The Rainbow Maldivian

Alamgir found guilty of homosexuality

2022-08-30T01:52:00.003+05:00

Criminal Court has found MD Alamgir, a young Bangladeshi national who has admitted to engaging in sexual acts with multiple men, including several high-profile Maldivians, guilty of homosexuality.

Alamgir, 26, plead guilty to the charge during a closed hearing on Monday evening.

MD Alamgir, 26

The hearing was initially held online, before all parties were asked to attend the court in-person.

At the court, Alamgir said he wished to maintain his guilty plea.

Both sides then moved to discussions regarding the penalty.

Alamgir asked the court for the minimum sentence possible.

Though the sentence was discussed during the hearing, it was not immediately clear what the prosecution demanded.

Judge Ali Adam found Alamgir guilty of the charge of homosexuality, and announced the sentence would be issued on Wednesday.

Alamgir was arrested on July 12, after videos leaked online showing him engaging in sex with multiple men.

The videos purportedly show Alamgir having sex with Ahmed Nazim Abdul Sattar, a prominent lawyer and younger brother of Parliament speaker, former president Mohamed Nasheed, former Nolhivaram MP Mohamed Nasheed (Colonel Nasheed), and Sergeant Abdul Rahman Rafeeu, a senior police officer from the Drug Enforcement Department (DED). All three have been pressed with charges.

The videos also purportedly show Alamgir with muezzins and school teachers.

Via Sun

Amendment to make homosexuality major criminal offence

2022-08-23T09:11:00.011+05:00

An amendment was put forth during the Parliament session held on Tuesday to bring changes to the Penal Code of Maldives in order to make homosexuality a serious criminal offence in Maldives.

The amendment was submitted by MP for Maamigili constituency, leader of Jumhooree Party Qasim Ibrahim.

Qasim said that homosexuality needed to be included among the serious criminal offences dictated under the Penal Code of Maldives.

He further noted that seeing this as an ordinary crime allows offenders to easily walk back into society during investigative stages and further spread such actions.

Currently, under the Penal Code, there are 12 crimes listed as major crimes in Maldives. This includes murder, terrorism, financing terrorism and money laundering. Recently child abuse and rape were included in this list.

This amendment comes after numerous explicit videos of Maldivians engaging in homosexuality were leaked on social media.

While criminal charges have been pressed against some of them, the others remain unscathed by authorities.

Via Sun.mv

Maldives Police to arrest 38 men after gay sex videos leak on social media

2022-08-12T05:03:00.001+05:00

A month after after gay sex videos and screen grabs of men having sex with other men leaked on social media, the Maldives police have arrested four persons and said it intends to charge 34 other men. Those arrested include a police officer and the brother of former President and current speaker of Parliament Mohamed Nasheed.

Commissioner of Police Mohamed Hameed

If convicted the men face up to eight years in prison and 100 lashes.

Rights organisations have slammed the police for the crackdown on the LGBTQI community in an effort to appease extremist groups in the country.

Gay Sex Videos Leaked

The gay sex videos and screen grabs were leaked on social media last month. Following a public outcry, the police arrested a Bangladeshi national on July 12, 2022. He was accused of filming himself having sex with other men.

Commissioner of Police Mohamed Hameed told local media that they had identified 38 men who had engaged in sexual relations with the Bangladeshi national. This included politicians, prominent businessmen, and law enforcement officials.

The police said they would prosecute all the men identified in the videos. Commissioner Hameed said that the police have seized the passports of 18 men and imposed travel bans on them. The police have also informed the workplaces of the men identified in the videos, leading to the men being suspended or dismissed from work.

Human Rights Watch accused the police of leading a politically motivated investigation. The organisation demanded that police should drop the cases and stop trying to identify the men in the videos who were engaged in consensual sexual intercourse.

Politically Motivated Investigation

“The government should repeal laws criminalizing consensual same-sex relations, which discriminate against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender citizens, migrants and tourists, and are a recipe for abuse.”

The Maldives penal code was amended in 2014 and criminalises same sex relations. Under the penal code, sexual relations with a person of the same sex is punishable with up to eight years in prison. There is additional penalty of 100 lashes under the country’s Islamic Sharia laws.

“The arrest of four men for consensual same-sex conduct shows the arbitrary nature of these discriminatory laws. The law leaves people open to blackmail and other abuse, and easily becomes a political tool in which those prosecuted bear the brunt of the abuse,” added Reid.

Via Star Observer

Maldives police arrest four men and target dozens more over leaked gay sex videos

2022-08-12T03:24:00.003+05:00

Maldives police have arrested four men and are targeting 34 more after a series of gay sex videos were published online.

Police arrested a Bangladeshi sex worker on 12 July, who they claim filmed his encounters with men with intentions to blackmail them, according to Human Rights Watch.

Police commissioner Mohamed Hameed said that 38 men have been identified from the tapes, and on 28 July three were arrested.

Among them was a police officer and the brother of former president of Maldives, and current speaker of the house, Mohammed Nasheed.

Hameed has vowed to prosecute all 38 men. He said police have seized 18 passports and informed their workplaces.

In the Maldives, engaging in same-sex relations is a crime punishable by up to eight years in prison and, under Sharia law, 100 lashes.

Human Rights Watch called the arrests “politically motivated”, coming as Maldives government is facing intense criticism from “extremist Islamist groups”.

The government had been facing pressure from opposition supporters and Islamist groups for arresting 20 people involved in a violent anti-yoga riot while taking no action against the men allegedly in the leaked videos.

Officials detained 20 people, including two religious leaders and a former member of parliament, for their alleged involvement in an attack on an International Yoga Day event on 21 July.

