- Country
- Maldives
- Initial Date
- Jul 20, 2023
- Event Description
A Channel 13 media worker and Sangu News journalist have been physically assaulted by Maldivian police while covering an opposition protest in Malé’s Republic Square on July 20. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) joins its affiliate, the Maldives Journalists Association (MJA), in condemning the assault and urging authorities to conduct an immediate investigation into the incident.
In a video posted to Twitter, a Maldives Police Service (MPS) officer can be seen forcibly grabbing Channel 13 cameraperson Misbah, pushing him away from a protest attended by leaders of the Maldivian opposition ‘Progressive Congress’ coalition held in Male’s Jumhooree Maidhaan, or Republic Square on July 20. The officer pushes Misbah into Sangu News journalist Maathu Hussain and a prone activist, with the two media workers falling to the ground. Both were wearing press cards identifying themselves as members of the media.
The incident has been widely condemned by the Maldivian media community on social media. In an interview conducted hours after the incident, Police Commissioner Mohammed Hameed announced that he had ordered the suspension of the offending police officer and that an investigation into the incident from the Special Operations Department was underway.
The demonstration was organised by leaders of the Progressive Coalition, comprised of the People’s Party of the Maldives (PPM) and People’s National Congress (PNC), and protested charges laid against former-President Abdullah Yameen and his resulting disqualification from contesting September’s Presidential elections. Police were seen arresting the opposition leaders conducting the protest and escorting them into vans, although all have since been released.
Journalists in the Maldives continue to face harassment and assault from police while covering opposition rallies. In February, Channel 13 reporter Shaheed and media worker Misbaah were assaulted, pepper sprayed, and struck by police while covering a joint PPM and PNC rally. In March, Avas journalist Hussain Juman was assaulted and briefly detained by police while covering a PPM rally in Malé.
The MJA said: “MJA strongly condemn the brutal attack by a police officer on the journalists covering today's opposition gathering at the Republican Square. We urgently call upon the National Integrity Commission and the police to conduct a swift and thorough investigation and take necessary measures against the officers who obstructed journalists and media workers during the incident. It is imperative to establish a comprehensive national framework to safeguard journalists and formulate clear guidelines for media coverage of protests and gatherings.”
The IFJ said: “Journalists must be able to report without fear of obstruction, harassment or assault and these repeated incidents make clear the need for greater safety measures for media workers in the Maldives. The IFJ condemns the assault committed by local police and urges authorities to conduct a transparent investigation into the incident.”
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Woman
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of expression Offline, Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Media Worker, WHRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Aug 9, 2023
- Country
- Maldives
- Initial Date
- Apr 7, 2023
- Event Description
Two senior Maldivian journalists were issued serious threats via phone and text on April 7 following the publication of an article about a high-profile arbitration case between a Maldivian tourism group and Hilton Worldwide. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) joins its affiliate the Maldives Journalists Association (MJA) in strongly condemning the threats against two respected journalists and calls on the Maldivian police for urgent measures to ensure the protection of media workers in the Maldives and the swift apprehension of the perpetrators.
The journalists targeted by the threats were senior journalist and secretary general of IFJ affiliate, the Maldives Journalists Association (MJA), Ahmed Naaif, and the senior editor of news outlet Dhauru, Ahmed Zahir.
The MJA said the men received several intimidatory threats of killing and assault by unknown perpetrators, warning Ahmed Naaif to leave the country ‘within five days’ after the publication of the Dhauru article, titled ‘Siyam and HiltonCase: Red Warning to Investors’, on April 6. The story in question was covering the long-running Singaporean arbitration case between Sun Travel and Tours, which is owned by Maldivian politician Ahmed Siyam Mohamed, and the American hospitality company Hilton Worldwide. Sun Travel and Tours was ordered by the Singapore courts to pay retribution to Hilton, yet also had its own case in the Maldives which served to stall the matter for eight years.
According to the MJA, Siyam, a member of parliament and a leader of the minor coalition party, the Maldives Development Alliance, called Zahiron the evening of April 7 demanding the article be retracted and stated the phone call was his ‘final warning’. The company later issued a statement disparaging the journalists’ coverage and threatened to sue the journalists for defamation. The men subsequently received a series of anonymous death threats.
The MJA said the matter was now with the police and the threats sent to their phones were with investigating officers, but it held grave concerns for the journalists’ safety and the blatant attack on freedom of expression. Siyam’s MDA is in coalition with the current Maldivian government led by President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.
The IFJ said the threats on the two journalists was a direct assault on all media in the Maldives and presented a poor image of democracy in the Maldives if journalists are not able to go about their work safely and publish in the public interest without fear.
The IFJ said: “Any dispute regarding media reporting in the Maldives should be appropriately handled by the Maldives Media Council, which is the arbiter on such disputes. Despite the position of the person, be they a politician or an everyday Maldivian, this mechanism was established for exactly this purpose. Position or power does not give exemption.”
According to the MJA, the failure of police investigations into past incidents of harassment and intimidation in the Maldives had created a climate of impunity in the country that civil society, media and journalist representative groups and the government had worked hard to tackle through proactive justice measures and a major commission.
In the leadup to the country’s presidential election later this year, both IFJ and MJA have documented a concerning rise in violations against media, prompting stronger calls for concerted action from the government and authorities.
On March 20, the chief editor of the online news outlet Adhadhu, Hussain Fiyaz Moosa, was sent a death threat via text message after he published an article relating to organised crime and religious extremism in the Maldives. But historically, the Maldives sits with a dark history of attacks against journalists after the brutal killings in 2017 and 2014 respectively of journalists and bloggers Yameen Rasheed and Ahmed Rilwan. Both were killed in targeted attacks by extremist groups after receiving a series of death threats that were not adequately investigated or taken seriously.
The MJA said: “Under no circumstances are death threats and threats of physical assault against journalists be taken lightly. This is a more serious issue that needs to be addressed soon. It is the duty of the state to ensure the safety of journalists. We call on the Maldives government and police to provide adequate security to the journalists who were threatened, and we call on law enforcement to investigate the case swiftly and find the perpetrators.”
The IFJ said: “Journalists must be able to conduct their work free from intimidation, harassment, and government interference. The threats against Ahmed Naaif and Ahmed Zahir are a grave concern for all journalists. The media industry is united against threats to reporting and the vital role that journalists play in holding the powerful to account. The Maldivian people must condemn these attacks as an attack to all and the public’s right to know.”
- Impact of Event
- 2
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Death threat, Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Media Worker
- Perpetrator-State
- Suspected state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Apr 20, 2023
- Country
- Maldives
- Initial Date
- Mar 28, 2023
- Event Description
On 28 March 2023, the Civil Court of Maldives ruled in favor of the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment (MoYSCE) upholding the decision to de-register the Maldivian Democracy Network (MDN) on 19 December 2019. MDN was arbitrarily de-registered in 2019 by the MoYSCE amid a violent smear campaign against the human rights organisation and its staff. Shahinda Ismail, woman human rights defender and Executive Director of MDN filed action before the Civil Court of Maldives challenging the arbitrary de-registration. The ruling of the Civil Court on 28 March 2023 is extremely concerning as it legitimises the arbitrary ban on MDN, and further states that the report published by MDN in 2015 that led in the ban, contained blasphemous content.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- Administrative Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Freedom of association, Right to work
- HRD
- NGO
- Perpetrator-State
- Government, Judiciary
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Related Events
- Maldives: NGO is formally dissolved with a decision deemed arbitrary and unilateral (Update)
- Date added
- Apr 20, 2023
- Country
- Maldives
- Initial Date
- Mar 16, 2023
- Event Description
Maldives authorities should investigate the police assault of journalist Hussain Juman, refrain from filing any charges against him in retaliation for his work, and ensure members of the press can cover protests freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday.
On the evening of Thursday, March 16, Maldives police assaulted and arrested Juman, a reporter for the privately owned news website Avas, while he covered a rally by supporters of the opposition Progressive Party of Maldives in the capital city of Malé, according to a tweet by the Maldives Journalists Association and the journalist, who spoke with CPJ by phone.
Authorities released him without charge on Friday afternoon, following an order by the Maldives Criminal Court. Juman told CPJ that he did not know if police intended to file charges against him in the future.
“Maldives authorities must swiftly investigate the police assault of journalist Hussain Juman and hold the officers responsible to account,” said Beh Lih Yi, CPJ’s Asia program coordinator. “In the run-up to September’s presidential election, Maldives authorities must ensure the media can cover political rallies without fear of being targeted or assaulted. Journalists are doing their jobs to keep voters informed.”
Protesters had gathered calling for the release of PPM leader Abdulla Yameen, who was sentenced to 11 years in prison on corruption and money laundering charges in December.
