Maldives

By Azim Zahir/www.theconversation.com Five years on, confusion and despair have all but replaced the hope of the Arab Spring (with the possible exception of Tunisia). Many have cited the democratic failures and the rise of uglier forms of violence in these states to bolster a “Clash of Civilizations”  worldview. Yet the tiny Indian Ocean Muslim nation of the Maldives suggests otherwise....

Maldives move to restrict right to assembly Male, August 16 (Sun.mv ONLINE): People’s Majlis on Monday agreed to consider an amendment to the right to assemble on streets, which will make it necessary to secure written permission from the police, though Art. 32 of the Maldivian constitution says that citizens have the right to peaceful gathering without prior permission from...

Aug 2 (NIA) - The Maldives government, on Tuesday, rejected a joint statement released by the US, EU, UK, Germany, Norway and Netherlands over a draft defamation bill which is being debated in the Maldives parliament. The Maldives said that concerns raised by these countries were 'fallacious and ill-informed' and while the island nation welcomed the opportunity to engage with its...

Male, July 28 (NIE): The Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen has said that forces which are jealous of his rule, are trying to force Islamic Maldives to allow the practice of other religions. In his Independence Day address to the nation on July 26, Yameen said: “Every day the government is pressured to allow religions other than Islam. Every day there...

July 23 (NIA) – Thousands of opposition supporters gathered in the Maldivian capital Male in the early hours of Saturday, protesting against President Abdulla Yameen’s government and calling for the President’s immediate resignation. Protestors, who were supporters of the Maldives United Opposition which is backed by former President Mohamed Nasheed, chanted slogans for the police and military to change the...