Opponents called the event heretical, and on 25 July the Islamist Adhaalath party, a partner in the governing coalition, declared yoga forbidden.

Via Pink News

Maldives: Arrests for Gay Sex Politically Motivated

2022-08-10T03:13:00.004+05:00

(New York) – Maldives authorities should drop cases against four men and cease investigations to identify others who may have engaged in consensual same-sex relations in steps that appear aimed to appease extremist groups, Human Rights Watch said today. The government should take immediate measures to repeal the provisions of Maldives’ 2014 penal code that makes “unlawful sexual intercourse” and “unlawful sexual contact” criminal offenses, contrary to international human rights standards.

Police in the Maldives said they are investigating dozens of individuals and have sought to frame charges against three men arrested on July 28, 2022, including a police officer and the brother of a prominent politician, Mohamed Nasheed, who is a former president and current speaker of parliament. The inquiries and arrests were apparently based on leaked videos and screengrabs that allegedly depicted the men having sex with a Bangladeshi man, who had been arrested on July 12. If convicted, the men face up to eight years in prison and 100 lashes.

“The Maldives authorities should immediately drop the unjust and apparently politically motivated investigations, and instead abide by international standards on rights protections,” said Graeme Reid, director of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Rights Program at Human Rights Watch. “The government should repeal laws criminalizing consensual same-sex relations, which discriminate against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender citizens, migrants and tourists, and are a recipe for abuse.”

Police launched investigations after a number of videos and screengrabs were leaked on social media. The Bangladeshi national was arrested for engaging in unlawful sexual conduct and for allegedly making the video recordings. International human rights law obligates the state to provide him free legal counsel since he cannot afford a lawyer.

The police then summoned and questioned the three men who were identified in the videos and they were subsequently arrested. In a media interview, the Commissioner of Police, Mohamed Hameed, said that 38 people had been identified as having had same-sex relationships with the Bangladeshi man, and that they would all be prosecuted after investigation. The authorities have seized the passports of 18 people linked to these police investigations.

The arrests occurred while the Maldives government is facing backlash from extremist Islamist groups for detaining over 20 people, including two religious leaders and a former member of parliament for their alleged involvement in a violent attack on an event celebrating International Yoga Day on June 21. These groups deemed the event, attended by government officials and foreign diplomats, as heretical, a celebration of idolatry or polytheism. On July 25, the Adhaalath party – a partner in the ruling coalition whose leader is the minister of home affairs – declared yoga forbidden.

Prior to the arrest of Mohamed Nasheed’s brother, opposition supporters, as well as Islamist groups, had been using social media to pressure the government about its arrests for the Yoga Day attacks while taking no action against the people allegedly involved in the leaked videos.

The administration of President Ibrahim Solih has failed to credibly address threats to free expression and other rights by Islamist groups, Human Rights Watch said. The administration has neglected other essential reforms, leaving the justice system vulnerable to pressure from powerful interest groups, including groups that advocate violence against critics of the government.

In May 2021, Nasheed was critically injured in an assassination attempt, for which he blamed on religious extremists. He has recently criticized the Solih administration for appeasing the Adhaalath party.

Prior to the reform of the Maldives penal code in 2014, same-sex relationships were only regulated under Sharia, or Islamic law. Under the revised penal code, section 411(a)(2) punishes “sexual intercourse with a person of the same sex” with up to eight years in prison, while section 411(d) stipulates an additional penalty of up to 100 lashes under Sharia. Section 412 prohibits unlawful sexual conduct with a penalty of up to eight years. These provisions are applicable to both men and women.

Criminalizing adult consensual same sex-conduct contravenes broadly accepted international legal standards. Arrest for consensual same-sex relations is arbitrary. Laws against same-sex conduct make people easy targets for blackmail, extortion, and political manipulation. Even when not enforced, such laws have a chilling effect on same-sex activity.

Consensual sexual relations are protected under the human right to privacy and nondiscrimination, and the right to be protected against arbitrary and unlawful interference with an individual’s private and family life and their reputation or dignity. Criminalizing same-sex intimacy violates these international norms and standards, as affirmed by the United Nations Human Rights Committee, which monitors compliance with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and by the UN independent expert on sexual orientation and gender identity.

“The arrest of four men for consensual same-sex conduct shows the arbitrary nature of these discriminatory laws,” Reid said. “The laws leave people open to blackmail and other abuse, and easily become a political tool in which those prosecuted bear the brunt of the abuse. The government should repeal the laws immediately.

Via Human Rights Watch

Leaked videos: Police seek formal charges against three

2022-08-09T03:29:00.003+05:00

Maldives Police Service has forwarded the cases of three people who had homosexual relations with a Bangladeshi man to the Prosecutor General's Office for charging.

MD Alamgiri filmed himself having homosexual relations with a large number of Maldivian men, including politicians, businessmen, and government employees. While Alamgiri has now been arrested, the videos are still being leaked.

The police are seeking to raise formal charges against Parliament Speaker Mohamed Nasheed's brother, Nazim Abdul Sattar, former Nolhivaram MP Mohamed 'Colonel' Nasheed, and Abdul Rahman Rafeeq, an officer of the police's Drug Enforcement Department.

The Prosecutor General's Office confirmed that the police investigated the cases of the three men and sent them to the office for prosecution. The charges were requested under the Penal Code and the Sexual Offenses Act.

L to R: Colonel Mohamed Nasheed, Abdul Rahman Rafeeq, Nazim Abdul Sattar

If convicted under the Sexual Offense Act, the trio faces five to seven years in prison. A prison sentence will also be handed under the Penal Code.