Juman was filming the rally when police shoved him to the ground and threw his phone away, according to a video of the incident posted to Twitter and the journalist, who said he sustained injuries to his chest, shoulder, and back.
Juman was held in an overcrowded cell with around 12 others in the Malé custodial detention center before being presented in the Maldives Criminal Court on Friday afternoon, he said.
At that hearing, state lawyers asked the court to extend Juman’s detention for 15 days pending an investigation into allegations that he disturbed police functions and physically assaulted officers at the rally, Juman told CPJ.
After reviewing the video of officers assaulting Juman, the court denied the state lawyers’ request due to insufficient evidence and ordered his immediate release, he said.
Maldives Police Commissioner Mohamed Hameed told CPJ by phone that police will conduct an internal inquiry into the assault and arrest of Juman, and will determine whether he will be charged.
Police assaulted two journalists last month while they covered political protests near the parliament building. The parliament is currently considering an amendment that would restrict journalists’ ability to cover elections.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of expression Offline, Right to healthy and safe environment, Right to liberty and security
- HRD
- Media Worker
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Mar 19, 2023
- Country
- Maldives
- Initial Date
- Feb 6, 2023
- Event Description
Two journalists from Channel 13 covering the opposition protest were injured on Monday, with one sustaining serious injures.
The opposition coalition gathered in Sosun Magu in Malé, close to the parliament, in protest of the presidential address given by President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih. A large number of police were deployed onto the roads in riot gear to control the crowd; they attempted to break up the demonstration with force.
During this altercation, a videographer and photographer wearing their press passes were injured.
Hassan Shaheed, one of the injured journalists, was taken to ADK Hospital for treatment. According to the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM), he sustained brain and spinal injury. His family had even started the process of transferring him to a medical facility in Sri Lanka for further treatment.
The police used pepper spray to stop the crowd from reaching the parliament.
At the parliament's opening, the opposition lawmakers protested within the chambers before President Solih delivered his address.
According to the Mihaaru News journalist on scene, the two journalists from Channel 13 were pushed back and fell down when the police, armed with protective shields, moved forward. They were further affected when the police used pepper spray to control the crowd.
Images showing both journalist on the road were circulating online; one of the journalists appear to be unconscious in the photos. Another Channel 13 reporter claimed that the reporter who fainted on site had recently undergone major surgery and was still recovering from it.
PPM Spokesperson Heena said 11 people have been detained by the police so far in connection with the opposition protest. Four people were rushed to a hospital for injuries sustained during the protest.
- Impact of Event
- 2
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Violence (physical), Wounds and Injuries
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of expression Offline, Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Media Worker
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Feb 12, 2023
- Country
- Maldives
- Initial Date
- May 18, 2022
- Event Description
Maldivian police have allegedly harassed journalists at a protest for the ‘India Out’ campaign on May 18, led by the Maldives’ opposition party. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and its affiliate in the Maldives, the Maldives Journalist Association (MJA), condemn the police’s actions towards the journalists in the field and urge the government to investigate the case and bring the perpetrators to justice.
According to the MJA and other local media organisations, a police officer named ‘Solih’ threatened and harassed journalists and media workers during their coverage of an ‘India Out’ protest held on May 18.
The ‘India Out’ campaign began in 2020, led by opposition leader and former president Abdulla Yameen of the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM), against the alleged presence of Indian military personnel in the Maldives.
On April 21, current Maldivian president Ibrahim Solih issued a decree, backed by the country’s National Security Council, banning the campaign, citing the movement’s threats to the “long standing bilateral relations between Maldives and India.” However, protests have continued.
Several Maldivian media and media rights organisation have criticised the recent attacks on journalists at ‘India Out’ protests. Maldives Media Council (MMC) condemned the reported harassment from police and called for investigation into the incident. The MJA and Transparency Maldives urged the authorities to protect the right to freedom of expression enshrined in the Maldives’ constitution, in response to “concerning police conduct”.
The IFJ’s South Asia Press Freedom Report 2021-22, recorded just two media rights violations in the Maldives from May 1, 2021 to April 30, 2022, but noted a legacy of interference in media regulators and a history of impunity for crimes against journalists.
Maldives Media Council (MMC) on Thursday requested the Maldives Police Service to investigate allegations of a police officer threatening journalists for covering the “India Out” rally held yesterday.
Multiple media has reported threats against journalists alleged police officer named “Solih” for covering the “India Out” protest. Local media reports that the officer has previously threatened media during protest coverage.
In addition to the MMC, human rights NGO Transparency Maldives and Maldives Journalist Association (MJA) released a joint statement today calling for the government to protect and safeguard the right to freedom of expression enshrined in the Maldives Constitution.
The statement was released due to concerning police conduct towards journalists and protestors during recent protests.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of expression Offline, Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Media Worker
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- May 28, 2022
- Country
- Maldives
- Initial Date
- Feb 20, 2021
- Event Description
Maldives Police attacked a Channel 13 camera operator and harassed the channel’s chief operating officer and station deputy in two separate incidents during opposition-led protests in Male on February 19. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) call on the Maldives police to respect press freedom and ensure journalists are able to freely and safely report.
Channel–13 cameraperson Mohamed Shaheem was tackled to the ground and injured by police as he attempted to cover the protests in the Alimas Carnival area of Malé on Februrary 20. Channel–13 was only the network with live coverage of the protests. Following the incident, Shaheem was admitted to a local hospital for treatment.
Organized by both the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) and the People's National Congress (PNC), the protest called on the government to nullify the state’s phase two distribution of its flats under "Hiyaa" public housing scheme project of Hulhumale in North Male, saying the distribution was ‘unjust’. The public housing project included development of 7,000 flats. The protesters also demanded authorities to release disgraced former president Abdulla Yameen, who is currently serving a jail term for money laundering.
The same day, police used force to move Channel-13’s chief operating officer, Mohamed Samah, and the station’s deputy-in-charge, Hussain Ihsan, from a restaurant near the protest, despite both of them wearing media passes. Video footage of the incident shows police barging in to the restaurant and forcefully manhandling the journalists out of the restaurant.
Maldivian journalists and reporters rallied on February 21 in front of the Maldives Media Council (MMC) and the Maldives Broadcasting Commission (MBC). Journalists carried posters and placards calling on the government to stop attacks on the press and journalists.
The media community noted the incident as one in a series of actions from the Maldivian authorities, by which intimidation is used as a means to silence independent or critical reporting.
Maldives Police Service said that they accidentally arrested a journalist while arresting protesters from Le Souq Cafe at yesterday’s opposition protest, and that they released that individual as soon as it came to their attention that he is a journalist.
According to the police, the protesters used offensive language and profanities at the police and obstructed them from doing their job at yesterday’s protest. When asked to evacuate the area, some protesters then entered the Le Souq Cafe. The police forcefully removed the protesters from the café and the Deputy Head of Channel 13 was mistaken for a protester and arrested.
A video of the scene now publicised shows four journalists of Channel 13 sitting at a table when the police entered the café. The journalist had an identification card attached to his front pocket showing that he is a journalist and many people were also heard shouting that he is from the media. However, the officers barged in and arrested the individual. The video shows the police forcefully taking the journalist down the stairs.
Regarding the situation, police further said that the protesters and the journalist tried to create chaos at the scene when asked to leave. The police maintains that the journalist purposefully fell onto the floor directly disobeying the police and that this behaviour was not expected from a journalist.
In addition to this, police said that the department tries their best to ensure that media covering protests and other such events have the best possible atmosphere to carry out their jobs. The police noted that they expect journalist to behave accordingly and make sure that their actions do not obstruct the way of the police.
- Impact of Event
- 2
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Offline, Right to healthy and safe environment, Right to liberty and security
- HRD
- Media Worker
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Feb 25, 2021
- Country
- Maldives
- Initial Date
- Jun 22, 2020
- Event Description
Groups that endorse violent ultra-nationalist or Islamist ideology have tried to shut down a leading women�s rights organization in the Maldives since mid-June 2020, and have threatened other activist groups, Human Rights Watch said today. But the Maldives government has failed to act against these groups.
The government of President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih should investigate and appropriately prosecute those responsible for harassment, intimidation, or assault, instead of appeasing these groups.
�Islamist extremist groups that are a relic of the previous abusive government persist in their threats and violence against pro-democracy activists,� said Patricia Gossman, associate Asia director at Human Rights Watch. �The Solih administration should demonstrate a firm commitment to free expression by taking action against those attacking it.�
Recently, extremist groups � called �gangs� in the Maldives � opened a social media campaign demanding the government ban Uthema, the country�s main women�s rights organization. The women�s rights group had published a report assessing the Maldives government�s adherence to its obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. Proponents of this campaign have accused Uthema of being anti-Islam.
