The international community has urged the Maldives executive to respect the rule of law in negotiating a solution to its current political deadlock with the Majlis (parliament), and in handling its accusations of corruption and treason against several prominent MPs and high-profile businessmen.
In a democracy the judiciary is the crucial arbitrator of any such disputes between the other two arms of government. But Aishath Velezinee, the President’s Member of the Judicial Services Commission (JSC), the independent institution tasked with reforming the judiciary and ensuring both its independence and accountability to the public, believes the current state of the judiciary renders it unfit to do so.
Article 285 of the Constitution outlines an interim period for the reappointment of the judiciary by the JSC, according to minimum standards, with a deadline of August 7, 2010. After this, a judge may only be removed for gross incompetency or misconduct in a resolution passed by a two-thirds majority in parliament – the same number required for impeaching the President or Vice President.
Last week the JSC reappointed 160 of the judges appointed by the former government, despite a quarter of the bench possessing criminal records and many others with only primary school level education. The Supreme Court meanwhile sent the President a letter claiming it had ruled itself tenure for life.
Velezinee blows the whistle, speaking to Minivan News about the JSC’s failure to ensure the accountability of the judiciary, the compromise of its own independence at the hands of the Majlis – and the ramifications for the country in the lead up to the August deadline.
JJ Robinson: What is the function of the Judicial Services Commission?
Aishath Velezinee: The main function of the JSC – as I see it – is to maintain judicial integrity, and to build public confidence in the judiciary and individual judges.
The way we would do it under a democratic governance structure would be to hear the complaints of the people, and to look into these matters objectively and independently, and take action if necessary, to assure the public there is no hanky-panky [going on].
But instead of that, we are putting out press releases saying things like: “You can’t criticise judges”, “You can’t criticise the judiciary”, and ‘‘the president is exercising influence over judges”.
JJ: So the JSC is working as shield organisation for judges rather than as a watchdog?
AV: Very much. It is a shield for judges, and the evidence for that is very obvious. We have all this evidence in the media now from what is happening in the criminal court – a fact is a fact.
Why did [Criminal Court] Judge Abdulla Mohamed open the Criminal Court at midnight when two high-profile [opposition MPs Abdulla Yameen and Gasim Ibrahim] were arrested?
From August 2008 to today there have been many instances when the public might have wanted the court to open outside hours. But no – before that day, they have never opened the court out of hours for anybody else.
This was the first time they have done it – and then put out press releases saying it happened at 9pm? This is not the truth. We have evidence it is wrong.
But the Commission takes for granted that whatever the judge says is right. We can’t protect judges and oversee them.
JJ: This was the case taken to the Criminal Court by Yameen’s defence lawyer [former attorney general Azima Shukoor]?
AV: That’s not standard procedure. According to regulations the Criminal Court can only accept submissions from the State.
It would not have been an issue – the defence lawyer would have been given the opportunity to argue the case when the State went to the court. But Yameen’s lawyer initiated it – and got into the Criminal Court in the wee hours of the night – that is strange.
I’m not saying it is right or wrong – I don’t know. But what I do know is that this is out of the ordinary. The JSC has an obligation to the people to ensure the Criminal Court has done nothing wrong.
JJ: How did the JSC react?
AV: They did nothing. Article 22(b) of the Judicial Services Act gives us the power to look into matters arising in public on our own initiative. But what did the JSC do? They said nobody had complained: “We haven’t received an official complaint.” They were waiting for an individual to come and complain.
My experience, from being part of the complaints committee in the JSC, is that whenever a complaint is received, we have two judges on the complaints committee who will defend the [accused] judge, trashing the complainant, and talk about “taking action” against these people “who are picking on judges”.
Then they will put out a press release: “Nobody should interfere with work of judges.” Their interpretation is that “nobody should criticise us. We are above and beyond the law.”
Since January – when the JSC censored its own annual report, despite the law clearly saying what we should include – they decided to hide the names of all judges who had complaints made against them.
Instead, they released the details – including quite private information – about the complainants.
JJ: What is the current state of the judiciary?
AV: The current judiciary has 198 judges that were appointed prior to this Constitution being adopted. Those judges were appointed by the then-executive: the Ministry of Justice. The appointment procedure, the criteria – none of these were transparent.
They were only given ‘on-the-job’ training. This ‘Certificate in Justice Studies’ they say they have is on-the-job training given after the 1998 Constitution was adopted, to teach them how to run the country according to that Constitution.
How do we expect these people – without exposure to democratic principles and cultures, without exposure to the world, with only basic education, and with only tailor-made on-the-job training for a different Constitution – how do we expect them to respect and uphold this Constitution?