In an interview with AVAS on Tuesday, Commissioner of Police Mohamed Hameed said 38 people had been identified as having had same-sex relationships with Alamgiri. They will be sent for prosecution as soon as their cases are investigated, he said.

Police said Monday that they had seized the passports of 18 people in connection with the case.

The police said as soon as the identities of the people in the videos are verified, the information is shared with their workplaces. Based on the information shared by the police, the agencies have now suspended some employees and dismissed some.

Via Avas

State issues no-fly order on former MP and expat over same-sex allegation charges

2022-07-06T03:35:00.005+05:00

Maldives government has issued a no-fly order on former Nolhivaram MP Mohamed Nasheed and a Bangladeshi national, Alamgir over same-sex allegation charges.

Mihaaru reports that the former MP and the expat were issued no-flying orders after Maldives Police Service commenced investigation to confirm the authenticity of the allegation.

former Nolhivaram MP & DRP leader Mohamed Nasheed

Meanwhile, the expat allegedly involved in the case was previously summoned to Police headquarters for questioning.

Police had also confirmed that a case of nude video leak and subsequent blackmail over same-sex acts were being investigated by the authority since late-March 2022.

During a press conference held on March 27, Police further claimed on identifying the perpetrators behind the blackmail and video leak.

Police reports that the suspects involved in the video leak and blackmail had attempted to ransom a total of MVR10 million for the videos.

However, authorities have not been able to confirm if the suspects had sold the videos.

Recently several nude videos were flagged across several social media platforms.

Among the individuals who were apparently involved in same-sex acts included Parliament Speaker Mohamed Nasheed's relative Nazim Sattar.

A leaked video had shown an individual who appears to be Sattar engaged in same-sex activities with the alleged Bangladeshi national, Alamgir.

In addition to this, another leaked still image showed what appears to be South-Henveiru MP Hussain Shaheem tucked between a yet unidentified male and female; all three lying with bare bodies.

via The Edition MV

80-year-old man arrested on charges of sexually abusing eight-year-old girl

2015-07-27T17:54:00.000+05:00

An 80-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of sexually abusing an eight-year-old girl. The police said the suspect gave money to the girl and forced himself on the underage victim.

The elderly man was taken into custody by the upper north police division around 3:30pm yesterday based on information from a member of the public, the police said.

The police did not reveal either the identity of the suspect or the island from which he was arrested. A joint investigation by the police and the gender ministry is underway.

Earlier this month, 14 men and one woman were arrested on the island of Fuvahmulah on suspicion of forcing a 14-year-old girl and a 16-year-old girl into prostitution.

Meanwhile, local NGO Advocating the Rights of Children (ARC) last week expressed concern with the “hidden epidemic of child abuse that continues unabated in the country”.

A total of 339 cases of child abuse were reported from January to June this year, ARC noted in a press release, which represented a significant increase compared to the previous year. A total of 423 cases were reported in 2014.

ARC noted that many cases of child abuse go unreported every year.

“ARC wishes to reiterate that it is a grave injustice to withhold information regarding cases of child abuse, and also a failure to fulfil a citizen’s legal responsibility,” the press release stated.

“ARC calls on the community to break the culture of silence and to report suspected abuse, in order to protect children from all forms of violence and abuse.”

The NGO also expressed concern over shortcomings in the child protection system and the legal framework currently in place.

“Vulnerable children still continue to be unprotected due to systematic flaws in the legal, judicial and social sectors tasked with the promotion and protection of the rights of the child in Maldives,” the NGO warned.

ARC urged the government to expedite the passage of new legislation on child protection, “while ensuring that provisions and principles of the Convention on the Rights of the Child are fully reflected in the new Act.”

Meanwhile, following the arrests in the Fuvahmulah child prostitution case, opposition Jumhooree Party MP Abdulla Riyaz asked the parliament’s government oversight committee to investigate the failure to publicise a mandatory national registry of child sex offenders.

The former police commissioner noted that article 57 of the 2009 Child Sexual Abuse (Special Provisions) Act requires information about offenders to be made publicly available by the state agency responsible for the protection of children.

“In this regard, for the safety and protection of other citizens from offenders, and to eliminate possibilities for repetition of such offences, complete information about the offenders should be published in an internet website providing easy access to the information, and a mechanism should be established to identify offenders by their national identification numbers via short message service,” the provision states.

Via Minivan News

Indian arrested on child abuse charges, MP seeks publication of sex offenders registry

2015-07-14T07:41:00.000+05:00

An Indian teacher has been arrested on charges of child sexual abuse from the island of Gemanafushi in Gaaf Alif atoll.

The 40-year-old expatriate was arrested with a court warrant around 4:20pm yesterday, a police media official said. The suspect is accused of sexually abusing under-aged girls for a long period, the official added.

The police declined to reveal further information as the investigation is ongoing, but local media has identified the suspect as an English teacher at the Gemafanushi school.

He is accused of repeatedly abusing secondary grade students.

Almost one in seven children of secondary school age in the Maldives have been sexually abused at some time in their lives, according to an unpublished 2009 study on violence against minors.

The rate of sexual abuse for boys was at 11 percent while the figure for girls were almost twice as high at 20 percent.

The arrest follows police uncovering a child prostitution ring in Fuvahmulah last week. Some 15 suspects have been arrested so far on suspicion of drugging, blackmailing, and forcing a 14-year-old girl and 16-year-old girl into prostitution.

The police said two men aged 20 and 24 were taken into custody today. The 20-year-old has a criminal record for assault and theft.

The 15 suspects in custody include people from Fuvahmulah as well as other islands, the police said.