A similar campaign by extremist groups in November 2019 prompted the Solih government to shut down the Maldivian Democracy Network (MDN), the country�s leading human rights organization. Islamist gangs had accused MDN of insulting Islam in a 2015 report on radicalization in the Maldives.
Islamist extremists in the Maldives have long used social media to target activists who promote the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people, or publish material and support causes that are deemed �offensive� to Islam. Some of these gangs have links to prominent politicians, and have assaulted and murdered activists with impunity.
A government-appointed commission investigating deaths and enforced disappearances in the Maldives found that criminal gang leaders planned and carried out several murders of prominent activists.
Ahmed Rilwan, an outspoken journalist who uncovered political corruption and its links to Islamist extremism, disappeared in 2014. He was murdered by a group affiliated to al-Qaeda, said the commission president, Husnu Suood. Yameen Rasheed, a blogger and social media activist known for his satirical political commentaries, was stabbed to death in 2017.
The commission also concluded that the al-Qaeda-linked gang had a �hit list� that included other activists and critics of the government. On June 22, 2020, commission members told the parliament speaker that they were unable to proceed any further with the investigations. Suood had previously warned that the criminal justice system was protecting religious extremists and their criminal acts.
The government�s failure to curb threats of violence and prosecute extremist group leaders has had a chilling effect on civil society, Human Rights Watch said. Social justice organizations have raised concerns about the shrinking civic space due to threats from violent extremist groups and the government�s failure to take action against them.
The Maldives government has obligations under international human rights law to respect and uphold the right of people to freely receive and disseminate all types of information, Human Rights Watch said.
�Maldives authorities should take immediate steps to stem violence by Islamist extremist groups that threatens the work of human rights defenders,� Gossman said. �The government should act swiftly to bring to justice those responsible for these brutal attacks, and make clear public statements in support of religious freedom and free speech.�
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- Online Attack and Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Online, Right to healthy and safe environment, Women's rights
- HRD
- NGO, WHRD
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Extremist group
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Aug 21, 2020
- Country
- Maldives
- Initial Date
- Dec 19, 2019
- Event Description
Funds in the bank account of Maldives Democracy Network (MDN), dissolved for mocking Islam and the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) through their report on extremism, has been transferred to the Deaf Association.
RaajjeMV understands from a reliable source that the funds in MDN's bank account at the State Bank of India (SBI) was frozen following its dissolution by the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment.
The NGO was disbanded during November last year after their report “Preliminary Assessment of Radicalization in the Maldives” came to the attention of the public for content that was disrespectful to Islam. While MDN has yet to announce their final plans for the organisation's funds, the ministry instructed the NGO to submit the necessary paperwork regarding their debts and finances within 45 days. That deadline ended on December 19th.
Sources reveal that the funds in the NGO's account at SBI have since been transferred to the Deaf Association. As such, article 5(f) of the Associations Act (Act No: 1/2003) states that if an association fails to submit financial statements within the allocated time-period following disbandment "any money or property left over after paying off the debts and liabilities of the association after its dissolution shall be given away to another non-profit association or to a government-approved charity".
The Ministry of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment made the decision to dissolve MDN after Maldives Police Service (MPS) forwarded their initial assessment on the “Preliminary Assessment of Radicalization in the Maldives” report by MDN to the ministry on 1 November. Police declared that the report, in fact, consists of content that is disrespectful and mocks the religion, ridicules Prophet Muhammad (SAW) and tarnishes Islamic tenets.
After MDN's report came to public attention, many island councils released press statements demanding the disbandment of the organisation. Hence, many members of the public expressed appreciation to the incumbent administration for its decision to dissolve MDN. Nevertheless, while the organisation currently ceases to exist, many members of the public have also voiced concern regarding the lack of action taken against MDN's leadership.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- Administrative Harassment, Denial Fair Trial
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of association, Right to fair trial, Right to healthy and safe environment, Right to property
- HRD
- NGO
- Perpetrator-State
- Government
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Active
- Related Events
- Maldives: NGO is formally dissolved with a decision deemed arbitrary and unilateral (Update)
- Date added
- Feb 5, 2020
- Country
- Maldives
- Initial Date
- Dec 19, 2019
- Event Description
The Maldivian Democracy Network has challenged the government’s “arbitrary and unilateral” decision to ban the human rights NGO over content in a 2016 report that was deemed slanderous and contrary to the tenets of Islam.
The community empowerment ministry de-registered MDN on November 5 and instructed the rights group to settle its debts and matters related to its property within 45 days. The formal dissolution was announced last Thursday with the ministry saying MDN did not respond at all within the 45-day period.
But MDN called the claim “a blatant untruth” in a statement on Friday. The NGO said it had sought clarification on several legal issues a day after the announcement and informed the ministry that it could not comply with the de-registration directive without an explanation.
MDN contended that the directive was illegal and a “gross violation” of constitutional rights to be informed of allegations and to reply and defend itself, accusing the ministry of denying “basic fairness and procedural propriety.”
The unprecedented move to ban an NGO came after the Islamic ministry and police concluded that MDN’s ‘Preliminary Assessment of Radicalisation in the Maldives’ mocked Islam and Prophet Mohamed. The 2003 associations law prohibits NGOs from contradicting tenets of Islam or undermining religious unity, the community empowerment ministry said in November.
Religious scholars launched a campaign to ban MDN in early October after screenshots of the report were widely shared on social media. More than 140 out of 200 local councils backed the calls and protest marches took place on several islands. On October 10, the government suspended the NGO after the Islamic ministry asked police to investigate but the campaign continued unabated and opposition parties seized upon the cause with protests of their own.
The decision to formally dissolve MDN has been welcomed by Jumhooree Party leader Gasim Ibrahim, Maldives Reform Movement leader and former president, Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, and religious scholars from the Adhaalath Party – three partners of the ruling coalition led by the Maldivian Democratic Party of President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and Parliament Speaker Mohamed Nasheed.
In its statement, MDN urged the authorities to share a copy of the investigative report produced by the police and Islamic ministry “in order to contest this apparent unfair treatment and violation of the inalienable right to freedom of association.”
Alleging the presence of radical elements within the police and Islamic ministry, MDN argued that there was a “high conflict of interest when the government’s decision to ban MDN followed a social media smear campaign by radical and extremist religious groups, followed by a complaint filed against MDN at the police by the Islamic Ministry, the investigation having been conducted by the police jointly with the Islamic Ministry, with the exclusion of MDN, to review the content of the report without due process and an absolutely silent government when asked to explain.”
It added: “MDN has worked to protect and promote democracy and the fundamental rights of the people of the Maldives for the past fifteen years, and believe that the Government of Maldives has colluded with radicalised religious groups to eliminate the organisation due to our legitimate efforts to advocate for human rights and counter violent extremism in the Maldives.”
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- Administrative Harassment, Denial Fair Trial, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of association, Right to fair trial, Right to work
- HRD
- NGO
- Perpetrator-State
- Government
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Active
- Related Events
- Maldives: Government decides to dissolve prominent human rights NGO (Update), Maldives: Government suspends NGO for ‘slandering Islam’, Maldives: NGO is formally dissolved with a decision deemed arbitrary and unilateral (Update)
- Date added
- Jan 8, 2020
- Country
- Maldives
- Initial Date
- Nov 5, 2019
- Event Description
The government has decided to dissolve the Maldivian Democracy Network over content in a 2016 report that was deemed contrary to the tenets of Islam.
The community empowerment ministry cancelled MDN’s registry on Tuesday and informed the NGO to settle its debts and matters related to its property within 45 days.
The unprecedented move came after the Islamic ministry and police concluded that MDN’s ‘Preliminary Assessment of Radicalisation in the Maldives’ mocked Islam and Prophet Mohamed, the community empowerment ministry announced. The 2003 associations law prohibits NGOs from contradicting tenets of Islam or undermining religious unity, it added.
Religious scholars launched a campaign to ban MDN in early October after screenshots of offensive sections in the report were widely shared on social media. More than 140 out of 200 local councils backed the calls and protest marches took place on several islands during the past four weekends. On October 10, the government suspended the NGO after the Islamic ministry asked police to investigate but the campaign continued unabated and opposition parties seized upon the cause with protests of their own.
President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih will take any action necessary to uphold rule of law and protect Islam and public interest, Home Minister Sheikh Imran Abdulla declared. “God willing, this government will not do anything without wisdom and due process,” the Adhaalath Party leader tweeted.
Sheikh Dr Mohamed Iyaz, a senior member of the Adhaalath Party and one of the leaders of the campaign to ban MDN, thanked the president for following through on assurances “even if it came a bit late.” Sheikh Ali Zaid also congratulated the president and expressed confidence that the report’s authors would be prosecuted.