A majority have not even completed primary school. A quarter have criminal convictions: sexual misconduct, embezzlement, violence, disruption of public harmony, all sorts of things – convictions, not accusations.
We are not even looking at the 100 plus complaints we have in the JSC that are unattended to. They have not been tabled. Civil Court Judge Mohamed Naeem has a box-file of complaints against him. And Criminal Court Judge Abdulla Mohamed has way too many against him.
JJ: Given the condition of the judiciary, and if the government is in a state of political deadlock with parliament, how is the government able to legitimise accusations against the MPs it has accused of corruption and treason?
AV: That is where we have the problem. The international community seem to have forgotten that this is a new-found democracy. We have in all our institutions people who have been in the previous government. We haven’t changed everybody – and they are still following their own culture, not the law.
How can [the international community] ask for the rule of law to be followed when there are no courts of law? Where are the courts? Where are the judges? A majority never even finished primary school.
JJ: What possible reason was there for appointing judges with only primary grade education?
AV: It’s very obvious – just look at the records. As a member of the JSC I have been privy to records kept from before [the current government]. In their files, there are reprimands against judges for not sentencing as they were directed. That was a crime when the Minister of Justice ran the courts. The Ministry of Justice directed judges as to how sentences should be passed, and that was perfectly legitimate under that Constitution.
JJ: Has anything changed since 2008 and when the judges were appointed under the former government?
AV: Yes – what has changed is that [the judges] were freed from the executive. So they are very happy with the freedom they have received. But unfortunately they haven’t understood what that freedom and independence means.
They are looking for a father-figure, and they have found him in the current President of the JSC, Supreme Court Justice Mujthaz Fahmy. He has taken on this role, and he is now the king and father of the judges.
So they are all looking up to him to protect their interests. If you look at all the press releases from the Judges’ Association – which is run from Mujthaz Fahmy’s home address – he makes arbitrary decisions in the JSC and then puts out press statements from this organisation run from his home, to defend his own position.
We are in a very big game. Mujthaz Fahmy has been under the thumb of the former executive for way too long – the man is going on 50, he has been on the bench for 25 years, he has never had anybody come and argue with him – he can’t stand anybody who challenges him. So he’s got a problem with me sitting on the Commission because I do not take his word as the law. The man thinks that anything that comes out of his mouth is the law, and the majority of the JSC members take it as a fact.
But if you look into the documentation, if you look into the recordings – nothing that comes out of that man’s mouth will hold. Those interviews he is giving, all he is using is this image he has built up of himself as ‘the esteemed justice’. That is what he is using to convince the public that he is right. And they are trashing me in public and in biased media, just so people do not listen to me.
I do not ask anybody to take my word. I am saying: hear the recordings in the commission. Listen to what they say.
They have this belief that whatever happens in the Commission must be kept a secret amongst ourselves. This was run like a secret society – we have a pact of secrecy amongst us. I broke it, because I do not believe in tyranny of the majority. What we are seeing here is a repeat of what happened in the High Court in January, what we are currently seeing happen in the Majlis, and the same things are now happening in the JSC.
JJ: What are the links between the Majlis and the judiciary?
AV: That is a very serious issue. I am currently sitting on this seat as the President’s appointed member of the JSC, but prior to this, I was was the member of the general public appointed by the Majlis. They have forgotten that part.
I have brought this to Majlis attention. When the Commission voted on what I call the minimum ‘sub-standards’ for the judiciary, I sent a complaint to the Majlis. The same letter I sent to the President and the President of the Law Society. I sent it to the Speaker of the Majlis, as well as the chair of the Independent Commissions Committee, Mohamed Mujthaz.
When the JSC finalised the ‘substandards’, the Majlis into recess. So I went to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), because it was the only constitutional structure where I could go to hold the JSC accountable. It is rather odd for one Commission member to go to another commission and ask them to investigate her own commission.
I met the ACC on May 12. The JSC say they adopted the substandards on May 11. Later I collected all the documentation, and wrote a report – because this is not going to be something easy to investigate. This is a whole conspiracy cooked up from the time the JSC was initially constituted. It has been planned, and it is very clear this is a plot.
When the Majlis reopened in June, I sent an official complaint to the Independent Commissions Committee which they accepted. On June 16, the Majlis wrote two letters to the JSC, one letter requesting all documentation and recordings relating to Article 285 – my complaint.
The JSC is not respecting Constitution and is doing as it pleases. Their disregard of Article 285, and their decision to adopt substandards for judges, comes from their belief in a promise made by the former government.
They do not refer to the Constitution in adopting the standards. They refer to conversations they had with the majority party at that time, a delegation led by our dear JSC President, Mujthaz Fahmy. He and a team of judges met with the politicians to negotiate a guarantee that no judge would be removed under the new Constitution.