Meanwhile, opposition Jumhooree Party MP Abdulla Riyaz has asked the parliament’s government oversight committee to investigate the failure to publicise a mandatory national registry of child sex offenders.

The former police commissioner also asked the oversight committee to determine if the relevant authorities have been negligent in protecting the victims of the Fuvahmulah child prostitution ring.

In February 2014, seven men were arrested from the island of Thinadhoo in Gaaf Dhaalu atoll on suspicion of forcing a 16-year-old girl into child prostitution.

In the first official acknowledgement of child prostitution in the Maldives, then-Gender Minister Azima Shukoor revealed in May 2013 that children were “being used as sex workers, where the children are sent to places as a means to pleasure people and to gain an income from such a trade.”

In June 2013, multiple sources told Minivan News that child prostitution was prevalent in the country, ranging from male benefactors grooming children with ‘gifts’ to parents actively exploiting their children.

A study focusing on Laamu atoll conducted by Consultant Clinical Psychologist Maldives Institute for Psychological Services, Training & Research (MIPSTAR), Dr Aishath Ali Naaz, showed that child prostitution was so “common” among minors that it was considered a normal activity.

She identified a “gradual process” of minors being “groomed” by adults via the internet and/or social media, with children taken to known “spots” and introduced to those involved in the sex trade.

In other instances, the minors are pushed to provide nude photos, and then emotionally blackmailed with threats that the pictures will be posted on the web, and ultimately recruited into prostitution.

- See more at: http://minivannews.com/politics/indian-arrested-on-child-abuse-charges-mp-seeks-publication-of-sex-offenders-registry-100929#sthash.0YFfs1FX.dpuf

Senior TVM staff found guilty of sexual harassment, let off with warning

2015-07-13T07:27:00.000+05:00

The state broadcasting company, Public Service Media (PSM), has let off a senior technical officer found guilty of sexual harassment with a warning.

PSM spokesperson Abdulla Rameez refused to confirm the decision made by an internal committee following an inquiry, saying: “We do not give out information that would harm our staff’s dignity.”

But a copy of the committee’s decision obtained by Minivan News states the accused was warned in writing “after considering the seriousness of the case.”

The PSM said in a statement yesterday that “a just decision” was made in accordance with the law and that the offender has been punished.

According to 2014 sexual harassment law, government offices must set up internal committees to investigate complaints of workplace harassment within 60 days. The committee is authorised to warn, suspend or dismiss the perpetrator.

The PSM operates the Television Maldives (TVM) channel and a radio station.

A senior PSM staff who wished to remain anonymous told Minivan News that the technical officer had “groped a woman’s breasts.”

Other PSM employees who spoke to Minivan News alleged that “many girls were subjected to sexual harassment from the technical officer.”

“They never looked into the case when there have been numerous cases where he assaulted women. This time they had no other choice but to investigate the matter after it was exposed in the local media,” an employee said.

Another staff member criticised the company’s attitude towards sexual offences after “the technical officer’s matter was handled lightly. He was allowed to work while still the case being investigated. He is here as if nothing had happened.”

CNM reported yesterday that the accused senior official was “forgiven” by the committee.

The PSM, however, denied the media reports in its press statement, noting that the complainant has the right to appeal the committee’s decision but had not done so.

The state broadcaster said it regretted the misleading media reports that has brought PSM into disrepute and threatened to sue media outlets for damages.

According to CNM, the incident occurred three weeks ago at the PSM recording library. Sources told the online news outlet that the technical officer grabbed the woman from behind and groped her breasts.

The committee decided to pardon the offender because he has worked at the state broadcaster for 22 years, the sources claimed. The technical officer had reportedly confessed to the committee.

Last month, a manager at the state-owned Hulhumalé Development Corporation (HDC) was also let off with a warning after he was found guilty of sexually harassing a female employee.

The HDC’s human resources manager Mirshan Ahmed was accused of sending inappropriate text messages to an employee who had joined the company in March.

- See more at: http://minivannews.com/politics/senior-tvm-staff-found-guilty-of-sexual-harassment-let-off-with-warning-100885#sthash.klER1vHq.dpuf

Amendment proposed to establish Islamic Sharia

2015-06-29T16:57:00.000+05:00

Makunudhoo MP Anara Naeem has for a second time proposed an amendment to the Penal Code, to determine that penalties prescribed in the Islamic Sharia must be handed over to those who are convicted of Hudud crimes (Crimes against God).

The amendment which was earlier withdrawn and Anara claimed that the reason for withdrawal is as she was discontent over other amendments proposed to the Penal Code.

The amendment proposed to clause 1205 of the Penal Code states that if a person is convicted of a Hudud crime, the penalty prescribed in Islamic Sharia must be observed.

Hudud crimes in Islamic Sharia include adultery, fornication, homosexuality, apostasy, robbery and theft amongst others.

In Islamic law, Hudud crimes trigger a class of punishments that are fixed by God which ranges from public lashing, publicly stoning to death, amputation of hands or public execution.

Clause 1205 of the Penal Code currently states that when a person is convicted of a Hudud crime, the person will be penalized as stated in the Penal Code and Islamic Sharia (Quran) in compliance with Islamic principles.

The amendment was previously accepted for parliament consideration and sent to the committee. However, the amendments were not included when the committee finished researching the bill.

Following the withdrawal of the bill, Anara told CNM that she decided to withdraw as she was discontent over some changes brought to the bill.

via CNM

Manager found guilty of sexual harassment let off with warning

2015-06-21T07:22:00.000+05:00

A manager at the state-owned Hulhumalé Development Corporation (HDC) has been found guilty of sexually harassing a female employee, but has been spared with a warning.

