Year: 2015

No pending charges against Azlif Rauf, says Criminal Court

The Criminal Court has confirmed that there are no pending charges against Azlif Rauf of Henveiru Hilton, hence the court has not issued an order to the Department of Immigration and Emigration to hold his passport.

Yesterday (January 9) it was reported that Azlif Rauf travelled to Turkey with six members of Malé’s Kuda Henveiru gang.

The seven also included an individual arrested over the disappearance of Minivan News journalist Ahmed Rilwan, one man arrested for issuing a death threat, one man classified by the police as a dangerous criminal, and three men with criminal records, local media have reported.

Hussain Humam Ahmed, now serving a life sentence over the Afrasheem murder, named Azlif and five others in the organising of the killing in October 2012. Humam later retracted the confession claiming it had come under duress.

Officials at the Prosecutor General’s Office told Minivan News that they had pressed terrorism charges against Rauf on October 3, 2013, before withdrawing them on September 11, 2014 “for further review”. No decision has yet been made on the case.

They also stated that no decision has been made on the file sent by Maldives Police Services regarding Azlif Rauf’s potential involvement in the Afrasheem murder.

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German airliner Lufthansa to start scheduled flights to Maldives

German national carrier Deutsche Lufthansa AG is to start scheduled flights to the Maldives from December 2015.

Plans to start the flights by Europe’s largest airline were revealed at a special ceremony held yesterday (January 8 ) at Ibrahim Nasir International Airport (INIA) by Maldives Airports Company Limited’s (MACL) Managing Director ‘Bandu’ Ibrahim Saleem.

Speaking at the ceremony, local media reported Saleem as saying that Lufthansa will be operating flights to the Maldives starting from December 9 this year, and that these flights will provide many benefits to the tourism industry.

Aviation website ch-aviation.com reported that the flights are part of a “jump” network project by Lufthansa, with the Maldives, Mauritius, and Mexico the initial destinations.

Also speaking at the ceremony, Tourism minister Ahmed Adeeb said one of the biggest aims of nationalising INIA was to bring bigger airlines into the Maldives, adding that 2014 had been one of the best years for Maldives tourism.

INIA was leased out to Indian Infrastructure giant GMR under a US$500 million contract in 2010 before the following government deemed the deal ‘void ab-initio’ in 2012. GMR have subsequently won an arbitration case leaving the Government of Maldives liable for an amount that could reach up to US$803 million.

“Lufthansa airline is one of the top airlines in Europe. They have previously operated some charter flights to the Maldives, but this is the first time they will be starting scheduled flights,” local media reported Adeeb as saying.

Adeeb also said that one of the most prominent requests made by European tourists is to set up more direct flights to the Maldives without having to transit in the Middle East, and that the request would be addressed by Lufthansa flying to the Maldives directly from Frankfurt, Germany.

According to the tourism ministry, 527,274 European tourists landed in the Maldives last year – amounting to 47 percent of total arrivals. The European airline with the most arrivals was Turkish Airlines with 33,303 arrivals followed by British Airways with 25,798 arrivals.

The industry received a record-breaking of 1.2 million in 2014.


Related to this story

GMR lodges US$803million claim, pleads for award of further damages for loss of reputation

Changi signs consultancy deal as MACL aims for 9.6 million passengers

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Hithadhoo school to become Maldives’ first Arabic medium school

Nooraanee School in Hithadhoo will become the first in the Maldives to teach classes exclusively in Arabic from next week.

The Ministry of Education has confirmed that the school in Seenu Atoll will hold all grade one classes in Arabic, other than English, Dhivehi, and Islam.

Minister of State for Education Abdulla Nazeer told local media that all the teachers had been trained, and facilities prepared to begin teaching 32 grade one students in Arabic from Sunday (January 11).

The ministry had previously announced that two schools had been designated to conduct classes in the Arabic medium, with Nazeer telling Sun Online that a second school in Haa Dhaalu Kulhudufushi was to follow in 2017.

The government has pledged to mainstream Arabic education, with Arabic lessons having been introduced in 20 schools in the past year, as well as the introduction of Quran as a subject for grades 1 – 7 in all schools during the 2014 academic year.