Although we have Article 285 in the Constitution – to give the people a judiciary they can trust and respect – we have the President of the Commission responsible for the implementation of this article working on this political understanding with the former government.
This is very clear from the recordings.
All I’m asking is for third party to look into this – and that third party is the Majlis. After the Majlis took all the documentation and recordings, they had requested the JSC meet with the Majlis Independent Commissions Committee at 2:30pm on June 23.
If you go back to your news files, that was the day when the Majlis floor heated up. Since then the Speaker [DRP MP Abdulla Shahid] has suspended the Majlis.
The committee accepted the complaint – if they had not, they would not have asked us to come and discuss this with them.
I believe the speaker is taking undue advantage of this political crisis. The Speaker of the Majlis is now coming and sitting in the JSC [office] day and night, during Friday, holidays and Independence Day. The Speaker is sitting in the JSC trying to expedite this process of reappointing judges before the Majlis starts on August 1. What is going on here?
JJ: What is going on?
AV: I believe that when the Majlis was suspended, they should have directed the JSC to at least halt what was going on until they have looked into the matter. It is a very serious complaint I have made – it is a very serious allegation. And if that allegation and complaint is unfounded, I am willing to stand before the people, in Republic Square, and be shot.
I believe we have all the evidence we need to look into this matter – but under this Constitution, we have to go to the Majlis. But where is the Majlis? And what is the Speaker doing in the JSC?
What about all those other complaints? The Commission’s president is not letting us work on them. We have in our rules that any member can ask for a matter to be tabled. I asked him to look into the matter – and do you know what he did? He sent me a letter to my home address – as though I was not a member of the Commission – and asked me to write it in a proper form and bring it to the attention [of reception].
The JSC has decided Article 285 is symbolic, that article 22(b) does not exist, while the esteemed people of the law in the commission, include the Commission President, Supreme Court Justice Mujthaz Fahmy, explain to me that article 22(b) gives me the power to write a letter, fill in a form and submit a complaint. I asking – why did the drafters of this law put in a clause to give me a right I already have as any ordinary citizen?
Where we are right now – with the lack of confidence in the judiciary – it all lies with Mujthaz Fahmy.
JJ: What do you mean when you talk about “a plot”? How interconnected is this?
AV: They are trying to expedite the reappointment of judges without looking into my complaint. If you look into my complaint, you will find this has been done in an unconstitutional way.
What they are doing right now is going to kill the Constitution.
We are not going to consolidate democracy if they succeed in getting away with what they are doing right now. The Speaker has suspended the Majlis whilst a very serious complaint is with the Majlis committee, and now he is sitting in the JSC doing this.
If there is a matter pending in a court of law, usually they ask for a court order until the matter is settled. You don’t just carry on as if nothing is happening.
We have a petition signed by 1562 people – the JUST campaign – calling for an honest and impartial judiciary. This was not even put on the Commission’s agenda – it said it did not find it necessary to take it into account, and on that day I was not given opportunity to participate because on the agenda was the matter of approving judges under the substandards.
We are asked to put before any other matter the people, and the Constitution. Instead, the Commission is working in the interests of these individual few judges who have hijacked the judiciary. Mujthaz Fahmy must go.
JJ: So these Commission members met with politicians from the former government, to obtain a guarantee that sitting judges would remain on the bench, and not be subject to reappointment under Article 285? What do the politicians get back from the judges?
AV: We are talking about corruption. The change in government came in 2008 because people were fed up with a corrupt administration and autocratic governance.
But all those people who were in power entered parliament. The Speaker, who is right now sitting in the JSC working night and day expediting the reappointment of the judges, was also part of that administration. It is within their interest to keep this judiciary here, and not work in the interests of this Constitution, or the People.
Their personal interests take precedence over everything else. I’m afraid that is what we are seeing.
JJ: Do you feel the media has been taking this case seriously enough?
AV: I’ve been writing to all the concerned authorities since Januruary. I’ve been going on and on about the JSC and the dictatorship within it for a long, long time. I knew where we were heading, I have been warning the Majlis and talking to people from various parties. I have been talking about Article 285 for so long that I have become ‘the old article 285 madwoman.’
JJ: Do you think the current political crisis can be resolved without a functioning judiciary?
AV: Absolutely not. But then a functioning judiciary cannot be introduced without this crisis being resolved. How can the international community ask for the rule of law to be followed when there are no courts of law?
We need an impartial investigation of what is going on. And I believe the Maldives does not have anyone able to conduct an impartial investigation. We need assistance – the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) should be here. The UN Special Rapporteur on Independence of the Judiciary should be here, right now.