The HDC’s human resources manager Mirshan Ahmed was accused of sending inappropriate text messages to an employee who had joined the company in March.

He had suggested she was hired for her looks and told her he would penalize her when she did not respond to his messages.

According to newspaper Haveeru, Mirshan admitted to sending the inappropriate texts at a review committee.

The HDC deputy managing director Mohamed Shahid told Minivan News today that Mirshan has been warned, and said the HDC has decided to renew the female employee’s contract.

Speaking to Minivan News previously, the employee said HDC had declined to renew her contract when she raised the allegations of sexual harassment.

She said she then sent an email to all HDC staff with proof of Mirshan’s inappropriate remarks. The HDC subsequently fired the assistant director of marketing and suspended an IT officer for a “security breach.”

Shahid today said the HDC has reinstated the marketing staff and cancelled the suspension of the IT staff.

According to a law passed in May 2014, government offices must set up internal committees to investigate complaints of workplace harassment within 60 days. The committee is authorized to warn, suspend or dismiss the perpetrator.

The HDC employee who had filed sexual harassment charges told Minivan News that Ahmed regularly commented on her clothes and her hair.

“He once messaged me saying I should thank him for this job. He said he saw my picture on my application form and hired me because I looked so pretty,” she said.

“Maybe because I am a single mother, he once told me that I am a ‘buy-one-get-one free’ deal.”

When she first complained to her colleagues about the harassment, she was advised to stay silent and warned that she may lose her job.

However, she lodged a complaint with the senior management after other female employees shared similar experiences of harassment from Mirshan.

Minivan News was unable to reach the employee for comment at the time of going to press.

Aerial photo of Hulhumalé by Nattu Adnan

- See more at: http://minivannews.com/politics/manager-found-guilty-of-sexual-harassment-let-off-with-warning-99959#sthash.6Ufo6otb.dpuf

‘Hired for my looks': HDC employee alleges sexual harassment

2015-06-17T07:15:00.000+05:00

This article is by Farah Ahmed

A former employee at the state-owned Housing Development Corporation (HDC) has said she was subjected to sexual harassment by a senior staff who once allegedly told her she had been hired for her looks.

The employee, who had started work at the HDC’s legal department in March, said the company’s human resource manager Mirshan Ahmed had sent her inappropriate text messages and regularly commented on her clothes and her hair.

The harassment began the first week she started work.

“He once messaged me saying I should thank him for this job. He said he saw my picture on my application form and hired me because I looked so pretty.”

When she did not respond to his text messages, he allegedly threatened to muddy her work record.

“One of his messages said: “from now on I’ll only be there for you’. And when I didn’t respond, he sent a message saying ‘I’ll be bad to you only. I’ll put this on your profile’,” she told Minivan News.

“Maybe because I am a single mother, he once told me that I am a ‘buy-one-get-one-free’ deal.”

HDC deputy managing director Mohamed Shahid said the issue is under investigation and declined to comment further.

Newspapers Haveeru and Vaguthu have meanwhile said the Economic and Youth Council at the president’s office has tabled the issue and discussed penalties.

Mirshan was not available for comment at the time of going to press.

Inappropriate texts

When the female employee, who wished to remain anonymous, first complained to her colleagues about the harassment, she was advised to stay silent and warned she may lose her job.

However, other female employees soon began sharing their own experiences of harassment by Mirshan.

Some told her several had been fired before for raising the issue.

“Once, at a meeting with office staff, he told a woman who was about to sit, that she couldn’t fit in to the couch with her friend because her butt was too big – so it wasn’t just me who was being harassed. This has clearly been an on-going thing.”

She lodged a complaint with the senior management and an internal committee was set up to review her claim. But when her three-month probation expired on June 4, she was dismissed.

“I was told to go home. There were no formal letters at first. They told me my probation period was over and that I was just a replacement for someone who had to be moved to a different department – they didn’t tell me this when they employed me. Despite the harassment, I liked my job – I even told them I’d work for free.”

The committee has since decided to reinstate her job. But the HDC managing director Mohamed Simon has ignored the order, she alleged.

“When I finally got my termination letter, it said that they did not have the budget to keep an extra employee in my department and that’s why they were letting me go. I felt that I was being dismissed for personal reasons just because I actually spoke out about this,” she said.

She then sent an email from her work email account to all HDC employees with copes of her termination letter and chat-logs demonstrating Mirshan’s inappropriate comments.

HDC fired the assistant director of marketing and suspended an IT officer for “a security breach.”

Minivan News was not able to contact Simon at the time of going to press.

The parliament in May passed a law against sexual harassment, which mandates government offices to investigate complaints of workplace harassment within 60 days.

The review committee can warn, suspend or dismiss the perpetrator.

This article previously said an HDC assistant director of marketing was suspended for an alleged security breach. This is incorrect, he was dismissed.

- See more at: http://minivannews.com/politics/hired-for-my-looks-hdc-employee-alleges-sexual-harassment-99901#sthash.L6oGVmFv.dpuf

Five arrested for sexually abusing a 14-year-old girl

2015-06-01T06:44:00.000+05:00

Five men have been arrested in southern Addu City on a charge of sexually abusing a 14-year-old girl.

The police said the five men arrested were aged, 81, 77, 56, 32 and 18 years.

Some were family members of the victim.

A court has remanded the five for 15 days.

A magistrate court in Gaaf Dhaal Atoll Gahdhoo has meanwhile sentenced a 25-year-old man to ten years in jail for sexually abusing another 14-year-old girl in 2010.

