifted restrictions on foreign journalists visiting the country – they are now free to move about and no longer have to get their visas cleared by the defence ministry. And all exiled journalists have been invited to return to the country. During the 10 years that Mahinda Rajapaksa was president, reporters allegedly received constant threats, and as many as 34 lost their lives. The murder of Lasantha Manilal Wickrematunge, founder of the newspaper The Sunday Leader, remains unsolved. In 2009, while he was driving to office, armed motorcyclists flanked his car and shot him. The Sirisena government has now decided to reopen the case and, interestingly, his brother has been appointed Sri Lanka's consul general in Sidney. Pakistan remains the most dangerous place to work. Journalists in the country are faced with threats from all fronts – extremist groups, hardline Islamist organisations and government institutions. The resulting atmosphere of fear often leads to high levels of self-censorship. Bangladesh, too, has become increasingly deadly for journalists. Several bloggers critical of Islamist extremists have recently been hacked to death; fundamentalist groups claimed responsibility for a number of the killings. India is also surprisingly bad for reporters. Despite a lively media scene, the world's largest democracy does not seem to be a good place for a free press. India ranked 133rd on the World Press Freedom Index. It is also among the top 15 countries in which a reporter is most likely to face abuse and even Afghanistan fares better. The report states: “The governments of India… took little action in response to violence against media personnel and were sometimes directly involved in violations of their freedom.” The report's findings are not just bad news for journalists, they are bad news for everybody. Journalists can end up self-censoring if they find themselves threatened. That is perhaps the most dangerous threat to journalism. A journalist must question, verify versions, and find discrepancies. And if he does his job honestly and professionally it should be made public. Sometimes this means exposing influential people. A reporter who fears for his or her life might decide to look away, to pretend something just did not happen. That is exactly what ruins a good investigation. Fortunately, some journalists have been brave enough to continue reporting despite having been badly threatened, but this cannot and should not be the norm. Media is useful to society so long as it is independent and safe -- rights that any democratic government should protect. Media needs to be free to do its job without fear and to be effective.

2015 worst year for press freedom in South Asia

Former Maldives deputy leader Ahmed Adeeb has been jailed for 15 years for plotting to assassinate the president, the latest in a string of prosecutions of senior politicians and opposition figures in the troubled island nation. 
 
Adeeb was convicted late on Thursday for attempting to kill President Abdulla Yameen by setting off a bomb on his speedboat last September, his lawyer said. 
 
Two of the vice president&#39;s military bodyguards were also convicted after the trial, which was held behind closed doors. 
 
The verdicts mean almost all of Yameen&#39;s key rivals are in jail or exiled from the Maldives, a popular honeymoon destination that has been rocked by political turmoil in recent years. 
 
The verdicts come weeks after Mohamed Nasheed, the country&#39;s first democratically elected president, was granted asylum in Britain. 
 
Nasheed, whose legal team includes high-profile human rights lawyer Amal Clooney, was sentenced to 13 years in prison on controversial terrorism charges last year but was allowed to travel to Britain for surgery in January and was granted political asylum last month. 
 
Adeeb, 34, was considered a close confidant of Yameen until he was dramatically impeached in November following allegations he was trying to topple the president. 
 
Yameen escaped the blast unscathed, but his wife and two others were slightly injured. The FBI was called in to investigate the incident, but found no evidence the blast was caused by a bomb. 
 
Reporters were barred from attending the trial after the court invoked national security concerns and said it would not make the hearings or verdict public. 
 
Silencing dissent 
 
Adeeb&#39;s lawyer, Moosa Siraj, told the Maldives Independent website he would appeal. 
 
&quot;The Criminal Court has barred me from calling the trial unfair, but we have concerns and intend to launch an appeal immediately,&quot; Siraj said. 
 
Another lawyer who declined to be named said Adeeb&#39;s two bodyguards were also convicted on Thursday, sentenced to 10 years each in jail. 
 
The same court tried former prosecutor general Muhthaz Muhsin of conspiracy to kidnap the President by arranging a fake arrest warrant in February and sentenced him on Thursday to 17 years in jail, his lawyer Husnu Al Suood said. 
 
