Month: April 2011

Education Ministry hits back at Sheikh Ilyas

The Education Ministry has strongly condemned Sheikh Ilyas Hussein for claiming that senior officials at the ministry “do not accept Islamic principles.”

A strongly-worded statement issued by the ministry on Monday notes that Ilyas’ remarks at an Adhaalath Party religious sermon on April 22 was “unacceptable,” defamatory and disrespectful to the dignity of education sector officials.

“The whole philosophy of education in the Maldives is built upon Islamic principles,” it reads.

The ministry was moreover “extremely concerned” that a political party was spreading falsehoods about the education sector that could “unsettle the public.”

The Education Ministry has come into conflict with the religious conservative Adhaalath Party during the ongoing process of revising the national curriculum for the first time since 1984, notably after a now-retracted decision by the curriculum revision steering committee to make Islam and Dhivehi optional subjects for A’ Level students.

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Hassaan released to house arrest

The Criminal Court last night released Hassaan Ali of Faresmaathoda in Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll, identified by police as one of the country’s most dangerous gangsters.

Hassaan has previously been arrested 13 times for violent assault and robbery, with two cases sent to the Prosecutor General’s Office (PGO).

Police arrested Hassaan last month for alleged assault during a special operation conducted to avoid potential clashes between gangs after the fatal stabbing of 21 year-old Ahusan Basheer in March.

After keeping Hassan in pre-trial detention for several days he was released by the Criminal Court to house arrest, but was arrested again shortly afterward.

The Criminal Court at the time extended his detention for three days, and after keeping Hassaan in pre-trial detention for a further three days he was released when he was presented to the court by police requesting an extension of detention.

While Hassaan was on his way home from the court he was arrested yet again and taken to court by police, who requested yet another extension of detention. This time the judge ordered Hassan be placed under house arrest.

Local media have reported that police are now watching Hassaan’s house as on several occasions persons kept under house arrest have fled.

Meanwhile, the Prosecutor General brought criminal charges against Hassaan for his involvement in a fight that occurred in Boduthakurufaanu Magu on December 3, 2010.

In court this morning, Hassaan denied the charges and invoked his right for a lawyer, which the judge provided him.

Police requested the court allow them to keep Hassan in detention in a place of their choosing for the duration of the trial. The decision is pending.

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Parliament approves Inaz as Finance Minister

Parliament today approved President Mohamed Nasheed’s appointment of Ahmed Inaz as Finance Minister with 68 votes in favour and two against.

Presenting the committee evaluation report, Mathiveri MP Hussein Mohamed said that the committee found that Inaz was qualified for the post and a majority voted to recommend consenting to his appointment.

Opposition Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) Deputy Leader Ali Waheed argued that Inaz’s youth and perceived inexperienced should not be held against him while People’s Alliance (PA) MP Abdul Raheem Abdulla praised Inaz as capable and qualified.

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Ayada resort targets autumn opening for Maldives debut

The Aydeniz group, a Turkish development company, is set to launch its first resort development in the Maldives later this year with the opening of the 112-villa Ayada Maldives property in Gaaf Alif Atoll.

A spokesperson for the company told Minivan News that the resort is scheduled to open in the autumn and would be an entirely new tourist property operated by a recently formed local subsidiary of the Aydeniz Group.

According to the resort operator, Ayada Maldives will consist of 62 seafront villas and 50 water villas spread over a 150,000 square meter island that will also aim to offer both reef and pool swimming, water sports opportunities, spa treatments , a “health bar” and a selection of restaurants providing  international cuisine.

Along with its tourist properties, the Aydeniz Group has operations in areas such as agriculture, engineering and construction that includes bridge and road building projects in the Maldives, Turkey, Afghanistan and Ethiopia.

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Adhaalath Party plans “Shariah is the Solution” protest march

The religiously conservative Adhaalath Party has announced a nation-wide protest march for next Friday calling for the implementation of Islamic Shariah in the Maldives.

”Murder, violent assaults, robbery, rape, drug abuse and other such crimes have reached an extreme level in this country,” the Adhaalath Party said in a statement. ”The whole nation is threatened and institutions have failed.”