- See more at: http://minivannews.com/news-in-brief/five-arrested-for-sexually-abusing-a-14-year-old-girl-99006#sthash.ivuvcEkT.dpuf

Detention extended for two homosexual men

2015-05-25T16:51:00.000+05:00

The detention has been extended for two men homosexual men who were caught committing carnal acts in the shrubbery of Hulhumale’.

A police media official said that the Hulhumale’ Magistrate Court extended their detention by 10 days.

The suspects arrested in relation to the case are two Maldivian men aged 21 and 23.

They were arrested at around 20:45 on Saturday near the pump station in the east of Hulhumale’ while involved in carnal acts.

via CNM

Two men arrested for engaging in homosexual relations

2015-05-24T06:39:00.000+05:00

Two Maldivian men were arrested from Hulhumalé for allegedly engaging in homosexual relations.

According to CNM, police arrested the pair around 8:45pm near the Hulhumalé pump station. The suspects were aged 21 and 23.

Sodomy is a criminal offence in the Maldives.

- See more at: http://minivannews.com/news-in-brief/two-men-arrested-for-engaging-in-homosexual-relations-98636#sthash.uEYOgTv6.dpuf

IS implements death penalty on Maldivian citizen

2015-05-13T16:45:00.000+05:00

Islamic State (IS) group has implemented the death penalty on a Maldivian citizen who was working with the terrorist group.

Reports say the death penalty was implemented after an IS “Court” gave the death penalty. However, it is unclear as to why the death penalty was issued.

In addition to the Maldivian citizen, two more foreigners who joined IS in Iraq and Syria were killed off after the court sentenced them to death.

The death penalty was implemented on all three of them in April and they were killed by pushing off a building.

The Maldivian, who faced the death penalty, reportedly joined IS group in late 2014. He reportedly travelled to Syria before crossing the border into Iraq.

IS group had earlier implemented the death penalty on several others by pushing them off buildings.

The first such case was reported in the media as when an elderly man was pushed off a building after being convicted of homosexuality.

This is the first instance in which IS had reportedly killed a Maldivian. However, several Maldivians who are fighting with IS in Syria had been killed before.

Via CNM

Parliament accepts amendment to implement Hadd

2015-03-30T11:02:00.000+05:00

Parliament has accepted an amendment to the Penal Code, to determine that penalties prescribed in the Islamic Sharia must be handed over to those who are convicted of Hudud crimes (Crimes against God).

The amendment proposed by Makunudhoo MP Anara Naeem was accepted with 44 votes in favor while there were no votes against the bill.

The amendment proposed to clause 1205 of the Penal Code states that if a person is convicted of a Hudud crime, the penalty prescribed in Islamic Sharia must be observed.

Hudud crimes in Islamic Sharia include adultery, fornication, homosexuality, apostasy, robbery and theft amongst others.

In Islamic law, Hudud crimes trigger a class of punishments that are fixed by God which ranges from public lashing, publicly stoning to death, amputation of hands or public execution.

Although the government has repeatedly voiced its determination to implement public executions on convicted murderers, capital punishments are yet to be practiced in the Maldives.

The Maldives also does not observe the Islamic penalty to amputate hands of robbers whilst the publicly stoning to death of adulterers is not implemented by the government.

The Penal Code will come into effect on 13th April. If the proposed amendment is approved by the People’s Majlis, the government will be required to observe the implementation of Hadd.

Via CNM

Adhaalath condemns Maldives abstention on UN gay vote

2015-03-30T07:45:00.000+05:00

The religious conservative Adhaalath Party has condemned the government for abstaining from a United Nations vote on a resolution against providing gay marital benefits to all UN employees.

The secretary general of the Adhaalath Party, which condemns homosexuality, told Vnews the abstention indicated that the Maldives did not oppose providing the marital benefits for gay couples.

In a tweet yesterday, Adhaalath said that it was “shameful” that the Maldives abstained from voting on the resolution, which was voted down last week.

Secretary general Iaadh Hameed added that the government’s foreign policy should be built upon Islamic principles and values, and that those policies should not encourage irreligious acts.

The vote on the resolution was held on March 24, after Russia challenged UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon’s decision to provide marital benefits to legally wed gay and lesbian couples similar to those provided to heterosexual couples.

However, the UN General Assembly rejected the resolution, with 80 countries voting against it, 43 countries voted in favour and 37 countries abstaining.

While China, Belarus and Muslim-majority Malaysia voted in favour of the resolution, Muslim-majority Indonesia also abstained.

Previously, the Maldives government had strongly criticised the European Union, saying that EU asked the Maldives to legalise same sex marriage and freedom of religion in exchange for extending duty-free status on Maldivian fish.

Economic development minister Mohamed Saeed claimed at the time that the EU declined to extend the duty exemption after Maldives refused the condition of “allowing homosexual relations and the opportunity for people to follow any religion they want”.

“The Maldives is an Islamic state and will remain so. We will uphold Islam. We will not compromise on anything that conflicts with Islam,” he said.

- See more at: http://minivannews.com/news-in-brief/adhaalath-condemns-maldives-abstention-on-un-gay-vote-95240#sthash.DKcouo1C.dpuf

Not opposing pro-homosexuality regulation is an embarrassment: Adhaalath Party

2015-03-29T10:58:00.000+05:00

Adhaalath Party has said that it is a embarrassment for the Maldivian people that their representative at the UN did not participate in a vote for a resolution Russia proposed in which they opposed a pro-homosexuality regulation made by the UN Secretary General.