A group of scholars met with the president last month to share concerns.
The Maldives constitution limits free speech to expression that are “not contrary to any tenet of Islam” and the penal code criminalises “criticism of Islam in a public medium with the intention of causing disregard for Islam,” which is categorised as a class one misdemeanour that carries a maximum prison sentence of one year.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- Administrative Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of association, Online
- HRD
- NGO
- Perpetrator-State
- Government
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Active
- Related Events
- Maldives: Government decides to dissolve prominent human rights NGO (Update), Maldives: Government suspends NGO for ‘slandering Islam’
- Date added
- Nov 18, 2019
- Country
- Maldives
- Initial Date
- Oct 10, 2019
- Event Description
The Maldives government on Thursday shut down human rights group Maldivian Democracy Network over “content slandering Islam and the Prophet Mohamed” in a 2016 report on radicalisation.
Citing an ongoing police investigation prompted by public outrage, the registrar of associations at the community empowerment ministry ordered the NGO to suspend its operations. In a statement released shortly thereafter, the foreign ministry said the Maldives remains committed to upholding constitutional rights but noted that free speech in the country was “subject to refrainment from creating communal discord or blatantly contravening the fundamental tenets of Islam.”
The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights also recognises that the right to freedom of expression “cannot be exercised maliciously, in the form of hate-speech, or in a manner that contributes to public discord and enmity,” it added.
“The maintenance of public order and communal harmony while ensuring the rights of citizens are the highest obligations of any government. Islam is one of the fundamental sources of our country’s democratic framework as well as a source of unity and peace within our community,” the statement continued.
“The government unequivocally condemns those who foment hatred, send out threats and call for violence against others in the name of defending religion. We will not hesitate to use the full force of the law against those who do so. We call upon all parties to exercise their rights in a manner that is respectful of each other and the sentiments of the wider Maldivian community.”
A campaign led by religious scholars to ban MDN was launched earlier this month after screenshots of offensive sections in the report were widely shared on social media. The Islamic ministry asked police to investigate as President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih promised to take action.
In the face of the public outcry, MDN removed the report from its website and apologised for offending public sensitivities with the language used in the report. The NGO said it has decided to revise the report with the help of religious scholars.
In a second statement last week, MDN reiterated that it does not “accept or condone disrespect to Islam” and warned of “targeted campaigns to spread disinformation and hatred” in an alleged attempt to divert the focus of new counter-terrorism efforts. The NGO condemned death threats made against its members and staff.
“We accept the unfortunate use of language in some sections of the report. We have offered an apology for any offence to public sensitivities as soon as these issues were raised, and have since retracted the report for further review. MDN is providing full cooperation to the Maldives Police Service in its investigation against this organisation,” it added.
MDN Executive Director Shahindha Ismail told The Wire that the government was “trying to appease extremists and in doing so contradicting with due process and democratic principles by obstructing the legitimate work of a 14-year-old human rights organisation.”
On Friday, Human Rights Watch called on the government to immediately reverse MDN’s suspension and “investigate Islamist groups responsible for inciting violence against rights groups in the Maldives.” By shutting down the NGO, President Solih was “feeding a frenzy of threats and incitement by Islamist groups,” said Patricia Gossman, Asia associate director at the international human rights organisation.
HRW’s call was echoed by the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders.
“Instead of impeding the legitimate and important work done by MDN, the government should address rampant religious extremism and protect human rights defenders,” said Adilur Rahman Khan, FIDH Vice-President.
“It’s the ongoing use of social media to threaten and intimidate Maldivian human rights defenders that should be investigated, not a three-year old report that impeccably described instances of radicalisation among certain sectors of Maldivian society,” said Gerald Staberock, OMCT Secretary General.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- Administrative Harassment, Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of association, Offline, Online
- HRD
- NGO
- Perpetrator-State
- Government, Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Active
- Related Events
- Maldives: Government decides to dissolve prominent human rights NGO (Update), Maldives: Government suspends NGO for ‘slandering Islam’
- Date added
- Oct 15, 2019
- Country
- Maldives
- Initial Date
- Sep 22, 2014
- Event Description
The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights has expressed its deep concern about the case initiated by the Supreme Court of the Maldives against the five members of the Human Rights Commission of the country. Following the Commission's submission of a written contribution to the second Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of the Maldives before the UN Human Rights Council, the five members of the Human Rights Commission of the Maldives are facing serious criminal charges. In making a UPR submission, the Commission operated in line with international principles governing national institutions (known as the Paris Principles). The Human Rights Council specifically encourages the participation of national human rights institutions in the UPR process. The case in the Maldives was initiated suo motu by the Supreme Court through a summons issued on 22 September, and is currently under way. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights calls on the Government to firmly defend the independence of the Human Rights Commission of the Maldives, in line with the commitments made during the first UPR of the Maldives in 2011. The Government has a responsibility to ensure a safe operating space for the Commission and for civil society actors in the country, so that they are able to cooperate with UN human rights mechanisms without fear of reprisals. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein has also written directly to the Government of the Maldives to express his concerns. The UPR of the Maldives is scheduled to be held between April and May 2015.
- Impact of Event
- 5
- Violation
- Censorship, Judicial Harassment, Reprisal as Result of Communication
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Active
- Date added
- Sep 20, 2019
- Country
- Maldives
- Initial Date
- Jun 8, 2014
- Event Description
Vigilante mobs have abducted and interrogated several young men in Mal_ City in a push to identify online activists advocating secularism or professing atheism, Minivan News has learned. Eyewitnesses told Minivan News the young men were taken to isolated locations in Mal_ City in separate incidents in recent days. A vigilante mob interrogated them on the identities of administrators of Facebook groups advocating secularism and atheism in the Maldives. Minivan News understands the abductions are also related to the hijacking of a Facebook group called "Colorless' on Sunday. The group has 4,865 members and was set up with in the wake of February 2012's transfer of power with the aim of bringing a "divided nation to a common ground as a platform to advocate peace, love and harmonic co-existence." The group's administrators were expelled on Sunday and new administrators have changed the group's banner to a black flag with the Shahadha or the Islamic creed declaring the oneness of Allah and the acceptance of Mohamed as Allah's prophet. Meanwhile, the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) issued a statement condemning the abductions and said the hostages were threatened with death. The party has called on the government to take immediate action. The Maldives Police Service said it is looking into whether these incidents have been reported. The President's Office was not responding at the time of press. Abductions The vigilante mob - estimated at 40 men - accused the young men of homosexuality and atheism, eyewitnesses said. The mob consisted of religious extremists and prominent Mal_ City gang members, sources said. Eyewitnesses said the young men were interrogated on their religious beliefs and asked to recite the Shahadha as a test of their belief in Islam. They were also tested on prayer verses and passages from the Quran. The young men were threatened and forced to hand over the passwords to their Facebook accounts. They were also asked to identify the administrators behind the "Secular Democratic Maldives Movement' and "Maldivian Atheists' on Facebook. The "Secular Democratic Maldives Movement' page was founded in December 2012 to advocate for a secular democracy in the Maldives. It has 2,463 followers. The "Dhivehi Atheists/ Maldivian Atheists' page has 575 followers and advocates for the rights of atheists in the Maldives. It was set up in June 2013. All abductees were eventually released, sources said. The MDP believes religious extremists were behind the abductions. "The Maldivian Democratic Party has received information that some religious extremists have kidnapped young people claiming they had committed irreligious acts. The extremists blindfolded the young people, took them to remote locations against their will, threatened them with sharp weapons, threatened them with death, issued sentences in a vigilante trial and are now implementing these sentences," the party's statement said. The kidnappers then told the hostages they would be killed if any news of the abduction were shared, the MDP said. The party said it believed "these dangerous acts of terrorism" are against the Maldives constitution, laws and Islamic Sharia and committed by individuals for a certain gain. Hijacked Jennifer Latheef, a human rights activist and former administrator of "Colorless', said the four administrators of the group had received several warnings from Facebook users over recent months to remove offensive comments posted by members allegedly mocking Islam. However, the administrators opted to allow free speech and appealed to all members to be responsible and refrain from attacking and insulting the other's religious beliefs. Pictures identifying the group's administrators were then posted and circulated online by a separate Facebook group called "Shariah4Maldives'. The group alleged "Colorless' administrators had allowed "the mocking of the Prophet Sallalaahu Alaihi Wassalam and outright lies about Islam on their group, and when we warned them about this issue, they refused to remove such posts mocking Islam." On Sunday, infiltrators expelled and removed Jennifer and the group's original administrators without warning. Jennifer, who currently lives abroad, said death threats have been issued against the group's administrators. "I am scared for Maldives. I am scared for the people who are there," she said. Analysts have raised concerns over the growing threat of extremism in the Maldives. A recent report by the US State Department expressed concern over radicalization of youth groups and said funds are being raised in the Maldives to support terrorism abroad. Maldivians are alleged to have died in suicide attacks in Syria, and online jihadist groups last week insulted and taunted the Maldives Police Services after they said they were investigating the deaths. Maldivian media have also said they feel threatened by religious extremists and gangs. UPDATE 11/06/2014: As the intimidation of perceived LGBT or secular people by religious groups continues, reports have arisen that government officials met with the same religious groups that carried out the attacks and abductions to discuss "homosexuality" and "attacks on Islam" just days before they occurred. The Vice President of the Human Rights Committee of the Maldives has called for an immediate response by the state to ensure the safety of all citizens and clarify what is happening.