This is not the fault of the judiciary. We have a large bench, and most of the judges have absolutely no idea about what is going on. They have not even been given orientation on the new Constitution.
I had the opportunity to meet magistrates from four Atolls. They know the law. But what they need is a basic understanding of the principles of this Constitution, of the foundations of democracy. Because it is through those lenses that they should be interpreting the Constitution.
I am not in favour of the removal of all judges. But I demand that all judges with criminal records be removed – they should not be sitting there even now, and there’s 40-50 of them – a quarter of the bench.
Why is the JSC remaining silent? Why is the Speaker of the Majlis in the JSC [office]? By his silence, and through the act of suspending the Majlis, the Speaker has given the JSC the opportunity to complete this act of treason they are currently committing.
The deadline for the judicial reform period under the new constitution in August 7. The Speaker and the President of the JSC are working overtime to get all these judges reappointed before the Majlis restarts on August 1. That is treason.
JJ: What benefit would outside arbitration bring?
AV: It is difficult because all our documentation is in Dhivehi. But we need an independent and impartial body to look into this properly. Forget listening to me or Mujthaz. Forget listening to politicians, and investigate. We need an impartial mediator.
It is very easy for the international community to turn around and blame the executive for taking a dictatorial attitude. We are demanding the executive uphold the rule of law. But what about the Majlis? Where is the rule of law when the Speaker suspends the Majlis and hides in the JSC expediting the reappointment of judges? Where are the courts to go to?
We need the public to understand the Constitution, and we need all duty-bearers to uphold the Constitution. I’m afraid half the members of the JSC do not understand the principles of democracy or the role of the JSC, or the mandate we have. Then there are a few who understand it very well but remain silent while all this goes on
JJ: The President recently nominated Supreme Court Judge Uz Ahmed Faiz Hussain as the new Chief Justice, and is awaiting Majlis approval. How likely is this to resolve the current situation, given the Majlis is currently suspended?
AV: Uz Ahmed Faiz Hussain is a well-respected man amongst the judges. I have never heard anybody question his independence or impartiality. He is a learned man and amongst all the politicking and hanky-panky going on, he has maintained his integrity.
But the Majlis has to appoint him and the Majlis may not even get that far – the Supreme Court has already declared itself permanent.
I’m telling you: this is big. What we are seeing is all interconnected – it is one big plot to try – in any way possible – to return power to the corrupt.
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Miserable sooo miserable . smells like rotton fish … disgusting… Hodu hama hodu… we Maldivians will rot .. vow to DRP
@Ahmed Aliased
"A person who fights against corruption in his or her institution, risking life and salary in service of the people; is the most greatest of patriots."
Yellowfin tuna fishermen! They risk their life and salary on high seas day and night in service of people and our economy!
At 62mph monsoon wind WHICH lawyer gets KEELED OVER and struggles for survival in the massive waves for three hours?!
Now tell me! Who is a GREATER patriot? Fishermen or Velezinee?
@hameed on Sat, 31st Jul 2010 11:35 AM
Welcome again!……
“That’s your view out of your egocentric desires”
You don’t and you can never focus on serious issues raised by Velezinee and goes on parroting same type of trash that comes out of “Blue Forever Mission”.
It’s not that you don’t know the seriousness and truth of these allegations but you are just being funnily deaf,dumb and blind for your own convenience.
“Blue” Hameed! Sorry but you have a very “tiny brain” and a microscopic “tiny little heart” for the nation and for the people.
Instead,you have a HUGE EGO – and suffering from a chronic “blue forever syndrome”.
@Hameed
The largest democracy in the world is the population of bacteria in your mouth. Naughty schemer Mujuthaaz has been caught with his hand in the cookie jar. Too bad for him and his supporters(you).
@Ahmed Aliased
“A person who fights against corruption in his or her institution, risking life and salary in service of the people; is the most greatest of patriots.”
Yellowfin tuna fishermen! They risk their life and salary on high seas day and night in service of people and our economy!
At 62mph monsoon wind WHICH lawyer gets KEELED OVER and struggles for survival in the massive waves for three hours?!
Now tell me! Who is a GREATER patriot?
Why get personal on this issue? Laying the foundations of a wholesome judiciary goes way beyond individuals or party politics or even politics in general. It is about the future of Maldives. About the prevalence of justice. Not even necessarily for the past. But certainly for the future. This is about every person who has to go to the courts to be heard and judged fairly and intelligently. It could be any of us or people dear to us. It could be people none of us know or have not been born yet. We have an opportunity to lay a good foundation and we should make the best use of it. This is a golden opportunity for unity across the party divides in the interest of the nation. In the interest of our common future.