The gathering is to be held under the slogan ”Islamic Shariah is the Solution” and NGOs and political parties have been invited to participate.

”The gathering will commence at 4:00pm near the tsunami monument next Friday,” said the Adhaalth Party, appealing for as many people as possible to attend.

The statement suggested that participants should carry a national flag if possible.

”More than 100 NGOs have confirmed that they will be joining us in this gathering,” a party official said today. ”In the islands they will gather at an area decided amongst themselves; our target is to get as many islands, NGOs and political parties join this gathering.”

While the official did not mention names of specific NGOs and political parties that will participate, he revealed that the NGO coalition formed to protest the planned sale of alcohol from hotels in inhabited islands would be involved.

Religious NGO Jamiyyathul Salaf announced that it backed the Adhaalath Party’s gathering and Salaf would join the party’s event in support.

Salaf President Abdulla Bin Ali Ibrahim explained that Salaf would join any event that demands Islamic Shariah be observed.

”We will hold a meeting tonight to discuss it within our NGO,” Abdulla said. ”We have also expressed our ideas and sent it to the Adhaalath Party.”

The Adhaalath Party has recently threatened to terminate its coalition agreement with the ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) should an Israeli airline be allowed to operate in the Maldives.

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Over 5,400 convicted in past nine years

The Criminal Court convicted 5,435 people during the past nine years, including over 2,500 people sentenced to jail in the past four years alone, reports Haveeru.

According to statistics from the Criminal Court, 864 people were sentenced to jail in 2009 followed by 522 in 2010.

Meanwhile as of this week, police have requested 3,669 court orders to extend detention of suspects so far this year, 2,814 of which were granted.

From 2001 to 2010, some 2,950 persons were banished while 798 were sentenced to house arrest.

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Maldivian students in Malaysia host futsal tournament

Maldivian students in Malaysia will hold an annual futsal tournament, the Krolickz Raajje Cup, in Malaysia at the Subang Grand Sports Planet, Sunway.

The one day event this Saturday April 30 begins at 9am in the morning until 8pm that evening. 21 teams will take part in the event, with many players travelling to Malaysia from Male’.

The event is sponsored by Krolickz, a Malaysia based education consultant agency, which represents a number of colleges and universities in Malaysia. Other sponsors include Malaysian university Segi University College and several Maldivian companies, including Happy Market Traders, Airplus Travel and Tours, Net Solutions and one Malaysian university Segi University College.

Futsal is an indoor game similar to five-a-side football, played with a smaller ball with less bounce that a conventional football.

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Convict arrested for robbery

A man brought before the court for allegedly stealing a wallet had previously been sentenced to 12 years imprisonment in 2006 for possession of illegal drugs.

Court records show that Adam Firdous Ushman, G. Dhonbageechage, had first been sentenced to six months banishment in 2001 for robbery and again in 2005 to six years in jail for possession and use of illegal drugs.

“Convicts sentenced to jail being brought before the Criminal Court for committing various offences during the period when they are supposed to be serving the sentence is increasing day by day,” said the court.

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May 1 designated a public holiday to mark Labour Day

President Mohamed Nasheed has declared International Labour Day, May 1, a public holiday in the Maldives beginning this year.

Cabinet said the decision would highlighting the government’s commitment as well as efforts of private parties to protect and promote workers’ rights in the Maldives.

The Tourism Employees Association of Maldives (TEAM) has meanwhile announced it intends to hold a ‘May Day’ rally to promote workers’ rights and pressure the government to comply with international labour conventions.

“There are huge concerns about the recent regulations on strikes, which totally bans strikes on resorts,” said TEAM Vice President Maroof Zakir.

Maroof said TEAM was hoping civil service employees, taxi drivers and workers from other sectors would join tourism employees for the 4pm-6pm rally in Male’ on May 1, International Workers’ Day.

“We will start from the social centre and march down Majeedee Magu,” Maroof said.

International Workers’ Day or Labour Day is a common public holiday in many countries.

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