- Impact of Event
- 10
- Violation
- Abduction/Kidnapping, Intimidation and Threats, Reprisal as Result of Communication, Surveillance
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of association, Freedom of movement, Freedom of Religion and Belief, Internet freedom, Minority Rights, Right to information
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Sep 20, 2019
- Country
- Maldives
- Initial Date
- Sep 28, 2013
- Event Description
Since late September 2013, the Tourism Employees Association of the Maldives, Transparency Maldives and Maldives NGO Federation have reportedly been facing acts of harassment following the issuance of a number of press statements which criticize the Supreme Court injunction on 23 September 2013 which ordered the Elections Commission (EC) to delay the second round of presidential elections. On 28 September 2013, a Transparency Maldives intern was allegedly attacked on the street and her cellphone was stolen by an unidentified individual. On 29 September 2013, Transparency Maldives allegedly received death threats directed towards the staff via a phone call by an unidentified person. Transparency Maldives was also allegedly the subject of a death threat via Tweeter stating: "We will slaughter all of you goats until there are none left". Transparency Maldives reported these incidents to the police and was reassured by the Commissioner of Police that the police would investigate these matters. On 29 September 2013, Transparency Maldives allegedly received a phone call from the Ministry of Home Affairs, asking for a copy of their latest press statement. According to the information received, on 30 September 2013, the State Minister for Home Affairs, who also serves as the Registrar of NGOs, allegedly stated on the local television station Villa TV that the Tourism Employees Association of Maldives and Transparency Maldives are under investigation for challenging the Supreme Court. Allegedly, he further stated that the Ministry for Home Affairs will not allow any organization to "challenge the law' and that NGOs acting outside of the law will be dissolved. On 1 October 2013, the Tourism Employees Association of Maldives and Maldives NGO Federation allegedly received letters from the Ministry of Home Affairs, signed by the Registrar and State Minister for Home Affairs, requesting them to submit a copy of their latest press statement to the Ministry before noon of 6 October 2013. On 5 October 2013, the home of one of the Coordinators of the Transparency Maldives' Right to Information programme was allegedly broken into and his cellphone was stolen. Grave concern is expressed with regards to the threats directed towards the staff of Transparency Maldives. Further concern is expressed that the investigation of the Tourism Employees Association of Maldives and Transparency Maldives and the threat of dissolving NGOs in the Maldives is based on their legitimate exercise of their right to freedom of opinion and expression.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment, Reprisal as Result of Communication, Sexual Violence, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of association
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Sep 20, 2019
- Country
- Maldives
- Initial Date
- Nov 13, 2018
- Event Description
Aishath Velezinee has been admitted at the state-run Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital after her arrest Tuesday night for "mocking Islam." She was released to the care of her family after doctors recommended she needed to be admitted for treatment, police told the press. Despite her release, police are "continuing legally mandated matters" in relation to her case. The former member of the judicial watchdog was arrested hours after her return to the Maldives after residing overseas for several years. The arrest warrant cited charges of obstruction of law enforcement and "causing disregard for Islam" over videos posted online last year. Her remarks were deemed blasphemous and prompted the Islamic ministry to declare her an apostate. An IGMH official said she was "admitted at the request of police and is receiving treatment." According to her lawyer, she was due to be taken to court for extension of her detention before 7:26pm Wednesday night, which would be 24 hours after she was taken into custody. Her arrest sparked debate and drew condemnation as she was clearly suffering from a mental illness when the videos were posted. In a statement Wednesday, police confirmed she was arrested on suspicion of "insulting and demeaning Islam" on her Twitter and Facebook accounts. She would be afforded legal rights and provided access to medical treatment if required, police assured. After photos of Velezinee spotted at the airport circulated on social media Tuesday, several people openly called for her murder as others urged the authorities to provide her with medical care. The Islamic ministry declared Velezinee an apostate in March last year over the allegedly blasphemous videos. A police summons was issued in May for her to appear for questioning within two weeks. She was living in the Netherlands at the time. In a policy paper published last April, the Islamic ministry listed apostasy and openly mocking Islam as some of the biggest challenges facing the country and recommended expulsion from Maldivian society, financial penalties, and even a prison sentence. Islam is the state religion of the Maldives and the constitution states a non-Muslim cannot become a citizen. According to police, liberal blogger Yameen Rasheed was killed in April last year by a group of radicalised young men who believed he was guilty of insulting Islam. In the wake of the brutal murder, death threats were openly made against human rights defenders and civil society activists.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Woman
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Right to health, Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- WHRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Government, Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Active
- Date added
- Sep 20, 2019
- Country
- Maldives
- Initial Date
- Mar 16, 2018
- Event Description
The Maldives Police arrested three journalists of opposition-aligned Raajje TV on March 16 and charged two of them with criminal offences for allegedly uploading videos on social media which were critical of the government. The police arrested senior video journalist Mohamed Wisam and Head of Programmes Amir Saleem with court orders after the ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) leaders accused Raajje TV of producing and uploading the YouTube video. The video showed three masked people in police uniform saying that they would join the opposition rally. On March 18, the Criminal Court remanded Wisam and Saleem for 10 days in custody. Journalist Mohamed Fazeen was arrested on allegations of defying police orders during the opposition parties' protest demonstrations in Male'. He was handcuffed and taken into custody by traffic police. Fazeen was released on March 17 after more than 24 hours in detention. Raajje TV denied that the station or its staff were involved in making or uploading the video. Following the accusations and calls by the PPM to shut down the station on March 16 and 17, the station have also received several threats of arson attack and has sought police protection. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) expresses serious concerns over the incidents of arrest of journalists; and accusations without evidence of carrying out illegal activities. The IFJ also condemns threats of arson attack on the station and demands that the journalists be released immediately, and security is ensured to protect the television station from any attack. The IFJ said: "The IFJ is seriously concerned by the pressure on independent media in the Maldives since the imposition of the state of emergency on February 5. Press freedom has suffered as journalists have been subjected to harassment, and opposition media has been baselessly blamed for supporting protests. The IFJ urges the Maldivian government to respect press freedom and ensure that journalists and media can freely report on happenings of the country without fear of reprisal." The IFJ has joined the Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and the Committee of Protect Journalists (CPJ) to express deep concerns on ongoing restrictions and threats on media and press freedom in the Maldives, and called on authorities to allow media to carry out work without reprisal.
