Statement

Via Warm Pixels | 30 Sept 2011 I have a feeling that a lot of my friends and readers have an opinion about me that paints me as a gay personality in the Maldives who is completely out of the closet and advocates the same. I'm not, and I don't. I have been pro gay, yes, but I don't want to be famed in this part of the world as a gay man fighting for gay rights in a society that can be potentially hostile. So, even though I can appear to be quite open, I don't generally let people know about my sexuality unless it is a necessity. Like I've said before... straight people don't introduce themselves as straight. So why...

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Posted in: Gossip

The Proverbial "It" Is On

20 September 2011 (Hilath.com) -- To everyone who has "missed" me: Here's some good news. I've found some brave Maldivians this week. And today I have got confirmation through my own intelligence network (and a few good friends) that the so-called local NGOs removed a section on freedom of religion and other minority rights when they forwarded a report to UN last year which was sponsored by the UN. I mean the NGOs "ate" all the money and their excuse for removal was cowardliness: They commented among themselves that if the report got out, the "public pressure would be too high to deal with." Such cowards! So my argument is then why...

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Posted in: News

Hilath Recieves Yet another death threat.

via i ♥ f k  Hilath Rasheed is a prominent and noteworthy figure in the LGBT community of Maldives. For the past 10 years, he has been slowly pushing the envelope with controversial subject matter via his blog. But this week, he shut his blog down due to the nuisance of Homophobes and Islamothugs conspiring to silence him. No stranger to death threats, the latest unwarranted death threat to Hilath appeared on 9 September 2011 on an online newspaper against the governing party called Minivan Adu (Free Voice). The article was entitled, Is there no one to exterminate the traces of Hilath Rasheed. It is written in Dhivehi. The article...

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Posted in: News,Society,True Stories

Democracy growing, but gender equality a key issue: UNDP

By Eleanor Johnstone | September 15th, 2011 |  Minivan News The UNDP International Day of Democracy was celebrated today under the theme “Youth Inclusion and Democracy” at the Nasandhura Palace Hotel. Representatives from the government, UNDP, and the Human Rights Commission spoke on democratic progress in the Maldives. Youth in civil society were widely recognised as a key factor for democratic growth in the Maldives. UN Advisor on Social Cohesion and Governance, Ferdinand von Habsburg-Lothringen, delivered the opening speech. “Civil society in the Maldives is impressive. It is an important avenue for young people to...

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Posted in: Politics / Religion,Society

“Freedom of religion remains severely restricted”: US State Department

By Ahmed Naish | September 14th, 2011 | via Minivan News  Legal restrictions on freedom of religion in the Maldivian constitution and laws are generally enforced in practice by the government, observed a US State Department ‘July-December 2010 International Freedom of Religion Report’ made public yesterday. The new constitution enacted in 2008 designates Islam as the official state religion and states that “a non-Muslim may not become a citizen of the Maldives.” “There was no change in the status of respect for religious freedom by the government during the reporting period. Freedom of religion remained...

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Posted in: Politics / Religion

A Maldivian proclaims as an athiest and gay. Who is there to uphold the constitution

7th September 2011, Male’, Maldivestoday.com Hilath Rasheed says the following in his personal blog. Who is there to investigate this and uphold the constitution of Maldives. Nobody should be above the rule of law.“18+ WARNING: This is my private space. And also this is a GAY blog with ADULT material including explicit NUDE pictures and SEX videos. So, don’t say you were not warned! While I’m a SUFI MUSLIM leaning towards ATHEISM and SCIENCE, the views expressed here are stricly my personal opinions and therefore may not be in tune with other Sufi Muslim sects. However, no offence is intended to anyone and debate and discussion are...

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Posted in: Gossip