Adeeb, who enjoyed a meteoric rise until his impeachment, was given a separate 10-year sentence on Sunday on a terrorism charge relating to his role in cracking down on an anti-government protest in May 2015. 
 
Opposition activists in the Indian ocean archipelago say dissidents risk arrest or exile under Yameen, the half brother of former strongman Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, who ruled the archipelago for 30 straight years until he was defeated in the first democratic election in 2008. 
 
In July last year, Yameen sacked his then vice president Mohamed Jameel after accusing him of conspiring to seize power. Jameel is now living abroad in self-imposed exile. 
 
Yameen&#39;s defence minister Mohamed Nazim was sentenced to 11 years in prison in March 2015 for trying to topple the government, and another ex-defence minister Tholhath Ibrahim was jailed for 10 years the following month. 
 
And nearly four months ago, Yameen secured the jailing of Sheikh Imran Abdulla, leader of the opposition Islamist Adhaalath Party. 
 
He was sentenced to 12 years after being tried for allegedly inciting unrest during an anti-government rally in 2015.

Trial was held behind closed doors. Verdict means almost all of President Yameen's key rivals are in jail or in exile

Former Maldives deputy leader Ahmed Adeeb has been jailed for 15 years for plotting to assassinate the president, the latest in a string of prosecutions of senior politicians and opposition figures in the troubled island nation. Adeeb was convicted late on Thursday for attempting to kill President Abdulla Yameen by setting off a bomb on his speedboat last September, his lawyer said. Two of the vice president's military bodyguards were also convicted after the trial, which was held behind closed doors. The verdicts mean almost all of Yameen's key rivals are in jail or exiled from the Maldives, a popular honeymoon destination that has been rocked by political turmoil in recent years. The verdicts come weeks after Mohamed Nasheed, the country's first democratically elected president, was granted asylum in Britain. Nasheed, whose legal team includes high-profile human rights lawyer Amal Clooney, was sentenced to 13 years in prison on controversial terrorism charges last year but was allowed to travel to Britain for surgery in January and was granted political asylum last month. Adeeb, 34, was considered a close confidant of Yameen until he was dramatically impeached in November following allegations he was trying to topple the president. Yameen escaped the blast unscathed, but his wife and two others were slightly injured. The FBI was called in to investigate the incident, but found no evidence the blast was caused by a bomb. Reporters were barred from attending the trial after the court invoked national security concerns and said it would not make the hearings or verdict public. Silencing dissent Adeeb's lawyer, Moosa Siraj, told the Maldives Independent website he would appeal. "The Criminal Court has barred me from calling the trial unfair, but we have concerns and intend to launch an appeal immediately," Siraj said. Another lawyer who declined to be named said Adeeb's two bodyguards were also convicted on Thursday, sentenced to 10 years each in jail. The same court tried former prosecutor general Muhthaz Muhsin of conspiracy to kidnap the President by arranging a fake arrest warrant in February and sentenced him on Thursday to 17 years in jail, his lawyer Husnu Al Suood said. Adeeb, who enjoyed a meteoric rise until his impeachment, was given a separate 10-year sentence on Sunday on a terrorism charge relating to his role in cracking down on an anti-government protest in May 2015. Opposition activists in the Indian ocean archipelago say dissidents risk arrest or exile under Yameen, the half brother of former strongman Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, who ruled the archipelago for 30 straight years until he was defeated in the first democratic election in 2008. In July last year, Yameen sacked his then vice president Mohamed Jameel after accusing him of conspiring to seize power. Jameel is now living abroad in self-imposed exile. Yameen's defence minister Mohamed Nazim was sentenced to 11 years in prison in March 2015 for trying to topple the government, and another ex-defence minister Tholhath Ibrahim was jailed for 10 years the following month. And nearly four months ago, Yameen secured the jailing of Sheikh Imran Abdulla, leader of the opposition Islamist Adhaalath Party. He was sentenced to 12 years after being tried for allegedly inciting unrest during an anti-government rally in 2015.

Ex Maldivian VP Ahmed Adeeb jailed for 15 years for plotting to kill president

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