Thursday, January 31, 2013

Maldives crashes to 103rd in RSF Press Freedom Index


Reporters without Borders released their worldwide Press Freedom Index for 2013 on Wednesday. The index ranks countries according to levels of press and media freedoms. Countries with the best levels of press freedom are ranked highest.
The Maldives fell 30 places to 103rd place this year. Fiji, which suffered a coup in 2006, was also placed alongside the Maldives.
According to Reporters without Borders: “In the Maldives… the events that led to the resignation of President Nasheed led to violence and threats against journalists in state TV and private media outlets regarded as pro-Nasheed by the coup leaders.”
Reporters without Borders alleged that attacks on press freedom have increased since the change in government. The organisation claimed that many journalists have been arrested, assaulted and threatened during anti-government protests.

In addition to this Reporters without Borders noted that  the  Maldivian blogger Ismail Hilath Rasheed who openly calls to legalise homosexuality and apostacey, was nearly murdered by a group.
Responding to Miadhu Daily in relation to the report of Reporters without Borders, Chair of of the media council, Ibrahim Khaleel said that Reporters without Borders have tried to taint the image of Maldives even in the past and have been issuing such unsubstantial reports. He said that no international organisation have made any surveys on the situation of press freedom in the Maldives so far and therefore it is ridiculous for Reporters without Borders to claim that the freedom of press in Maldives has declined.
Khaleel said that there is no restrictions in the press. However he noted that the Maldives is a hundred percent Muslim nation and therefore no one is allowed to violate the tenets of Islam. He said that it is the decision of the people of Maldives.
In addition to this Khaleel also noted that Hilath Rasheed’s website was banned because it had pornographic content and blasphemous writings.
Meanwhile, many people note that the murder attempt on Hilath is a scheme plotted by a group to taint the image of Maldives and to depict the country where extremism is rampant. Many people also have noted that the murder attempt on Hilath was made on the night when former President Nasheed questioned the legitimacy of the current government during his visit to UK.

Sunday, January 27, 2013

Man arrested for sexual molestation of minor


by Ali Shinan

A man has been arrested from Baa atoll Thulhaadhoo island on charges of sexual molestation of a minor.

Police said that they received the case on Friday and that the 21-year-old man was arrested on Saturday afternoon. His detention has been extended by 15 days.

Maldives has seen a rising trend in child sexual abuse.

Via CNM

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Man arrested for sex with minor


by Ali Shinan


Police have concluded investigations and forwarded for prosecution the case of a 20-year-old in Haa Dhaalu Kulhudhuffushi for having sex with a 16-year-old. The age of majority in Maldives is 18.



Mohamed Adam's case was forwarded to the Prosecutor General's Office on 16 January, police said.



Police started investigating the matter after receiving a report on 6 November. However, they did not give details.



The number of child sexual abuse cases have been increasing recently. Police statistics show that this month alone 42 cases of child sexual molestation were filed.


Via CNM

Man arrested for sex with 13-year-old girl


by Ali Shinan

A man has been arrested in Thaa atoll Hirilandhoo island for sexually abusing a 13-year-old girl.

A 39-year-old man was arrested around 2330 hours on Monday night for the sexual molestation of the child, police media official Sub-Inspector Hassan Haneef said. Police arrested him after getting a complaint around 2230 hours.

Haneef said that the court has extended his detention by 15 days.


Via CNM

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Bilehdhoo man arrested for sexual molestation of boys


by Misbah Abbas
A janitor at Faafu atoll Bilehdoo's Munavvar Mosqu has been arrested on charges of sexually molesting some boys.
The 52-year-old man was arrested around 1400 hours on 11 January after a court order was issued following a case filed by the Ministry of Gender and Human Rights at police.
A source from Bilehdhoo said that such rumors about the man tend to surface in the island from time to time. However, no official agency has looked into such cases before.
Recently, the number of cases of sexual molestation of under-aged boys and girls have increased.