Great work Velzinee! What you have done and are doing takes a great amount of courage and guts! Most people in JSC don't have the either of that to stand up for what's right and are doing what is easy and profitable for them! Good on the President for having appointed you!
@Hameed: Men like you are just pathetic! Too bad for you that there are women in our society today who have the guts to stand up to jerks like you! I am begining to think that you must be one of the paid cronies of the previous government to be defending a bunch of judges who have constantly violated the rights of us Maldivians! Shame on you Hameed, and how low of you to call Velzinee names you are defending judges who have accepted bribes, and been involved in sexual abuse! Why don't you point that finger of yours right at yourself cause you deserve it more than anyone else for defending the scum of this earth!!!
I believe, and see in Ms. Velezinee's arguments, that we should avoid making this an issue of personalities.
Due process can and must be followed and the political agenda of both major parties needs to be put on hold or sacrificed altogether in the interests of reaching the much sought-after middle ground.
I would like to agree with Ms. Velezinee whole-sale and commend her tireless efforts to publicize this issue in the face of an apathetic public and a vehemently opposed political opposition. However there are some issues that might not solve themselves by the oft-touted "upholding of the 2008 Constitution".
- There are serious issues compounded by the lack of experience in the judiciary and the capacity gap created by a legal community unwilling and unready to leave the lucrative legal proffession for a life on the judiciary [churning out semi-educated youths from the Faculty of Shariah and Law, sadly, only serves to worsen the situation]. A concerted and multi-sector approach is required to rectify the lack of long-term perspective in the current efforts for judicial reform.
- The introduction of a Supreme Court based on as-yet alien principles of democratic governance and separation of powers requires a degree of expertise that is not locally available. Supreme Court Justices may and should, ideally, be recruited from abroad until and unless local expertise can meet the challenge. However, will the "public" (read their puppetmasters in both major political parties) ever countenance such a solution? A simple argument might be presented to the public regarding the importance of foreign expertise in building the very basis of our recent fast-paced growth - the tourism industry. But such an argument may be hijacked by populist rhetoric and selfish political agends on both sides of the political spectrum (not to mention those in between and at the fringes).
- The issue of judicial reform has coincided unfortunately with a political crisis that makes such reform seem reactionary. Although the inclusion of former Male'-MP Ibrahim Ismail in the current dialogue on the subject is heartening, there is a fear that the shift in course for the judiciary may not be towards a suitably impartial path but rather one that favors the incumbent political administration.
These issues require a much more concerted effort than is apparent at the moment. The Ministers for Education and Human Resource need to speak out on the existing lack of human resource in the country and what plans, if any, they have in place to tackle this issue. We need to hear from the management of the local institute for legal training on what measures they have put in place to ensure a higher quality of education at their institute. We need to hear something remotely resembling a commitment by both major political parties to ensure that judicial reform will not be enveloped by the current political row.
JUDGES! have some shame. Quit now
I don't understand why this dimwitted person who goes by the name 'heck' is talking about yellowfin tuna.
it was truly heartening to see Mr. Ibrahim Ismail, Uz. Ahmed, Uz. Shuaib and Ms. Velizinee together on TV. Ms. Velizinee is a fiery speaker and Alfaalil Mujuthaaz must be hiding frightened in a corner of his 10-storey house. I can imagine Mujuthaaz working in the fish market 1 year from now.. cutting yellowfin tuna into fillets. chewing betel leaf and spitting over his shoulders. that's where Mujuthaaz belongs. mujuthaaz has spent too many years selling justice to the highest bidder. and the toad looks unsightly in trousers, checkered shirt and tie. a soiled sarong, an undershirt and a rotting red mouth is you Mujuthaaz.
@ Hamza: very true. The lack of adequately trained and experienced human resources is a key constraint. Which is why, appointing all the current judges for life would be disastrous for the future of our justice system.
The idea of recruiting reputed experienced foreign judges with relevant expertise to the Supreme Court is a beautiful one which if it can be considered seriously by all sides, could work. It would have been ideal to have them on the interim Supreme Court, but where there is a will, there is usually a way. It may also solve/minimise the issue of real or perceived political interference in the work of the judiciary in the future.
At the same time, a strong technical support base would also probably need to be established for the lower court judges (who are deemed to have the capacity to continue in their posts) for the period which they have to upgrade their knowledge and skills. If they still do not meet the relevant standards, they must leave. Appointing everyone for life at this point would not give anyone the incentive to improve the quality of the work they perform. Neither will lowering standards to meet the existing capacity and behavioural norms of those currently on the bench.
