Standing outside the asylum, peeking in.
Like many others, I also tuned in yesterday to catch the announcement in London of the “United Maldives Opposition” coalition. This new coalition, to be led by former VP Mohamed Jameel, has apparently agreed to dislodge Yameen Abdul Gayoom’s regime and restore democracy and the rule of law in the Maldives. The coalition was announced by […]
A Maldivian hero has been abducted. A lover of history, Maldivian culture, poetry, folklore and humour. A writer, a journalist, an irreplaceable friend. An irrepressible advocate of human rights, and a stubborn enemy of injustice.One of the earliest, and most popular online bloggers in the Maldives. An entertaining, informative online personality. An endless reservoir of […]
I remember ruffling some feathers a few years ago, when I publicly defended the Maldivian government’s decision to resume diplomatic relations with the state of Israel. My reasoning back then was basically this: Israel had done no harm to the Maldives or Dhivehin Maldives, as a sovereign, independent state, needed to maintain an independent foreign […]
This week, blogger Hani Amir asks why Maldivians feel threatened by Jews, and takes a look at how this blanket prejudice came to be in our country. …once it was decided that the national identity of Maldivians would be firmly linked with “Islam”; what would then be the threat? The Jew, ofcourse. Not the Israeli […]
It is voting day and the stakes have never been higher. The Daily Panic is proud to bring you the latest on the Maldivian elections. The Daily Panic understands that the fate of the world depends on the outcome of this election. Many Maldivians are determined to vote in Abdulla Yameen to deal with the […]
Dr Hassan Saeed is an educated, articulate man. The Dhivehi Qaumee Party (DQP) leader, former Attorney General and one time Presidential hopeful has penned a series of articles in a local daily, in which he outlines his vision for a democratic future for the Maldives – although one could argue that much of it is […]
As of 00:00 hrs of 11th November 2013, the Presidential term has ended. According to the constitution, as well as a resolution passed by the Parliament – currently the only elected and democratic entity in the Maldives – the power is automatically transferred to Speaker Abdulla Shahid. Yet, to the surprise of exactly no one, […]
You know me. I love elections! In fact, I did pretty extensive coverage of the historic first democratic elections in the Maldives back in 2008. The upcoming elections are still about two months away – assuming they are not canceled on grounds of say, “political instability” following a conviction of a certain former President in […]
It is true what they say: if something has the word ‘laadheenee’ in it, it is like a bat signal for me to get involved immediately. After the Maldives Elections Commission – currently on top of my favourite Independent Institutions – hauled the mullahs asses over coal for abusing religion for political purposes by labeling […]
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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