The Ministry of Islamic Affairs has also pledged to broaden Islamic knowledge in the national curriculum

Following the introduction of the first classes last February, Vice President Dr Mohamed Jameel said that Arabic language will bring a “special happiness” to the people of Maldives, will strengthen the Islamic faith, and will introduce good behaviour.

With the exception of Malé’s Arabiya School – which uses both languages in classes, the medium of instruction of all schools in the Maldives is currently English. Only Dhivehi language and Islamic studies are currently taught in Dhivehi.

Arabiya school also discussed switching to Arabic only classes from grade four onwards with the government last year. Officials from Arabiya were said to have been concerned that teaching in both English and Arabic was affecting grades.


Related to this story

Government introduces Arabic lessons as part of Islamic education drive

“Significant changes” brought to education sector, says minister

Arabbiya School to teach grades 4-12 in Arabic

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Workers protest outside Maldives Ports Ltd

Port workers gathered in front of the Maldives Ports Limited (MPL) building this morning to protest the work stoppage caused by technical problems.

According to an unnamed worker who spoke to Sun Online, only five containers were brought to the unloading area by 8am this morning. “MPL has been doing this for some time now,” Sun was told.

Speaking to Minivan News, an official from MPL stated that 130 containers were listed to be cleared today and that the containers were not brought to the unloading area at the normal pace due to technical problems that occurred with transport equipment and vehicles.

Efforts are underway to repair the technical problems and port workers have already returned to work after brief discussions between MPL management and the workers, the official stated.

Minivan News was unable to obtain a comment from the Maldives Port Workers Union.

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Policeman stabbed in Villimale

A policeman was stabbed yesterday (January 7) in Villimalé while attempting to apprehend a thief.

The Maldives Police Service stated that the policeman was attacked at around 3.45pm, and was initially treated at the Villimalé Health Centre before being brought to Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital in Malé.

“A 36-year-old Maldivian man has been apprehended by the police in connection with the crime. The knife (17 cm blade) used to attack the policeman has also been confiscated”, the statement read.

The man attacked the police officer after he attempted to arrest him on suspicion of robbing ‘Multi Point’ shop in the capital’s suburb.

Police also stated that the man arrested in relation to the crime has a previous criminal record of robbery.

Late last month, Police Commissioner Hussein Waheed met with newly appointed Chief Justice Abdulla Saeed to discuss measures to expedite cases involving assault of police officers and obstruction of police duty.

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President Yameen takes another trip to Singapore

President Abdulla Yameen and first lady Fathimath Ibrahim left for Singapore last night (January 7).

According to the President’s Office website this is a personal trip. The website did not specify when the president would return to the Maldives, though Minivan News understands he will come back on Sunday (January 11).

Yameen has travelled to Singapore at least five times between July 29 and the end of November last year. This includes two stop-overs in Singapore – one in August and one in November – on the way to China and Nepal, respectively.

The opposition Maldivian Democratic Party has raised questions over the president’s health and has on numerous occasions called on him to reveal to the public the reasons behind his numerous personal trips to Singapore. The President’s Office has denied such speculation regarding Yameen’s health.

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Akon arrives in the Maldives

American R&B artist Akon has arrived in the Maldives this morning to perform tonight in the second show of the ‘Tourist Arrival Countdown Music Festival’ upon the invitation of Tourism minister Ahmed Adeeb.

Minister Adeeb and event organisers Chopart received Akon at the airport alongside a team of youth leaders who had shown support for Akon’s concert amid continuing opposition to the show from religious leaders.

Haveeru reported Akon as asking his fans to “get ready to party” before coming to the show, assuring a good time for all who attend.

Akon’s performance was announced during the ‘Tourist Arrival Countdown Show’ on December 31, which eventually featured a host of Indian artists after the cancellation of Sean Paul’s performance.

Adeeb also confirmed yesterday (January 7) that Bollywood actress Priyanka Chopra will appear alongside Akon in tonight’s show. Priyanka is due to arrive sometime this evening.

In 2010, a show featuring Akon was organised before organisers cancelled, citing a lack of technical support and security. As with the Sean Paul concert, both the Islamic ministry and local religious NGO Jamiyyathul Salaf had spoken out against the show.