In answer to a question put forward by CNM, Adhaalath Party Iyaad Hameed said that by not participating in the vote, the government was telling the international world that they did not oppose homosexuality and because of that stand by the government the Maldivian people are suffering a great embarrassment.

He said that the Maldivian foreign policy should depend on our religion, Islam, terms which Maldivians can accept and to promote such ideals alone.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon had decided to allow UN employees in same-sex relationships to be allowed the same benefits as those in heterosexual marriages.

Russia had proposed a resolution to oppose this and the vote for the resolution took place on Wednesday last week.

While neighboring India and Islamic countries such as Pakistan and Saudi Arabia had voted for the Russian resolution, Maldives did not participate in the vote.

Via CNM

Amendment proposed to Penal Code seeks to implement Hadd

2015-03-23T10:51:00.000+05:00

Makunudhoo MP Anara Naeem has proposed an amendment to the Penal Code, to determine that penalties prescribed in the Islamic Sharia must be handed over to those who are convicted of Hudud crimes (Crimes against God).

The amendment proposed to clause 1205 of the Penal Code states that if a person is convicted of a Hudud crime, the penalty prescribed in Islamic Sharia must be observed.

Hudud crimes in Islamic Sharia include adultery, fornication, homosexuality, apostasy, robbery and theft amongst others.

In Islamic law, Hudud crimes trigger a class of punishments that are fixed by God which ranges from public lashing, publicly stoning to death, amputation of hands or public execution.

Although the government has repeatedly voiced its determination to implement public executions on convicted murderers, capital punishments are yet to be practiced in the Maldives.

The Maldives also does not observe the Islamic penalty to amputate hands of robbers whilst the publicly stoning to death of adulterers is not implemented by the government.

The Penal Code will come into effect on 13th April.

Via CNM

12 students reportedly molested in Guraidhoo Island

2015-02-09T10:08:00.000+05:00

Authorities have begun investigating a case where 12 minors were molested in Guraidhoo Island of Kaafu atoll.

Haveeru has received information claiming that a number of adults had molested students of both genders. The source further added that there were reports of homosexual encounters within the student body.

The Guraidhoo School had reported the case to the Gender Ministry. A team from the Ministry is scheduled to leave for the island on Monday.

According to the school’s senior staff, the repeated offences were brought to light by a parent. Upon probing it further, they discovered that it was widespread within the school and reported it to the Police and the Ministry.

“This includes students from grades 1 to 7” an official from the school said “There are reports of some being assaulted as well and we have information that it is the same group of people that perpetrate this”.

The Island’s Council had confirmed the case as well.

via Haveeru

New HIV prevention strategy to target injecting drug users, gay men, sex workers

2015-01-14T06:35:00.000+05:00

The Health Protection Agency’s (HPA) new national strategy on HIV prevention will scale up prevention programmes in key affected populations of injecting drug users, sex workers, men who have sex with men.

By 2016, the HPA aims to reach at least 60 percent of injecting drug users to promote the safe use of injecting equipment and consistent condom use with sexual partners.

The HPA aims to reach 80 percent of sex workers and men who are having sex with men to promote the consistent use of condoms.

The health ministry has previously said the Maldives was sitting on an HIV “time bomb” due to the lack of prevention programmes and specialised care for groups at risk.

The HPA has previously expressed concern over the prevalence of behaviors that increase risk of HIV spread such as promiscuity, unsafe sex and intravenous drug use.

There are nine individuals receiving treatment for HIV at present. The HPA estimates there are 32 individuals living with HIV in the Maldives. The figure could reach 123 by 2020 if prevention measures are not put in place, the agency said today.

Meanwhile, the Society for Health Education (SHE) has called for the integration of sexual reproductive health services and HIV prevention efforts.

“Integrating sexual reproductive and HIV prevention has the potential to stem an HIV pandemic. When vulnerable groups have increased access to and use sexual reproductive health services, it decreases the spread of HIV,” Shiyama Anwar of SHE said.

“Integration of these services provides a more comprehensive service that benefits both the clients and service providers,” she added.

According to the HPA, it currently only receives 15 percent of requested funds for HIV prevention, care, and treatment. The majority of the funds released from state budget are spent on treatment of infected individuals rather than on prevention.

The agency has called on the government to scale up sexual reproductive services and HIV prevention programmes, arguing interventions such as life skill programs for youth would only cost MVR350 per person while the state spends over MVR50,000 on each individual infected with HIV.

In the period between 2006 and 2013, 161 female victims of rape, which included underage girls became pregnant, HPA figures explain. The state spends MVR 174,000 on each child every year under state care. In comparison, providing quality contraceptives only costs MVR 1000 per person annually.

Meanwhile, the state spends MVR 22,900 per month on every individual receiving state care at drug rehabilitation centers. However, methadone or oral substitution treatment would only cost MVR14,400 and comprehensive awareness programmes would only cost MVR 800 per child, says the agency.

The HPA has called on the People’s Majlis to integrate services on HIV prevention, sexual reproductive health, and drug abuse, and grant service providers with adequate financial resources.

- See more at: http://minivannews.com/politics/new-hiv-prevention-strategy-to-target-injecting-drug-users-gay-men-sex-workers-92141#sthash.MsbKJKJb.dpuf

High Court overturns sex crime conviction of renowned Quran teacher

2014-11-18T06:29:00.000+05:00

The High Court on Sunday (October 16) overturned the conviction of renowned Quran teacher or reciter Hussain Thoufeeq, for committing a sex crime.

In November 2013, Thaufeeq was sentenced to six months banishment and 15 lashes for sexually abusing children. However the Criminal Court suspended the sentence for three years, on the grounds it was the Qari’s first offence.

