Disobedient Writer. Occasional satirist.
Comments on society and politics in Maldives.
Because it is a Merry Christmas, but only to those who are celebrating, this week I focus on independent commissions, journalists sentencing and other Maldives things. These are short takes on the headlines of the week gone by. Suspects arrested for throwing chemicals on woman’s face A 50 year-old woman from the island of Lhaimagu […]
Because I finally could sleep, but now I feel old. This week I look at easily impressed youth, judicial colloquiums, another human rights day of holding posters, and setting the record straight on Shigella and Cholera. These are short takes on the headlines of the week gone by Gender Minister shares message to Persons with Disabilities. A surprisingly thoughtful […]
Below is a recording of a Skype conversation I had with Muju Naeem regarding Rilwan’s abduction and the #FindMoyameehaa campaign. We did this recording to mark the international Human Rights Day. In the video, I talk about Rilwan’s abduction and how the #FindMoyameehaa campaign came about. We also take a look at the systematic obstruction of justice, and the […]
Because I couldn’t sleep all week – and breathing exercises and scented candles didn’t help – this week I look at the MUO, heavenly palaces, and self-righteous assholes with funny Arabic names on Facebook. These are short takes on the headlines of the week gone by. Central bank under fire for bailing out government with GMR payout […]
Because I’m home alone this week, setting up insane traps and hilarious pranks, and yet no intruders – not even Joe Pesci – turned up 🙁 This edition of This Week in Maldives looks at YAG’s trusty men in the courts and Parliament, and two very confused policemen. These are short takes on the headlines of the […]
Last week, the Maldivian regime decided to blow up a reef in the southern island of Meedhoo in Addu Atoll. They then decided to organize a viewing party, complete with tea and snacks. Pictures of the local islanders celebrating the wanton destruction of their own island’s natural reef sparked some outrage on social media. I was momentarily […]
Because I skipped a week, and yet Maldives continues to rapidly spiral down the drain pipe, this week I look at the budget, and the miraculous redemption of all Gasims. These are short takes on the headlines of the week gone by. Both US and Maldives headed by economists, says MP Nihan PPM parliamentary majority group leader and […]
Because it was November 3 again, and evil-dictator Gayoom is fast becoming my favourite politician in town (and I can’t deal with this new reality), this week I look at the latest in PPM vs Lame PPM, and MNDF’s continuing celebration of the Indian army’s victory over Sri Lankan Tamil rebels. These are short takes on the […]
Because YAG has literally removed the furniture and erased the signboard from his own party headquarters as some form of punishment to his elder brother, this week I look at the sibling rivalry between two dictators of mixed abilities. These are short takes on the headlines of the week gone by. Gayoom withdraws support for Yameen YAG’s continued […]
Because I finally slept through a rainy Saturday afternoon, this week I observe – slack-jawed – at how old man Gayoom destroyed a military APC with a joke. These are short takes on the headlines from the week gone by. “Yameen handed control of ruling party” No kidding. A civil court judge straight up told *the* Maumoon Abdul […]
This Week in Maldives: January 8
Because you guys liked, RT’d and shared the hell out of the last edition, this week I focus on aqeeda-endangering textbooks, Dunya’s return to the dark side, and Muizzu engaged in a series of unfortunate Muizzed up things. These are short takes on the headlines of the week gone by. Dunya rejoins the regime Dunya […]
Dhoonidhoo Diaries: Part 3 – Heat and Captivity
This is the third instalment in the Dhoonidhoo Diaries series where I pen down my experiences in Dhoonidhoo prison where I was incarcerated following an unprecedented regime crackdown on the May Day rally. Read Part 1 here and Part 2 here. Nearly 200 democratic protesters were arrested on 1st May 2015 by the Maldives’ authoritarian […]
Dhoonidhoo Diaries: Part 2 – Prison Cell
1st May 2015 saw the largest anti-government protests in Maldivian history, with nearly 20,000 protesters filling the main thoroughfare in Malé. I was among the nearly 200 democratic protesters arrested that day, in the largest police crackdown in over a decade. I was released after being held for 21 days without trial. But several May […]
Dhoonidhoo Diaries: Part 1 – Arrest and Incarceration
1st May 2015 saw the largest anti-government protests in Maldivian history, with nearly 20,000 protesters filling the main thoroughfare in Malé. It also saw the largest police crackdown in over a decade, with nearly 200 democratic protesters arrested. I was among those arrested, and was held captive for 21 days, including 5 days of house […]
I remember the exact moment when I first saw Ahmed Rilwan. It was late 2009, and I had just arrived in the Maldives. Some bloggers had gotten together to sort of welcome me and get introduced. We were sitting in a sea-side café at night, when he walked in with two other well known bloggers. We hit […]
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