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Two immigration officers and Afrasheem murder suspect among group of twelve jihadis

Two immigration officers and a suspect in the brutal murder of MP Dr Afrasheem Ali are among a group of twelve Maldivians to travel to Syria for jihad, reliable sources have told Minivan News.

Afrasheem murder suspect, Azlif Rauf of Henveiru Hilton, left to Turkey with six members of Malé’s Kuda Henveiru gang four days ago, sources have said. They have now crossed the border into Syria.

The two immigration officers were among a group of six individuals who traveled to Syria on December 27. The five included two women and a one year old infant.

Azlif’s group also included an individual arrested over the disappearance of Minivan News journalist Ahmed Rilwan, one man arrested for issuing a death threat, one man classified by the police as a dangerous criminal, and three men with criminal records, local media have reported.

The Maldives Police Services declined to comment on the report.

According to Haveeru, Azlif had attempted to take his pregnant wife, one-year-old son and four-year-old daughter with him, but his wife’s family had prevented them from accompanying him.

Hussain Humam Ahmed, now serving a life sentence over the Afrasheem murder, named Azlif and five others in the organising of the killing in October 2012. Humam later retracted the confession claiming it had come under duress.

The police have forwarded accomplice to murder charges against Azlif to the Prosecutor General’s Office, but charges have not yet been filed at the Criminal Court.

The Criminal Court in December fined Azlif and ordered him to pay back a MVR50,000 loan to the Bank of Maldives.

An investigative report published by Maldivian Democratic Network (MDN) identified Azlif’s brother Arlif Rauf as the owner of a red car which may have been used in an abduction reported on the night Minivan News journalist Ahmed Rilwan disappeared.

Eyewitnesses told Minivan News they saw a man being forced into a red car at knifepoint in front of Rilwan’s apartment building around the time he would have reached home on August 8.

According to MDN’s report, police were investigating Arlif’s car for having been illegally imported to Hulhumalé on August 4, and returned to Malé sometime between August 13 – 15.

It also suggested gang leaders had been exposed to radical Islam during incarceration in prison, saying that they openly supported the actions of the Islamic State in Iraq and recruited jihadists for the war in Syria and Iraq.

Last month, Home Minister Umar Naseer reported that there are more than seven Maldivians fighting in foreign civil wars.

In November, a jihadist media group called Bilad Al Sham Media (BASM) – which describes itself as ‘Maldivians in Syria’ – revealed that a fifth Maldivian had died in Syria.

BASM had made a threat to Rilwan shortly before his disappearance in which they stated ‘his days were short’.

Earlier in November, Sri Lankan police detained three Maldivians who were allegedly preparing to travel to Syria through Turkey.

The incident followed reports of a couple from Fuvahmulah and a family of four from Meedhoo in Raa Atoll travelling to militant organisation Islamic State-held (IS) territories.

This article previously incorrectly stated two immigration officers were among the group of seven Maldivians to travel to jihad in January. The officers were in fact among a group of six who traveled to Syria in December.


Related to this story

Six Maldivians reported as latest to travel for jihad, taking one-year-old infant

More than seven Maldivians fighting in foreign civil wars, reveals home minister

MDN investigation implicates radicalised gangs in Rilwan’s disappearance

Police detain Maldivian jihadis caught in Sri Lanka

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Doctors licensing examination cancelled after no show

The first licensing examination for doctors to be held in the Maldives has been cancelled after no doctors participated.

Speaking to local media, Maldives Medical Council President Dr Abdulla Afeef said that doctors chose not to participate in the examination after raising questions as to why only certain doctors were required to sit the test.

Haveeru reported that the examination was required for doctors who were given temporary licenses after 2013, saying that there were 15 Maldivian doctors fitting the criteria.

“The doctors in question were aware of the fact they were being given a temporary license to practice,” Haveeru reported Dr Afeef as saying. “The doctors will have two more chances to take the exam in June and December. If they do not participate their licenses will be cancelled.”

The Medical Council has previously said that the examination will consist of 150 multiple choice questions.

Source: Haveeru

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