Bismuth, Heck, Robin and all of you who hate the UDHR. There is nothing in the UDHR that isn't there in the Quran. If you look closely the Quran gives all the rights that the UDHR and other such document gives INCLUDING freedom of conscience and choice. So if you have reservations against the UDHR you are effectively criticizing the Quran.
@shafeenaz - I agree wholeheartedly. Making appointments for a fixed duration with the prospect of lifetime tenure based on training and experience is the best possible model given current constraints. If not already, QAB, should provide the necessary inputs to get FSL on the right track thereby reducing the time & cost for legal training as well as ensuring the quality of in-service refresher courses. I sincerely hope the current media frenzy will not die down entirely but eventually settle into an ongoing dialogue for reform.
@Fasy on Sun, 1st Aug 2010 1:35 PM
Says:"Bismuth, Heck, Robin and all of you who hate the UDHR. There is nothing in the UDHR that isn’t there in the Quran. If you look closely the Quran gives all the rights that the UDHR and other such document gives INCLUDING freedom of conscience and choice. So if you have reservations against the UDHR you are effectively criticizing the Quran."
Exactly, YOU ARE VERY CORRECT & That is the same point I have raised with a different view. Did you know that taking "UDHR" as the the highest standard for human rights while ignoring all other principle guidance in Quran is the mistake that we are bringing into discussion. NOT rejecting anything that is good in it. BUT You cannot partly follow what's in Quran and reject the essence of the whole guidance in it. Current crises in Maldives is a living example of that phenomenon.
THAT IS THE GRAVEST MISTAKE HUMANITY HAD DONE. REJECTING THE GUIDANCE OF THE ALMIGHTY GOD,OUR CREATOR AND TRYING TO IMPLEMENT PARTLY THOSE THAT THEY LIKE TO THE WAY OF LIFE SOME CHOSES. END RESULT=CHAOS,DISORDER,POWER VACUUM,ROAD BLOCKS, AND WORST IS THE EVIL ELEMENTS WILL FIND LOOPHOLES TO MANEUVER THERE WAY TO POWER AND CONTROL THROUGH THESE. TAKING LEGITIMATE INSTITUTIONS, ARTICLES OF CONSTITUTIONS, DECELERATIONS AS SHIELD.
Sovereignty lies with Almighty GOD, not with the people or the leaders. That's what Quran teaches. If people start to believe they are their own Lords and forget the real purpose of life here then we have such results that will destroy the peaceful nature of our communities.
UDHR is much inferior to the Guidance given in the Glorious Quran.
To say reservations against the UDHR means effectively criticizing the Quran is an overstatement. Does UDHR gives rights for gay marriage? Well, Quran does not allow gay marriages.
heck, your efforts to insult and belittle us is... something we take full of mirth. Why?.
Because when we draw your kind out out, it is a certain sign we're doing something right in further punishing the remnants of the previous regime.
With that out of the way, Are you agreeing with me that yellowfin tuna fishermen are greater patriots than the corrupt judges?
Bismuth, as much as I can't deny what you've said there, it is with some regret that I must inform you that the opposition considers the constitution > the quran.
Iulaan .
Fandiyaarun Beynun veje
Fenvaru: UKG 3 adhi Kaminige aailaa hithu dhasvun
Thajuriba: Gifili belumu ge hunaru in police record othun adhi 5 aharuge vakamuge thajuribaa othun adhi Gasim Ibrahim ge visnun hurun
Anyone who considers anything else better than the Glorious Quran, they are surly the ones who had wronged themselves and others.
And once Ibrahim Ismail (Former Male' MP) rightly said on a TV talk show/discussion indicating "Sincerity,Honesty is what lacking,the previous Green Constitution itself wasn't the problem, and even the new Blue Constitution,We have even "Quran" with us, but if we don't follow it, it's not the fault in it but with the people who are supposed to follow it"
Now, the BIG question is why doesn't people follow it. Simple answer for that is out of freewill and ability to make choices that GOD Almighty had willed for the humans.
The issues raised by Ms.Velezinee is serious and I wonder how many of us had thought about it deeply. If these so called "Judges" (Not All), are really following the the way of life they profess we wouldn't be in this mess. And I'm definitely sure they aren't even following the Constitution of Maldives that clearly indicates nothing shall go against Islamic principles and tenets. That is quite obvious. And it is the responsibility and a power vested on the Executive Power (President and his Cabinet)to uphold the Constitution (Meaning: Uphold the Islamic Principles) in Maldives. That also means to do all it takes in cleaning Maldives from all Idols of Worship (Here Idols of Worship is referred to greed, excessive desires for power and fame, corruption, lust, injustice, backbiting and slandering, deceptions, intoxications,black magic (voodoo, fanditha,sihr),killings,etc that are main objectives where they find happiness to those who follow and adopt these as means of their way of life. Meaning they are taking others beside Almighty GOD as their patrons & lords and finding happiness in these. That is as I know disobeying Almighty GOD openly.)