- Impact of Event
- 3
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Media freedom
- HRD
- Media Worker, NGO staff
- Perpetrator-State
- Government
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Non-state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Sep 20, 2019
- Country
- Maldives
- Initial Date
- Feb 16, 2018
- Event Description
Dozens of pro-opposition supporters were injured and many were arrested after police in the Maldives broke up countrywide protests demanding the resignation of President Abdulla Yameen and the release of his political opponents from prison. Thousands of people took part in the protests in the archipelago nation on Friday despite the country being under a state of emergency. Several people were hospitalised with injuries and many protesters were arrested, but hospital and police officials refused to provide numbers. The injured included about 10 reporters who were covering the protest. Police said in a statement on Saturday that the demonstrators had ignored warnings that the right to protest has been suspended under the state of emergency. "In spite of the warning, certain political leaders encouraged this protest, encouraged citizens to face off against security services personnel," the statement said. "We also note that the actions of some journalists mirrored that of some protesters," it said, apparently trying to explain how the reporters were injured. Political turmoil The Maldives has been in political turmoil since February 1, when the country's Supreme Court ordered the release of several of Mr. Yameen's political opponents imprisoned after trials that were criticised locally and internationally for alleged violation of due process. The prisoners include Mohamed Nasheed, the country's first President elected in a free election, who could have been Mr. Yameen's main rival in his re-election bid later this year. State of emergency After days of conflict with the judiciary, Mr. Yameen declared a 15-day state of emergency and had the country's Chief Justice and another Supreme Court judge arrested on bribery allegations. Mr. Yameen's half brother and former dictator Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, whom Mr. Nasheed defeated in the country's first democratic election 10 years ago, was also arrested for conspiring to overthrow the government. The Maldives became a multi-party democracy in 2008 after decades of autocratic rule. However, Mr. Yameen has rolled back much of the country's democratic gains and freedoms since being elected in 2013.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Judicial Harassment, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Right to political participation, Right to Protest
- HRD
- Pro-democracy defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Government, Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Sep 20, 2019
- Country
- Maldives
- Initial Date
- Dec 31, 2017
- Event Description
A prominent human rights activist in the Maldives says she has received several death threats over an alleged anti-Islamic Twitter post, that has also prompted a criminal investigation. Shahindha Ismail, executive director of Maldives Democracy Network (MDN), told Al Jazeera that anonymous accounts on Twitter and Facebook have been calling for her death, after a newspaper article and religious scholars accused her of advocating for secularism in the Sunni Muslim state. "I do not feel safe in the Maldives and I fear for my life," she said on Sunday. The furore over Ismail's post began on December 20, when she responded to a speech by President Abdulla Yameen, in which he had vowed to crack down on what he said were domestic and international efforts to propagate faiths other than Islam in the Maldives. "Religions other than Islam exist in this world because Allah allowed for it. No other religion would exist otherwise, is it not?" Ismail said on Twitter. Her post prompted threats, with one Twitter user, referring to Ismail, saying: "I'm one of hundreds who will cut people like that to pieces." That post has since been deleted. Several comments on Facebook reviewed by Al Jazeera also called for attacks on Ismail and said she should "be thrown out of the country". Islam is the official religion in the Indian Ocean archipelago of 400,000 people. On December 28, amid the furore, the Ministry of Islamic Affairs issued a statement urging Maldivians to refrain from "nonsensical talk that advocates for any faith other than Islam in the Maldives". Hours later, the police announced that it had launched an investigation against Ismail. Several ruling party politicians, including Majority Leader Ahmed Nihan, thanked the police for the probe. A police spokesman said Ismail was being investigated under the Religious Unity Act, which criminalises actions that may lead to religious strife in the Maldives. It carries a prison sentence of up to five years. "Police have announced an investigation against me while ignoring the open threats against me on social media," said Ismail. "Human rights defenders have always been labelled as anti-Islamic or as Western agents to wipe out Islam," she added. "Too many of us have been attacked, disappeared and murdered for any of us to be safe any more." A liberal blogger was stabbed to death earlier this year in the Maldives' capital, Male, after he lodged a police complaint over death threats against him, also for alleged secular and anti-Islamic views. Ismail has previously criticised law enforcement agencies for inaction over attacks against liberal and moderate voices, which also include the disappearance of a journalist in 2014 and the killing of a parliamentarian in 2012. Both of these cases remain unsolved. Police Superintendent Ahmed Shifan said he was uncertain if Ismail had filed any complaints. "We assure you, however, if we can identify a potential threat, then we will launch an investigation," he told Al Jazeera. 'Profiling and incitement' Rights groups have previously criticised the country's government for using new laws and criminal cases to silence, among others, human rights defenders and civil society groups. A vocal critic of Yameen's human rights record, Ismail said threats against her "escalated" after the pro-government tabloid Vaguthu Online published a news article headlined, "Shahindha has indirectly called for other faiths in the Maldives." The article prompted an outcry from some religious scholars. In a Facebook post, one railed against what he called the spread of secularism in the Maldives and called on Ismail to repent, while the religious conservative group Jamiyyath Salaf called for action against those who mock Islam. The MDN, which Ismail heads, said it was "appalled" that the police have chosen to investigate the content of her Twitter post rather "than those who have openly called to kill and behead her". Ismail said she believed the outcry over her tweet was "part of the same trend of extensive profiling and incitement" that preceded previous physical attacks on the blogger, journalist and parliamentarian. Forum Asia, an Asian rights-group based in Thailand, said it was "seriously concerned" by the threats and the police inquiry against Ismail. The police have "failed to respond appropriately" to calls for violence against critics and dissidents in the past, said Refendi Djamin, a board member of the organisation. "The Maldives government must protect human rights defenders instead of targeting them," he told Al Jazeera. UPDATE: On 30 March 2018, Ms Ismail was summoned by police to be investigated for "attempting to disrupt religious unity by creating religious discord through #Twitter " and investigated under section 617 (1) a and b of the Penal Code.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Woman
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Online
- HRD
- NGO staff, Pro-democracy defender, WHRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Non-state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Sep 20, 2019
- Country
- Maldives
- Initial Date
- Apr 23, 2017
- Event Description
Mr. Rasheed was one of the most prominent bloggers and social media activist from Male, the Maldives. He was well-known critic of militant Islamic extremism, pervasive injustice, human rights violations and corruption linked to the Maldivian government. He ran a blog called The Daily Panic and has been actively writing blogs since 2005. He was also the leading defender seeking justice for Mr. Ahmed Rilwan Abdulla who was his close friend and a missing journalist, since 8 August 2014 (991 days). He was heavily involved in highlighting Mr. Rilwan's case both at home and internationally. Mr. Rasheed also engaged with UN human rights mechanisms. During the 30th Session of the UN Human Rights Council, he spoke as one of panelists at a side-event "Expression underintimidation: Bloggers under attack in South Asia" organized by FORUM-ASIA together with Association for Progressive Communications (APC) and IFEX. On 23 April 2017, at 3.00 AM, Mr. Yameen Rasheed was found at the bottom of stairs, next to the elevator in his apartment in Male with 16 stab wounds to his chin, neck and chest. He was taken to the hospital at around 3.15 AM and pronounced dead in the hospital at around 3.50 AM. Prior to the incident, he was receiving numerous death threats. Many of these threats were reported to Maldives Police Service. However, no action was taken. Mr. Rasheed has shared on his social media as well as with other local NGOs his frustrations at the lack of action by authorities on the serious threats against him. UPDATE: 3 May 2017: Yameen Rasheed's father, Hussain Rasheed, filed a lawsuit against the Maldives Police Service claiming the authority's negligence led to his son's murder. 19 June 2017: Police revealed the identities of three men accused of killing Yameen Rasheed. Seven suspects were in custody and the prime suspects were identified as Ismail Rasheed, 25, Ismail Haisham Rasheed, 21, and Ahmed Zihan Ismail, 22. 20 July 2017: The Prosecutor General's office spokesman told media that the investigation into the murder of Yameen Rasheed has now been completed and that charges against suspects are being sought. A decision about whether to prosecute is expected to be undertaken in within 30 days.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Death, Intimidation and Threats, Killing
- Rights Concerned
- Media freedom, Online, Right to life
- HRD
- Blogger/ Social Media Activist, Media Worker, Pro-democracy defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Suspected state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Active
- Date added
- Sep 20, 2019
- Country
- Maldives
- Initial Date
- Sep 7, 2016
- Event Description
September 08 18:30 2016 by Omkar Khandekar Two men detained on Wednesday in connection with an alleged plot to overthrow the government have been released without charges. Ibrahim Shahiban Ahmed and Mohamed Shamin Ali, who work for various environmental NGOs, were detained during a raid of the building that houses the Maldives Independent. Shahiban said that the police arrived at their work-cum-residential apartment at Henveiru Hulhugali around 4.15 pm. The personnel included a team from the specialist operations and forensics departments. A warrant they carried authorised a search of the premises for evidence of a plot "to overthrow the elected government, get external help to overthrow the elected government, try to create hatred between the public and the state institutions, and plan to create discord and unrest in Mal_." The building also houses a law firm, a college, a human rights NGO and a travel agency. The raid came hours after an explosive Al Jazeera documentary featuring an interview with this publication's editor was posted online. The expos_ included serious allegations of corruption and abuse of power against President Abdulla Yameen. Shahiban said that during their search, the police claimed to have discovered a piece of paper in the apartment with a handwritten plan of organising a gathering of around 700 people. They also found a petition from 2015 calling for the release of jailed former President Mohamed Nasheed, who was sentenced to 13 years on a terrorism charge. Both Shahiban and Shamin said that they had no idea where they documents came from. "The work area of our apartment is usually used by several professionals and NGOs for their meetings. They often end up storing some of their belongings here," Shahiban said After the four-hour-long search, the police confiscated hard disks, mobile phones and laptops from the apartment. They also took the pair to the headquarters where they were told to return on Thursday for questioning. "We were questioned on where the documents came from and the people who visit the apartment. We cooperated with them as we have nothing to hide," said Shamin. After an hour of questioning, they were released without any restrictions on their movements or travel. The police were not responding to calls at the time of publication. Shahinda Ismail, executive director of the Maldivian Democracy Network, whose office in the building was also searched, called the raid an intimidation tactic by the government. The police later said the building was raided based on "reports of incitement to violence."