Via CNM

No intention to reverse decision to charge 15 year-old with fornication: PG’s office

The Prosecutor General’s (PG) office has “no intention” of reversing the decision to charge a 15 year-old child abuse victim with fornication, local media has reported.

An official from the PG’s office told local newspaper Haveeru that the decision to charge the 15-year-old from Shaviyani Atoll Feydhoo with fornication was made after extensive assessment of the case.

Back in June 2012, the same minor – a school student at the time – gave birth to a baby later discovered buried in the outdoor shower area of a home on Feydhoo.

The discovery led to the arrest of four people, including the 15 year-old girl’s mother and step father.

Haveeru reported that as the charges filed against the girl have no connection with the buried baby case, the PG’s office had no intention to withdraw the charges.

“So far we have no intention of reversing the decision to charge her at the Juvenile Court,” a PG’s official was quoted by local media.

Speaking to Minivan News on January 9 the Prosecutor General (PG’s) Office confirmed it had pressed charges against a 15 year-old girl from the island of Feydhoo in Shaviyani Atoll for having “consensual sexual relations”.

A spokesperson for the PG’s Office said the charges against the minor were unrelated to a separate case against the girl’s stepfather over allegations he had sexually abused her.

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Police arrest 52 year-old man on suspicion of molesting children

Police have arrested a 52 year-old man from the island of Bileiydhoo in Faafu Atoll on suspicion of molesting young children on the island.

Police Sub-Inspector Hassan Haneef confirmed the man was arrested yesterday at 1:52pm, after they obtained an arrest warrant from the court.

‘’We can confirm that the man was accused of molesting young boys on the island,’’ Haneef said, adding that as the case involved minors police could not provide further details.

Bileiydhoo Council Chairman Abdulla Zuhury told Minivan News that the police arrested the man after obtaining a warrant.

‘’The case was not reported to the council, some islanders reported the case directly to the authorities and the Gender Ministry and the police are now conducting a joint investigation into the case,’’ Zuhury said.

‘’I can’t confirm the ages of the children he allegedly molested but I have heard that they were very young – around 5- 7 years-old,’’ he said.

Zuhury said police have summoned and questioned other people in connection with the case.

The island council of Bileiydhoo has told local newspapers that the man was a staff member at the island’s mosque, and that he allegedly molested the children inside his house.

According to local media, the man is married and has a disabled daughter.

Under the Act Number 12/2009 ‘Special Measure Applicable to Perpetrators of Child Sexual Abuse’, the penalty for child sex abuse is 10-14 years but can be extended to 15-18 years if the accused was in a position of trust with the children he or she abused.

Government schedules talks over reforming sexual abuse laws

The Maldivian government has said it remains committed to legislative reforms regarding the treatment of minors and other victims of sexual offences in the country.

President’s Office Media Secretary Masood Imad told Minivan News the government had scheduled meetings next week with the both the environment and Islamic ministries to amend local laws that he contended, in certain cases, punished sexual abuse victims as if they were criminals.

The government last week announced it was looking to review legislation in the country in line with relevant authorities amidst international media coverage of a decision by the Prosecutor General (PG’s) Office to press charges against 15 year-old girl for having “consensual sexual relations”.

In a case unrelated to these charges, the girl’s stepfather was also facing criminal charges for alleged sexual abuse of the minor after authorities last year discovered a new born baby buried in the outdoor shower area of a home on the island of Feydhoo.

Judicial authorities told Minivan News earlier this month that the charges against the 15 year-old were yet to be filed with the Juvenile Court at the time.

Director of the Department of Judicial Administration Ahmed Maajid was not responding to calls today.

Victimisation

After pledging last week to review laws on the back of a number of similar cases where young women had been victimised and punished by authorities – Masood claimed that discussions would be held next week on the treatment of minors and adults who had been sexually abused.

“If needs be we will come out with legislation were victims [of sexual abuse] are treated as victims,” he said. “It’s incredible that sometimes these victims are actually being seen as perpetrators [of crime] under the law.”