This had being going on for too long here in Maldives and all around this earth.It's now out of control and in critical stage. Why? The answer is, this nation and all other nations had slowly but surely drifted away from the way of life that Almighty GOD had prescribed for us humans in the Glorious Quran.
Eventually Truth will win. And GOD Almighty's plans are the best and no one can challenge it.
In Almighty GOD we trust. May Almighty GOD forgive us for our mistakes and guide us to the straight path.
Way of Life= Dīn (Deen or Dheen)
Almighty GOD = Allah
Idols of Worship= Shirk
Dīn (دين, also anglicized as Deen) is an Arabic word usually translated as "religion" but also as "way of life", especially referring to Islam, known as ad-dīn "the deen", or dīn al-haqq "the true deen" (e.g. ayat 48:27, 9:33 = 61:9).
Allah (Arabic: الله Allāh)is the standard Arabic word for God.
Shirk (Arabic: شرك) or polytheism means to consider anyone god other than the true God, Allah. Shirk is also associating partners with him, giving his characteristics to others beside him, or not believing in his characteristics.
@Ahmed Aliased
"With that out of the way, Are you agreeing with me that yellowfin tuna fishermen are greater patriots than the corrupt judges?"
I do NOT agree with islam-haters like you!
Why did you change your name from Ahmed Anony, that islam-hater with a skull-mask?
Guys. Fishermen are greater patriots than corrupt judges and also COVERT judges. There is nothing that can change this fact.
Actually COVERT judges are just a teeny bit more dangerous. Why? Because most people would know corrupt judges, but COVERT judges are real sly creatures with a hidden AGENDA!
@Fasy
"There is nothing in the UDHR that isn’t there in the Quran."
So why WASTE time on the UDHR? Just follow the Quran!
@Sooraj
"I DON'T UNDERSTAND why this dimwitted person who goes by the name ‘heck’ is talking about yellowfin tuna."
You don't understand? So who's the dimwitted now?
@heck
Yes. Please kindly explain how yellowfin tuna fishing is a measure of Maldivian patriotism.
@ Fasy
"So if you have reservations against the UDHR you are effectively criticizing the Quran."
Umm, I disagree.
But, for the time being, I will say what heck also said: "So why WASTE time on the UDHR? Just follow the Quran!"
How did this particular discussion become one about Islam and insulting each other? The issue at hand right now is the future and development of the justice system of Maldives. I absolutely believe that justice is at the core of Islam, and Islam is all encompassing and a way of life that we need more discussion about. In fact, perhaps someone should set up a site just for dialogue on Islam in Maldives. And btw, I do believe that tuna fishermen are great people; and I love the fish they catch too - no hidden meanings here. Would gladly join you all for a discussion on Islam over some masbaiy even :). But if we do not concentrate on the topic under discussion, we will never achieve either our specific objectives or the broader goal of establishing a just and humane society and governing structure in Maldives that is in line with Islamic values.
@ Hamza: Ditto on the media coverage and on going dialogue.
@heck. That's too bad - because you just agreed to everything I said.
Ah, my reputation precedes me. Good. Then you will be aware that my loyalty to the People of Maldives is legendary, and I am not to be trifled with.
Now, you sling baseless accusations at the most honest, patriotic and hardworking citizens of Maldives and then call it a "fact". Typical opposition act.
We know that your opposition friends are capable of worse; even murder to secure your positions in power - but rest assured; we - the people - have not forgotten the 10 years of tyranny.
@Shafeenaz on Mon, 2nd Aug 2010 12:40 PM
"How did this particular discussion become one about Islam and insulting each other? "
And the answer is also given by you, my dear...
look at this. I was written by you: "The issue at hand right now is the future and development of the justice system of Maldives. I absolutely believe that justice is at the core of Islam, and Islam is all encompassing and a way of life that we need more discussion about."
Then ,lets discuss Islamic principles and how we need to implement it for the security and peace of all of us.
And again you wrote: "But if we do not concentrate on the topic under discussion, we will never achieve either our specific objectives or the broader goal of establishing a just and humane society and governing structure in Maldives that is in line with Islamic values."
You agree that solution is "Islam" ( Meaning: The way of life where we submit our will to almighty GOD, and through which we acquire peace for ourselves and others)
The best way to talk about Islam and it's principles is on such forums on issue by issue basis. Then we get to understand how it really effects our way of life for better.
