Day: October 28, 2012

Maldives “finally open to independent travellers”: Lonely Planet 2012

The inhabited islands of the Maldives “are finally open to independent travellers,” according to the 2012 edition of the Lonely Planet, published this month.

“What’s more, these incredible islands are finally open to independent travellers, meaning you no longer have to stay in resorts and be kept separate from the local population, something that kept backpackers away for decades. Intrepid individuals can now choose their own itineraries and travel from island to island, living among the devout but extremely friendly local population,” reads the independent travel section on the Maldives entry.

“With a national ferry network in place and a growing number of privately run guesthouses on inhabited islands, the Maldives and its people are now more accessible than ever.”

Prior to the controversial transfer of presidential power on February 7, the formerly ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) pursued a policy of introducing mid-market tourism with guest houses in inhabited islands.

Lonely Planet is the world’s foremost travel publisher, printing over a 100 million books and guides in nine different languages.

(Read an edited extract from Lonely Planet Maldives [8th Edition] by Tom Masters, Lonely Planet 2012 here.)

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Police seek criminal charges against 18 year-old pair for refusing to submit to search

Police have requested the Prosecutor General’s Office (PGO) press criminal charges of “disobedience to an order” against a pair of 18 year-olds who refused to submit to a search by police officers on patrol.

According to police media, officers on patrol attempted to search Hussain Hassan, of Ghaaf Dhaal Thinadhoo Semy, and Ahmed Sanij Sodiq, of Gaaf Dhaal Thinadhoo Melon House, around 9:30pm on September 26 near the old Jamalludheen School building in Male’ “based on their [suspicious] behaviour”.

The pair allegedly refused to submit to the search and “obstructed policy duty.”

Article 88(a) of the Penal Code states, “It is an offence to disobey an order issued lawfully within the  Shari’ah or Law; a person guilty of this offence shall be subjected to a punishment of exile or imprisonment or house detention not exceeding 6 months or fine not exceeding MVR 150.00.”

Article 47(a) of the constitution however states, “No person shall be subject to search or seizure unless there is reasonable cause.”

While in government, the formerly ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) accused former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom of using his influence on the judiciary to target MDP members using article 88(a) of the outdated penal code, which was drafted in the 1960s.

“What we are seeing today is, quite simply, a concerted attempt by the old guard to reassert itself. Having lost the presidency, and having recently lost control of the parliament, Gayoom and his allies are trying to win back power through the last non-violent channel open to them: the courts,” MDP Chairperson ‘Reeko’ Moosa Manik said in a statement on October 25, 2011.

“Worse, Gayoom’s allies and the courts are using the notorious article 88(a) of the Criminal Code – a broad catch-all provision on ‘disobedience to order’ used by Gayoom when he was President to attack and imprison political opponents. Mohamed Nasheed, now President, was arrested and prosecuted dozens of times under article 88(a), as were many other pro-democracy activists.”

Meanwhile, at a press briefing on Wednesday, Assistant Commissioner of Police revealed that officers on patrol after midnight have questioned 2,930 individuals in the past few weeks and prepared their profiles.

The Head of Central Operations Command explained that police have been “questioning people awake and out on the street without a purpose after midnight” as part of an ongoing operation to curb crime in the capital.

Saudhi also claimed that the government’s decision to revoke licenses of businesses to operate 24-hours has led to a decrease in the crime rate.

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Maldivian on 35th pilgrimage: Saudi Gazette

Ismail Abdul Latheef, head of the local Athama Hajj Group, has been performing the Hajj for the past 35 years, the Saudi Gazette reported on Saturday.

Abdul Latheef is presently in Mecca in charge of 200 Maldivian pilgrims with the Athama Hajj Group.

Latheef, currently in his 50s, told the Saudi online news outlet that he first performed the Hajj pilgrimage when he was a child.

“He came along with his father who was working for a Tawafa establishment in the Maldives. His father sponsored many a family to go to Makkah and perform one of the most important rituals in Islam,” the website reported, adding that Latheef “acquired solid experience in the field and became the manager of his father’s establishment.”

“Every time I see the Grand Mosque, I can’t help but cry tears of joy. Makkah is one of the most breathtaking cities on the globe. Its holiness makes every stone-hearted person melt in awe.” Latheef told the Saudi Gazette.

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Indian Quran teacher arrested on suspicion of molesting student

An Indian Quran teacher has been arrested in the Meedhoo district of Addu City on suspicion of sexually abusing an under-age female student.

Local daily Haveeru reported yesterday that the 35 year-old suspect taught Quran at the privately owned Shamshudeen Centre for Islamic Studies and that the victim was a grade nine student at the Seenu Atoll School.

Police have confirmed the arrest but declined to divulge any further information.

A resident of Meedhoo told the newspaper that family members of the victim allegedly assaulted the expatriate after the girl said that he had sexually abused her repeatedly on different occasions.

Police reportedly took the Quran teacher into custody around 10:30am on Friday following the confrontation with the family members of the alleged victim.

Under the Child Sex Offenders (Special Provisions) Act of 2009, 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.

In August 2010, police arrested renowned Quran teacher and Qari (Quran reciter), Hussain Thaufeeq, on multiple charges of child sex abuse.

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Lost Maldivian pilgrim found inside Grand Mosque

A Maldivian pilgrim with the Sisilfaru Hajj group reported lost in the late afternoon on Friday was found inside the Grand Mosque in the holy city of Mecca.

According to the local Dhi-Islam news website team in Saudi Arabia, Sarah Adam, of G. Lishan, was found safe and unharmed on Saturday night by the second-in-charge of the Sisilfaru Group, Ibrahim Manik.

Sarah was separated from the group and lost at the plain of Mount Arafat on Friday. Pilgrims are required to spend the afternoon of the ninth day of Dhul Hajja at the Mount Arafat in order to complete the Hajj.

Some 1,000 Maldivian pilgrims with eight groups are currently in Mecca for the Hajj and are due to return on November 3, 4 and 8.

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