Masood added that the government would be making further announcements on its future plans to address these concerns once it had held talks scheduled for next week with ministerial and legislative authorities.

Acting Minister of Gender, Family and Human rights Dr Mariyam Shakeela, Minister of Islamic Affairs Sheikh Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed and Attorney General Azima Shukoor were not responding to calls at time of press.

NGO criticism

The filing of criminal charges of “consensual sexual relations” against the 15 year-old girl were slammed this month as an “absolute outrage” by NGO Amnesty International.

The NGO’s Maldives Researcher Abbas Faiz stressed that suspected victims of rape and sexual abuse required counselling and support rather than facing prosecution.

Meanwhile, Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (HRCM) Vice President Ahmed Tholal told Minivan News at the time Amnesty’s statement was released that he was hugely concerned about the number of reports of sexual abuse against minors in the country.

Fornication offence

Back in September 2012, a 16 year-old girl was sentenced to house arrest and 100 lashes for fornication with a 29 year-old man.

Permanent Magistrate of Hulhudhuhfaaru in Raa Atoll, Magistrate Abdul Samad Abdulla, sentenced the girl to eight months house arrest, and public flogging once she reaches the age of 18.

Ali Rashid, an official of the Hulhudhuhfaaru Magistrate Court,referred Minivan News to Article 25 of the act detailing special actions to be taken in cases of sexual offences against children (Act number: 12/2009).

Article 25 says: “Unless proven otherwise, it cannot be considered that a child between ages 13-18 had given consent to committing a sexual act. And unless proven otherwise, it will be considered that the sexual act was committed without the child’s consent.”

In November 2011, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay, speaking in parliament, raised concerns about the issue of flogging in the Maldives.

Pillay said at the time: “This practice constitutes one of the most inhumane and degrading forms of violence against women, and should have no place in the legal framework of a democratic country.”

Her statements and calls for discussion on the issue were met with outragefrom then political opposition and religious conservative Adhaalath party, giving rise to protests and demonstrations. The Foreign Ministry, under the former government of Mohamed Nasheed, dismissed the calls for discussion on the issue, stating: “There is nothing to debate about in a matter clearly stated in the religion of Islam. No one can argue with God.”

Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Maldives government to review laws that “victimise” sexually abused minors


The Maldivian government has today said it will review and potentially “correct” laws in the country it claims victimise young women and minors who have suffered sexual abuse.

President’s Office Media Secretary Masood Imad told Minivan News the government would be holding consultations with the Ministry of Islamic Affairs and other relevant authorities to discuss how minors who have been sexually abused were being treated in the country.

The comments were made as the Prosecutor General (PG’s) Office today confirmed it had pressed charges against a 15 year-old girl from the island of Feydhoo in Shaviyani Atoll for having “consensual sexual relations”.

A spokesperson for the PG’s Office said the charges against the minor were unrelated to a separate case against the girl’s stepfather over allegations he had sexually abused her.

“Protected, not punished”

President’s Office Spokesperson Masood Imad said that from government’s perspective, the 15 year-old girl was a victim who needed to be protected, not punished by authorities.

“We will be talking with the Ministry of Islamic Affairs over this manner and will review and correct the problem,” he said.

Masood claimed that the Maldives had experienced a number of similar cases of late where young women had been victimised and punished by authorities – a situation he said the government was looking to prevent.

“We are reviewing this right now and if we have to go to the extent of changing existing laws then we would look to do this,” he said.

While unable to comment on specific cases at time of press, Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (HRCM) Vice President Ahmed Tholal told Minivan News that he was hugely concerned about the number of reports of sexual abuse against minors in the country.

Acting Minister of Gender, Family and Human rights Dr Mariyam Shakeela and Minister of Islamic Affairs Sheikh Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed were not responding to calls at the time of press.

The reported handling of the case by authorities has garnered significant attention this week in both local and international media.

