Expatriate worker arrested for homosexual activity with mentally ill boy

MALE, May 30 (HNS) – An expatriate worker has been arrested in Laamu atoll Gan Saturday evening for practicing homosexual activity with a 16-year-old mentally ill boy. Police said the man was arrested from his room in Mathivaradhoo ward of the island. A person from the island said the man, who is working at a teashop as a cook, abused a boy from a family where five out of the six members are mentally ill. “He abused the boy after taking him to his room located at the industrial zone of the island… The boy was seen often on the roads. The man abused him after promising him to give a cigarette,” the person said. “There are people who...

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Posted in: News

Sexuality & Punishment in 17th Century Maldives

Via Random Reflexions Francois Pyrard’s account of his time in the Maldives is a treasure trove of exquisite record of events that paint a colourful portrait of the 17th century Dhivehin, their customs, culture and life serving a king under Islamic law. Pyrard was stranded in the Maldives and was kept close to the king in Male’ for 5 years from 1602 to 1607. Presented here are abstracts from one of the more enlightening chapters that shed light on the law of the land regarding adultery and homosexuality. The text has been annotated (only slightly and within brackets) and sectioned into paragraphs by me to increase readability. The following...

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Posted in: Politics / Religion,Report

What is the punishment for homosexuality? Is there any differentiation between the one who does it and the one to whom it is done?

 This is the translation of the article published on Dhi-Islam's website, who translated it from English to Dhivehi. Article originally appears on Islam Q&A. ----------------------- Praise be to Allaah. Firstly:  The crime of homosexuality is one of the greatest of crimes, the worst of sins and the most abhorrent of deeds, and Allaah punished those who did it in a way that He did not punish other nations. It is indicative of violation of the fitrah, total misguidance, weak intellect and lack of religious commitment, and it is a sign of doom and deprivation of the mercy of Allaah. We ask Allaah to keep...

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Posted in: Politics / Religion

Adhaalath to contest in 2013 Maldives presidential election

 Via Haveeru MALE, May 21 (HNS) – Religious conservative Adhaalath Party has announced its plan to contest in the 2013 presidential election. Speaking at the meeting held last night in Kalaafanu School, head of the Scholar’s Council, Sheikh Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed said Adhalath is capable of running the country more efficiently than any other party under an Islamic leadership. “We’re asking our members to barge into the big picture, and we will try to strengthen the party for what’s to come,” he said. The former State Minister for Islamic Affairs said the party, which he said has the competence and philosophy, has to win the...

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Posted in: Politics / Religion

Iskandhar student beaten as he refused to enter with ‘Barbie’ backpack

Via Haveeru MALE, May 19 (HNS) – The parent of a student studying at Iskandhar School beat her son on Tuesday as he refused to enter the class after he was given a “Barbie” backpack. A parent told Haveeru yesterday that the woman beat the third grader near the school’s restroom, when students were streaming in for the afternoon session on Tuesday. The parent said many students saw the scene and were disturbed by it. Parents who witnessed the scene reported it to the school office. The school’s Principal Hussein Saeed said he talked to the parent and found out that the boy had hesitated to get into class because he had a girl’s backpack. “The...

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Posted in: Society

Sex and the Maldivians: Police ‘intercept’ gay love at Artificial Beach

Via Hilath The Artificial Beach seems to be the most happening place in Male’ right now. While all sorts of human affairs continue there every night, this seems to be the first time that Maldives Police seem to have “interrupted” a blossoming gay love affair at the Artificial Beach… As humans will always be lawyers, everybody will find a way, a loophole, in order to get away with what they want – or simply just to be themselv...

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Posted in: Society,True Stories

Sharia-compliant resort announced for Maldives

Via Minivan News Islamic hospitality firm Lootah Hotel Management (LHM) has announced plans to open a Sharia-compliant resort in the Maldives by 2013. LHM, a division of the Dubai-based SS Lootah group of companies, signed and agreement with Maldives’ Kalaidhu Investment to construct the resort, a US$85 million project it says will include 50 luxury villas with private swimming pool and a private beach, restaurant, recreation centre, spa, marina and yachts among other amenities “to ensure the welfare and privacy of the families.” In a statement CEO of Lootah Hotel Management, Nasser Lootah, said “the decision comes as part of the Group’s...

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Posted in: News

Adhaalath urges Maldivian government to abstain from rights violations

Attendees at an Adhaalath Party demonstration show their support for the views of a party speaker What happens when Human Rights and the Shariah Law clash? Stay tuned to find out. - via Haveeru News MALE, May 2 (HNS) - The Adhaalath Party has called on the government not to violate human rights, and to heed the call of the people in solving the issues the Maldives currently faces. The Party has expressed its approval of the peaceful protests organized by youths, against the rising cost of living, since last Saturday and further added in its statement that “one of the governments’ promises was to bring down the cost of living, but...

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Posted in: News,Politics / Religion

Adhaalath Party rally was a success- Shaheem

Via Miadhu News Former State Minister for Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed has said that the public rally organised by Adalaat Party (AP) under the slogan “Solution is ruling by the Sharia of Allah” was a success. Shaheem said that as long as the imposed system is not the system of Islamic Sharia, then the country will be met with failures. He said that this is because, the Sharia of Islam is the one and only solution for the multi-dimensional crisis in this country. AP and local NGOs held the demonstration near the Tsunami Monument on Friday under the slogan “Solution lies in ruling by the Sharia of Allah”. AP said...

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Posted in: News,Politics / Religion