- Impact of Event
- 2
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Intimidation and Threats, Raid
- Rights Concerned
- Right to liberty and security
- HRD
- Environmental rights defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Active
- Date added
- Sep 20, 2019
- Country
- Maldives
- Initial Date
- Aug 9, 2016
- Event Description
10 August 2016 - Denouncing a new law in Maldives as a "direct attack" on free speech, a United Nations human rights expert warned today that elements of the bill, such as the vague use of religion, social norms and defamation as reasons for punishing expression, contradict not only international norms, but also obligations set out in the country's own Constitution. "Criminalizing speech on such vague and broad grounds as set out in the Bill is a direct attack on the exercise of the right to freedom of expression in the Maldives," David Kaye, UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, said today in a news release issued by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). "Freedom of expression is a fundamental right and any restrictions on it must be narrowly and objectively defined, not a matter of common routine," he stressed. On 9 August, the country's Parliament adopted the "Protection of Reputation and Good Name and Freedom of Expression Bill,' which criminalizes speech deemed to be defamatory, to comment against "any tenet of Islam', to "threaten national security' or to "contradict general social norms'. Those committing an offence under the bill can face fines, and failure to pay, will result in jail sentence of three to six months. Mr. Kaye further added that the broad grounds for restrictions in the Bill contradict not only international human rights standards recognised by the Maldives, such as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, but also the its own Constitution, which protects the right to freedom of expression. "The use of religion as a ground for limiting free speech is particularly worrying," he cautioned, emphasizing that international human rights law protects individuals from discrimination and violence based on their religion or belief, but it does not protect religion or belief from comment or criticism as such. The Special Rapporteur also expressed that the Bill will have a "strong chilling effect" on media and civil society, making reporting and criticism truly risky. "The threat of additional penalties for the media are likely to lead to even greater self-censorship on issues perceived to be sensitive, limiting public debate on issues of public interest and depriving society from accessing important information on sensitive affairs," said Mr. Kaye. Noting that he would be eager to engage in discussion with the Maldivian authorities on the law, the rights expert expressed hope that "the President will reverse the decision by sending back the bill to Parliament for further review in consultation with independent institutions, journalists, civil society organisations and human rights defenders and bring it in compliance with international human rights standards." UN Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, Maina Kiai, and the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, Michel Forst, also shared the concerns expressed by Mr. Kaye and endorsed his statement. They had also co-signed a letter to the national authorities detailing their concerns about the legislation on 26 May 2016. Special Rapporteurs are appointed by the UN Human Rights Council to examine and report back on a specific human rights theme or a country situation. The positions are honorary and the experts are not UN staff, nor are they paid for their work.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Censorship, Enactment of repressive legislation and policies
- Perpetrator-State
- Government
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Sep 20, 2019
- Country
- Maldives
- Initial Date
- Oct 8, 2015
- Event Description
Lawyer Matthias Chang has been detained under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act (Sosma). In an SMS message, Chang said he was being arrested on the same grounds as his client, Khairuddin Abu Hassan. "Just got arrested under Sosma for (Section) 124K and 124L (of the Penal Code). Same as Khairuddin," the text message read. Section 124K and 124L of the Penal Code deal with sabotaging and attempting to sabotage the state. Chang's aide told Malaysiakini that he was arrested this afternoon at the Dang Wangi district police headquarters while visiting Khairuddin who has been detained under Sosma for 15 days . Police have questioned the lawyer on two occsions prior to today's arrest. It was reported that Chang and his client Khairuddin were barred from travelling overseas on Sept 18, following Khairuddin's vocal criticism of the 1MDB affair. Questioned1MDB affair Khairuddin, the Batu Kawan Umno division vice-chief, was initially arrested under Section 124C of the Penal Code for 'activities detrimental to parliamentary democracy' for lodging reports against 1MDB in several countries abroad. He is now being held under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act (Sosma) which deals with terrorist activities. Chang was questioned by the police on Sept 28 and again on Oct 2 as a witness in respect of the allegations levelled against his client. UPDATE: 27/ 11/ 2015 Khairuddin, Matthias out on bail, court rules Sosma not applicable The High Court today allowed bail for former Umno leader Datuk Seri Khairuddin Abu Hassan and lawyer Matthias Chang who were charged with sabotaging the Malaysian economy, and ruled that it was not a security offence. "As such, procedures under Security Offences (Special Measures) 2012 could not be applied on them," judge Datuk Mohd Azman Husin said in allowing the duo's application. He released them on RM10,000 bail, and ordered the trial to commence in the Sessions Court. Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who was present in court this morning to lend support to his former aide and Khairuddin, said he had always maintained that there was no offence and the use of Sosma was not correct. "I am very glad as I thought there is no case. I always thought there is no case under that law (Sosma). Justice has been done," he told reporters. Dr Mahathir, his wife Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohamad Ali and former minister Tan Sri Sanusi Junid were among those present in the packed courtroom today. The judge today said Parliament had never intended the charge under section 124L of the Penal Code to be a security offence. The charge under this section carries a jail term of up to 15 years upon conviction. "They cannot be denied bail and Sosma procedures cannot be used in their trial," the judge said. Deputy Public Prosecutor Masri Mohd Daud said the prosecution will appeal to the Court of Appeal. Judge Azman has fixed the matter for case management on January 12. Khairuddin has been under detention since September 8 and Chang, since October 8. Chang, a former political aide to Dr Mahathir, was arrested at the Dang Wangi district police headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, when he went there to visit Khairuddin who was being held under Sosma. The anti-terrorism law allows for a suspect to be held for up to 28 days after arrest. On October 12, both men were charged with attempted sabotage of the Malaysian economy and the country's financial and banking system. They are accused of committing the offence in France, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Hong Kong and Singapore, between June 28 and August 26 this year - places where Khairuddin had lodged reports against state-owned investment firm, 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB). 1MDB is the brainchild of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, and detractors, led by Dr Mahathir, have accused the prime minister of silencing criticism of 1MDB with the use of Sosma.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Restrictions on Movement
- Rights Concerned
- Right to information, Right to political participation
- HRD
- Lawyer
- Perpetrator-State
- Government, Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Sep 20, 2019
- Country
- Maldives
- Initial Date
- Jun 16, 2015
- Event Description
The Supreme Court has declared a rights assessment submitted to the UN by the human rights watchdog as unlawful, and has issued an 11-point guideline barring the independent body from communicating with foreign organizations without government oversight. Chief Justice Abdulla Saeed delivered a verdict today, eight months after the apex court charged the Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (HRCM) with treason. He said the September 2014 report submitted to the UN Human Rights Council was biased, encouraged terrorists and undermined judicial independence in the Maldives. In the report, the HRCM had said the Supreme Court controlled and influenced the lower courts to the detriment of the Maldivian judiciary. Days after the report was publicised, the Supreme Court brought charges against the HRCM under controversial suomoto regulations that allow the apex court to prosecute and pass judgment. The case had remained stalled after just two hearings. The 11-point guideline issued today orders the HRCM to protect unity, peace and order, and uphold Maldivian norms, faith, etiquette and the rule of law. The Supreme Court said the HRCM must not overstep its mandate and ordered the independent body to cooperate with government institutions, communicate with foreign bodies through the relevant government institutions, and protect the Maldives' reputation. The written verdict was not available at the time of going to press. In March last year, the apex court sacked the Election Commission's president and vice-president when they criticised a 16-point electoral guideline issued by the Supreme Court after annulling the first round of presidential elections in September 2013. Judicial control The HRCM's two-page report submitted to the UN's Universal Periodic Review (UPR) said: "The judicial system is controlled and influenced by the Supreme Court, weakening judicial powers vested in other superior courts and lower courts." The UPR studies the human rights record of all 193 UN member states and is aimed at supporting and expanding the protection of human rights. The Maldives was first reviewed in 2010 and underwent a second inspection in May. During the review in Geneva, countries across the world blasted the Maldives for the "politicisation of the judiciary' and raised concern over the Supreme Court's prosecution of the HRCM. Several countries then recommended that the Maldives ensure impartiality and independence of the judiciary and provide training to judges. The foreign ministry has deferred accepting or rejecting the recommendations, pending "national level consultation." A decision will be communicated before the 30th session of the human rights council in September or October 2015. Trial summary At the second hearing on September 30, 2014, the HRCM had denied charges and said that the commission's observations on the judiciary were based on reports by the UN Special Rapporteur on Independence of Judges and Lawyers Gabriela Knaul, the International Commission of Jurists and the national chapter of Transparency International. Then-Chief Justice Ahmed Faiz said the judiciary had rejected Knaul's report as invalid and reprimanded the HRCM for alleged failure to consult the Supreme Court in writing the UPR submission. Faiz and Judge Muthasim Adnan were removed from the seven-member bench in December. The HRCM in March said the Supreme Court's suomoto case was the biggest challenge the watchdog has faced in its 11-year history. The HRCM Act grants members immunity from prosecution in relation to acts carried out as part of the commission's duties. Today's ruling comes as the parliament prepares to appoint three new members to the HRCM as the five-year terms of three members are due to expire in August. The three members are HRCM president Mariyam Azra, vice-president Ahmed Tholal and member Jeehan Mahmood. President Abdulla Yameen has nominated a former ruling party MP to the position. The opposition has accused the president of stacking independent commissions through the ruling-party controlled parliament.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Reprisal as Result of Communication
- Rights Concerned
- Right to access and communicate with international bodies
- HRD
- NHRI/ NHRI staff
- Perpetrator-State
- Judiciary
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Active
- Date added
- Sep 20, 2019
- Country
- Maldives
- Initial Date
- May 14, 2015
- Event Description
The Local Government Authority (LGA) has suspended seven councilors who took part in an anti-government demonstration on May 1. All seven had been arrested in a police crackdown after protesters attempted to enter Mal_'s restricted Republic Square. They were suspended for two months, local media reports. Councilors are elected for island and atoll councils for three years. There are over 1000 councilors in the Maldives. According to the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), some 300 of its 450 island and atoll council members had taken part in the protest. Some 7000 people had traveled to Mal_ from Maldives' remote islands for May Day, the opposition has claimed. Nearly 20,000 protesters took part in the May Day march and demanded the release of imprisoned ex-president Mohamed Nasheed and ex-defence minister Mohamed Nazim. Home minister and president of the LGA, Umar Naseer, has also asked the anti-corruption watchdog to penalize any councilors who had traveled to the capital on state funds. According to the opposition coalition, 12 employees of the state were dismissed for participating in the protest.