Charges

A PG’s Office spokesperson today confirmed that the charges against the minor were related to a separate offence of Sharia Law, which had been filed back on November 25, 2012.

The 15 year-old last year gave birth to a baby that was discovered buried in the outdoor shower area of a home on Feydhoo – her stepfather was later charged with sexual abuse, possession of pornographic materials and committing murder without intent.

The spokesperson said that another charge was filed against the girl’s mother over claims she had failed to inform authorities of the alleged sexual abuse of her own child.

Judicial authorities told Minivan News earlier this week that the charges against the 15 year-old were yet to be filed with the Juvenile Court at the time.

Director of the Department of Judicial Administration Ahmed Maajid was not responding to calls at time of press.

NGO criticism

The charges against the 15 year-old girl have been slammed as an “absolute outrage” by NGO Amnesty International.

In a statement released yesterday, Amnesty International’s Maldives Researcher Abbas Faiz stressed that suspected victims of rape and sexual abuse required counselling and support rather than facing prosecution.

“We urge the Maldivian authorities to immediately drop all charges against the girl, ensure her safety and provide her with all necessary support,” the NGO’s statement read.

Amnesty Intentional also raised concerns that should the minor be found guilty of “fornication” as reported in the media, she could potentially be flogged in line with sentencing for similar cases held in the country.

“If found guilty of ‘fornication’ the girl could be punished with flogging. She would likely be kept under house arrest until she turns 18 when, under Maldivian law, the flogging can be carried out. Flogging is a violation of the absolute prohibition on torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment,” Amnesty International stated.

“The Maldivian authorities should immediately end its use regardless of circumstances. The fact that this time a 15-year old girl who has suffered terribly is at risk makes it all the more reprehensible. Flogging is not only wrong and humiliating, but can lead to long-term psychological as well as physical scars.”

Fornication offence

Back in September 2012, a 16 year-old girl was sentenced to house arrest and 100 lashes for fornication with a 29 year-old man.

Permanent Magistrate of Raa Atoll Hulhudhuhfaaru, Magistrate Abdul Samad Abdulla, sentenced the girl to eight months under house arrest, and for public flogging once she reaches the age of 18.

Ali Rashid, an official of the Hulhudhuhfaaru Magistrate Court, said at the time that the girl had been sentenced for fornication because she had confessed to it. However, the 29 year-old male with whom she was co-accused had denied the charges.

“The man said he hadn’t committed fornication, but he admitted to having hugged and done certain other things with the girl. This amounts to sexual assault of a minor under the law. That’s why he has got the minimum sentence possible under the relevant law, 10 years in jail,” Rashid explained.

The official of the Hulhudhuhfaaru Magistrate Court referred Minivan News to Article 25 of the act detailing special actions to be taken in cases of sexual offences against children (Act number: 12/2009).

Article 25 says: “Unless proven otherwise, it cannot be considered that a child between ages 13-18 had given consent to committing a sexual act. And unless proven otherwise, it will be considered that the sexual act was committed without the child’s consent.”

In November 2011, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay,speaking in parliament, raised concerns about the issue of flogging in the Maldives.

Speaking on the issue, Pillay said at the time, “This practice constitutes one of the most inhumane and degrading forms of violence against women, and should have no place in the legal framework of a democratic country.”

Her statements and calls for discussion on the issue were met with outragefrom then political opposition and religious conservative Adhaalath party,giving rise to protests and demonstrations. The Foreign Ministry, under the former government, dismissed the calls for discussion on the issue, stating: “There is nothing to debate about in a matter clearly stated in the religion of Islam. No one can argue with God.”

Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Man arrested while sexually molesting minor


by Misbah Abbas
A 49-year-old man has been arrested in Faafu atoll Nilandhoo island while he was in the midst of sexually molesting a 6-year-old girl.
Police apprehended the man at the scene of the crime on the evening of 2 January after a tip-off.
The island court has extended the man's detention period by 15 days, the police said.
Recently, child sexual abuse cases are increasing in the Maldives, too.