Islam and justice, peace, harmony are inseparable.Islam can be discussed along with any social, economical,political and even scientific topics. ISLAM is the solution for humanity.
You are on the same boat with us and I'm really happy to know that ,but confused a little bit because mainstream society want's to separate "Deen" and Social and Political issues. But How can we separate "Way of life" (Deen) from those. It's Illogical. Isn't that so?
I hope you got my point.
In Almighty GOD we trust. May Almighty GOD bless us.
@Shafeenaz on Mon, 2nd Aug 2010 12:40 PM
btw...Insulting each other is not the aim... but surely when in a discussion someones feelings would be hurt... If that is so we always have to be careful and apologize for that... for example we both agree a lot and at the same time I have given a view that might hurt your feelings and you may feel belittled, but thats not my intention and I am sorry if I hurt your feelings.
We can surely discuss ISLAM on other forums as well.
May GOD bless you and your family, and all of us and unite us in truth and understanding.
@ Bismuth
He He. No hurt feelings whatsoever. I still say the topic here is not Islam as Deen per se, but one specific issue. Anyway, let's leave it at that for now and I am sure we will cross paths in future discussions. Let us hope this particular issue is solved to the benefit of all of us.
i m really frustrated with the ongoing deadlock and all the public dramas that are taking place and are viewed on the various medias.The fact of this whole situation is clear and as easier to see as water.the two capitalist groups who are the elites at the moment does not give a **** about the real people like us who dont have the opportunity to make our life prosperous yet they talk about democracy and all the values that go with it.If this is the case now dhen i question democracy becoz it does not cater to the ordinary people like us even if we r majority but it only gives the benefit to some power hungry people who are jus a group who has some public support and i urge on this point they do not have the full support.Real maldivians love peace and harmony and we donot want this tug of war for power which will riun our beloved nation for gud.i knew from the point that party system came to maldives we will be facing the most difficult of days ahead.i want a direct democracy in this small nation where by we people can direclty make the laws ,ammend it,elect and remove out reps when we want to.Right now this country is going nowhere and i feel Nor MDP or DRp can bring any gud changes to maldives.We need better and tarnsparent leaders not the maumoons and the annis,but new young leaders who has the urge to take thi nation forawrd with out any personal agendas.
@Ahmed Anony
"That’s too bad – because you just agreed to everything I said."
Nah!
YOU just said everything that I agreed to.
Enjoy hiding behind "so called" liberal muslim?
The current judges are brain washed and trained by former Atoll Minister and Speaker Abdulla Hamid. They have been totally automated and programmed to the will and wishes of Maumoon Abdul Gayoom , his children and Maumoon ge Bangali Soru the super lawer.
Believe me this is the truth. Ask Afrashim be. There is no God But God and Prophet Mohamed ( PBUH) is the messenger of God and Maumoon is our leader. Ooooooo Afrashimbe will be so happy
Funny!
I was just watching TV and saw this frantic lady stamping her feet and giving instructions to about two dozen or so men seated around her in an attempt to boost their morale!
I thought I was watching GLADIATOR in the scene where the king's daughter was asking her men to pick up Maximus from the ground and honour him like a true soldier of Rome.
When I watched carefully I came to know that I was just being DUMBFOUNDED by an eccentric Maldivian lady who simply lost her temper and was behaving like a maniac in her long johns!
How wrong I was to think that she was a cool lady!
BUT, BUT - Hell hath no fury!
First things first, I must thank Minivannews for such excellent entertainment. This sort of thing is unthinkable on TVM.
With that out of the way...
heck, I recommend you reread all your ranting and raving. And while you're at it, let me document another well-used tactic of the opposition; ignoring legitimate arguments in favor of slinging insults and offense. Now, if you'll excuse me - I will laugh at your expense.
Also lol'd at the "liberal muslim" jibe; isn't that job taken by Umar Naseer?
--
My current reaction to the DRP's desperate campaign to paint Velezinee in all sorts of silly, downright retarded rumor-spreading campaign on mainstream TV.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4bD99OMLGU
Heh, they even brought out their Ultimate Weapon, Umar Naseer!. It's definitely serious. They must be truly frightened to resort so quickly to the super-weapons.
@Ahmed Aliased
"I will laugh at your expense."
More than happy to spend on you. On ONE condition!
You must laught your HEAD OFF!
wow! i see many people can't take just how corrupt the judiciary is. i have come across it first hand and it's pretty apparent.. just because Velevinie speaks the truth about these men, you think marring her character is going to change how stupid and uncouth these 'judges' etc you're talking about? the more you try to make Velezinie look bad, the more you paint your own ugly truths about these foul and corrupt lot. keep at it and you'll do a first hand job of exposing all their failings all on your own.