- Impact of Event
- 7
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Administrative Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Right to political participation, Right to Protest
- HRD
- Public Servant
- Perpetrator-State
- Government
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Sep 20, 2019
- Country
- Maldives
- Initial Date
- May 1, 2015
- Event Description
Prosecutor General Muhthaz Muhsin says he will press charges against 30 of the 193 protesters arrested from a mass antigovernment protest on May 1. "Out of the 128 cases we accepted from the police, we've forwarded around 98 cases to the committee on reviewing first time offenders. That means we will press charges against only about 30 people. That includes repeated offenders and the people suspected of attacking police officers at the protest," he said. Over 20,000 opposition supporters took to the streets on May 1 over the imprisonment of ex-president Mohamed Nasheed and ex-defence minister Mohamed Nazim. Police cracked down on protesters at dusk when they attempted to enter Mal_'s restricted Republic Square. Nearly 200 were arrested and scores were injured, including two police officers. Muhsin at a press briefing today said his office will uphold the rights of the accused, but said he had noticed protesters were committing serious crimes at the opposition's demonstrations. "Article 32 of the constitution guarantees the right to peaceful assembly. The law does not allow attacking and inciting violence against law enforcement agencies, and causing terror in society. This is terrorism under Maldivian law," he said. Muhsin warned of harsh penalties for individuals who commit such acts and advised political parties to refrain from encouraging terrorism. Charges against protesters at present range from disobedience to order to assaulting police officers. Muhsin also said public prosecutors are looking at charging individuals over libel and slander following allegations by recent defectors from the ruling coalition accusing President Abdulla Yameen and tourism minister Ahmed Adeeb of links with the brutal murder of MP Afrasheem Ali in 2012. The ex police chief Abdulla Riyaz was summoned to the police last week over comments he had made in an interview with opposition aligned Raajje TV on Afrasheem's death and the torching of the station in 2013. "People are acting however they want. They are trying very hard to defame state institutions in front of the public. The constitution does not give us the right to commit crimes hiding behind a political party," he said. "People in responsible posts are publicly accusing others of murder. We are researching on pressing charges against individuals who accuses some one of a crime and which the punishment is had." Muhsin said the PG office will appeal cases where the criminal court releases protesters from remand on the condition they avoid further protests: "My stand is the court cannot release a detained person imposing conditions barring him from attending protests. If I know of such a case and the subjected person do not have the ability to appeal, the PG office will appeal the case." The criminal court in March imposed such conditions on dozens of protesters. MP Ahmed Mahloof spent weeks in police custody and house arrest when he refused the criminal court's conditions to stay away from protests. The high court brought the practice to an end when Mahloof appealed the criminal court's ruling. Muhsin also dismissed the opposition's claim that the police is now imposing restrictions on freedom of assembly, by requiring prior permission for protests and banning the use of four wheeled vehicles in protests without prior notice. "I don't believe the right to protest has been narrowed in Maldives. I believe the right to protest and freedom of assembly is much wider in Maldives compared to other countries, to the extent that we eventually end up violating rights of others," he said. The opposition has criticized Muhsin over the rushed trial of ex-president Mohamed Nasheed on terrorism charges and for accepting a discounted luxury flat by the government. The flats were also given to the five Supreme Court judges, and several heads of independent institutions.
- Impact of Event
- 30
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Right to political participation, Right to Protest
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Sep 20, 2019
- Country
- Maldives
- Initial Date
- Oct 26, 2010
- Event Description
On 25 October 2010, some journalists covering a protest in Male' were barred from carrying out their work, by use of force in ways which might have caused them physical injury. The Human Rights Commission of the Maldives condemns this act. The role of Media in a Democracy is one of utmost importance, and the Freedom of Media is constitutionally guaranteed in the Maldives as an inalienable right which should not be violated under any circumstance. The Journalists working for the Media must be independent and protected. Despite all of this, last night some Journalists covering a protest in Male' were barred from carrying out their work, by use of force in ways which might have caused them physical injury. The Human Rights Commission of the Maldives condemns this act. The Constitution also guarantees the right to freedom of peaceful assembly in a manner that does not hinder the freedom and rights of others. Therefore, protestors should also respect this and act within the limits of laws and regulations. In the event of dispersing a demonstration for security reasons, the propensity for violence should be reduced by observing predetermined protocols and due process in such situations. Some issues of concern in connection to the events of last night's protest is being further scrutinized and investigated by HRCM. We call upon the Police to use proportionate measures in dispersing demonstrations; that would not violate the rights of those involved or cause distress to innocent citizens. In all such incidences and situations, acting in accordance with and within the limits of law would in effect strengthen democracy and the rule of law. This is crucial for the establishment of a peaceful environment necessary for the enjoyment of the rights and freedoms guaranteed by the constitution.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of association, Right to information
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Not active
- Date added
- Sep 20, 2019
- Country
- Maldives
- Initial Date
- Jun 4, 2012
- Event Description
On 4 June 2012, prominent Maldivian blogger and journalist Ismail "Hilath' Rasheed was stabbed in the neck near his house in Male. Police Sub-Inspector Hassan Haneef confirmed that Rasheed was stabbed around 8:15pm and was undergoing emergency treatment in ADK hospital. An informed source at ADK hospital said Rasheed was bleeding but conscious when he was brought to the hospital, and that he was expected to remain in surgery until 2:30am. Early morning of 5 June 2012, Rasheed's condition had stabilized. Rasheed, a once outspoken blogger against extremism and former editor of newspaper Haveeru, was previously attacked by a group of men on 10 December 2011 - Human Rights Day - while attending a protest calling for religious tolerance. A group of men attacked the protesters with stones, and Rasheed was taken to IGMH with a fractured skull. He was subsequently arrested by police for questioning over his involvement in the protest Rasheed's popular and controversial blog, www.hilath.com, was blocked in November 2011 by the Communications Authority of the Maldives (CAM) on the order of the Ministry of Islamic Affairs. The Ministry made the request on the grounds that the site contained anti-Islamic material, CAM confirmed at the time. Hilath claimed he was being censored for expressing his version of Islam, and called for more freedom of interpretation within the faith. "I call upon all concerned to amend the clause in the constitution which requires all Maldivians to be Sunni Muslims only," his statement read. ""Unto you your religion and unto me my religion,' and "There is no compulsion in religion'," he said, quoting Qur'an 109:6 and 2:256. Following the blocking of his blog and his attack in December, Rasheed became less outspoken on the subject of religion and withdrew from the public spotlight. On 12 May 2012 he tweeted his intention to stop blogging altogether, and stated that he had "repented and am now a Muslim. But a very tolerant one at that."
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of Religion and Belief
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Not active
- Date added
- Sep 20, 2019
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