Via CNM

54-year-old man arrested for sexual molestation of 10-year-old girl


A 54-year-old man has been arrested in Gaafu Dhaalu atoll Gadhdhoo for sexually molesting a 10-year-old girl.
The man was arrested on Sunday night. The matter was reported to police on Sunday night itself. Police said they are investigating the matter.
A source from Gadhdhoo said that the man had denied the allegations although rumors of his incest were abound in the island.

Via CNM

Man sentenced to 24 years for incest


by Ali Shinan
A man has been sentenced to imprisonment for having forced his two daughters to have sex with him. The magistrate court of Haa Dhaalu atoll Kendhikulhudhoo sentenced 50-year-old Adam Ali of Riushaan House of Noonu atoll Maalhendhoo to 24 years.
He was sent for trial after investigation by Manadhoo Police Station when police was referred the matter on 17 August 2012. He was found guilty sexual molestation of his 13-year-old and 17-year-old daughters.
He was sentenced under sub-clause (b) of clause (a) of clause 15 under law number 12/2009 which states that anyone guilty of incest shall be sentenced to 24 years.
Investigations into the matter were completed by police and sent to the Prosecutor General on 12 October 2012.

Via CNM

Sunday, January 6, 2013

'Hoara' Ibbe transferred to house arrest


by Ahmed Arshad
Former Undersecretary at the President's Office, Ibrahim Rasheed or 'Hoara' Ibbe has been transferred to house arrest after he was detained for alleged sexual molestation of a minor.
The criminal court said that he was transferred to house arrest after he was produced at the court on Saturday to decide on whether to extend his arrest. The court decided to keep him under house arrest for 15 days.
Rasheed was apprehended on the night of 6 December from Galolhu ward's Maavas house. He was arrested for alleged sexual contact with a 17-year-old girl.

Via CNM

77-year-old man arrested for molesting 16-year-old boy


by Moosa Shan
A 77-year-old man has been arrested from Haa Dhaalu atoll Kulhudhuffushi for allegedly forcibly engaging in homosexual molestation of a minor.
The man was arrested for forcing sex on a 16-year-old boy after a warrant was issued when the case was filed at the court. The man was arrested on Friday evening. Police said that the court has extended his detention period by 15 days.
A source from Kulhudhuffushi said that a man named Mohamed Ibrahim was arrested.

Via CNM

Saturday, January 5, 2013

Trial begins over case of military officer’s "indecent behavior" with security guard


by Mohamed Fazeen
The first hearing was held at the criminal court of the case involving homosexuality between a military officer and a security guard.
The defendants are Abdul Azeez Ali of Kanamaage in Baa atoll Thulhaadhoo who is a security guard at the Justice Building and military serviceman Ibrahim Mohamed of Dhilksaage house in Dhaalu atoll Maa-emboodhoo.
The two stand accused of an "indecent act" after they had sexual contact in public near Hiriya School around 0152 hours on 6 September.
Both of them denied the charges. The court gave them a period to get lawyers as they requested the trial to proceed with lawyers to speak on their behalf.

Via CNM

Wednesday, January 2, 2013

Man accused of child molestation voluntarily hands himself over to police


by Ahmed Ibrahim
A man who was being sought by police for forcibly molesting a 13-year-old after entering a house in Male', has voluntarily handed himself over to the law.
The man is 55-year-old Saeed Ahmed, Male' Dhafthar number 5113. Police said that the molestation took place on Tuesday night around 21:30pm.
Police said that he had walked into the police station and handed himself over to the police a while ago.
A man who had forced a 16-year-old girl into a home and forcibly molested her in Villingili was apprehended by police on Saturday with the help of members of the public after issuing a public notice for his search.

Via CNM

Free counters!
 
Proudly Supported by Rainbow Maldives | Bloggerized by Lasantha - Premium Blogger Themes | fantastic sams coupons