Thaufeeq appealed the verdict and the High Court ruled noted that the three witnesses were all related, had not reported the matter to police, and had testified after being evicted from their apartment.

Presiding Judges Abbas Shareef, Yousuf Hussain, and Dr Ezmirelda Zahir ruled that the testimony of the witnesses was not sufficient to prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt.

Thaufeeq was arrested in August 2010 on multiple charges of child sexual molestation with “some cases going a long time back,” police said at the time.

Thaufeeq’s students had also submitted a petition to the Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (HRCM) asking the commission to investigate the allegations.

Thaufeeq hosted a daily Quran teaching program on Television Maldives (TVM) for school children every evening after Isha prayers. He also led Friday prayers and conducted sermons.

Under the Child Sex Offenders (Special Provisions) Act of 2009, the penalty for child sex abuse is 10-14 years but can be extended to 15-18 years if the accused was in a position of trust with the children he allegedly abused.

However, Thaufeeq was charged under a different regulation for criminalising fornication and sexual misconduct.

The Qari is also being charged with possession of pornographic material. The trial is still pending at the Criminal Court.

- See more at: http://minivannews.com/news-in-brief/high-court-overturns-sex-crime-conviction-of-renowned-quran-teacher-91118#sthash.9XTdhEJp.dpuf

EU demanded same sex marriage, freedom of religion, claim ministers

2014-11-12T06:21:00.000+05:00

The European Union (EU) demanded legalisation of same sex marriage and freedom of religion in return for extending duty-free status to Maldivian exports of canned tuna, Economic Development Minister Mohamed Saeed and Fisheries Minister Dr Mohamed Shainee have claimed.

At a press conference this afternoon, Saeed said that the reason for the EU’s decision was the Maldives’ refusal to accept the condition for “allowing homosexual relations and the opportunity for people to follow any religion they want”.

“The Maldives is an Islamic state and will remain so. We will uphold Islam. We will not compromise on anything that conflicts with Islam,” he said.

Last year, the government’s application for a year’s extension under the ‘GSP Plus’ program was declined as it had not ratified all 27 required international conventions. The Maldives holds reservations concerning the freedom of religion component of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).

Dr Shainee said there was consensus among the public that same sex marriage and freedom of religion should not be allowed in the Maldives.

The ministers accused the opposition of attempting to deceive the public and obstructing the government’s development efforts.

Shainee said the opposition was twisting and distorting statements from government officials to divert attention from the government’s achievements during its first year in office, attempting to cast a “shadow” on the government’s achievements.

He accused former President Mohamed Nasheed of providing false information to foreign parties with the intention of “creating distrust towards the Maldivian people” and turning foreign nations against the Maldives.

The Maldivian people would suffer the consequences of the opposition’s alleged attempts to worsen relations with India and Europe, he said.

India has suggested remarks made in the People’s Majlis by Dunya last week regarding Sino-Indian talks on the Maritime Silk Road project were misleading, prompting government politicians to suggest the MDP was behind the confusion.

After publishing what is claimed to be evidence of the supposed discussions having taken place yesterday, Indian High Commissioner Rajeev Shahare tweeted a link to the official joint statement released at the conclusion of September’s talks between President Xi Jinpeng and Narendra Modi.

The 28-point statement contained no mention of the silk road project, while the Chinese press release referred to by the Maldives government mentioned that the two governments “should” work within the silk road framework.

Looking East

In his Republic Day address yesterday, President Abdulla Yameen accused the EU of imposing trade restrictions on the Maldives for refusing to change or abandon Islamic principles.

Until January 2014, fish exports to the EU – the single largest export partner by value – were duty-free under the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) programme, a non-reciprocal trade agreement extended to developing countries.

Thailand, Ecuador, and China also lost GSP benefits this year.

The Maldives was forced to apply for GSP Plus status as a result of its graduation from least developed country status – a change President Yameen has noted as bringing “enormous challenges and hardships”.

President Yameen said yesterday trade and economic cooperation with China does not involve the same challenges to remaining an Islamic state posed by “Western colonial powers.”

“Participating in business with China does not involve any such compulsion for us,” Yameen said.

Former Fisheries Minister Shafeeu told Minivan News in November 2013 that the Maldives would lose its competitive advantage over the larger fishing fleets of nearby Sri Lanka and Thailand with a 14-20 tariff on fish imports, and reduce profits to “a marginal value”.

President Yameen said there was “no way forward” for the country on the issue.

“The government’s thinking is changing towards the East,” he said. Under the Maldivian Constitution, all citizens are required to be Sunni Muslim and the practice of other religions as well as places of worship are prohibited.

Shainee noted that the EU was still the Maldives biggest partner for fish exports and stressed that closer ties with China does not entail worsening relations with India or other friendly nations.

The government has been looking for new markets for fish exports – such as China, the Middle East, and America – and have introduced longline fishing, he added.

Of the companies responding to request for proposals from the government for infrastructure projects, Saeed said today that a large percentage were from China.

An agreement has also been signed between China and Maldives to form a joint commission on trade and economic cooperation, he added, which would facilitate economic growth.

Saeed also noted that China represents 40 percent of tourist arrivals to the Maldives.

The government decided to participate in the Chinese 21st Century Maritime Silk Route initiative because China is currently the strongest and fastest growing economy in the world, President Yameen said yesterday.

As a result, Yameen continued, the government believes that the “multi-million dollar infrastructure investment” needed for economic development would “arrive through this door.”

- See more at: http://minivannews.com/politics/eu-demanded-same-sex-marriage-freedom-of-religion-claim-ministers-90982#sthash.HHodsvWA.dpuf