(Bangkok/Male, 8 August 2018) – Today marks four years since Ahmed Rilwan, a Maldivian journalist and blogger, disappeared after he was allegedly abducted on 8 August 2014. The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) and the Maldivian Democracy Network (MDN) call on the authorities to conduct a transparent, independent and credible investigation into [ Read more ]

38th Regular Session of the UN Human Rights Council Item 3: Interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression Oral Statement Delivered by Emmanuel Amistad on behalf of Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) Wednesday, 20 June 2018 Mr. President, FORUM-ASIA welcomes [ Read more ]

(Bangkok, 23 April 2018) – Today marks one year since the brutal murder of human rights defender and prominent writer, Yameen Rasheed, in the Maldives. The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) calls on the Maldivian authorities to ensure his killers are brought to justice through a transparent and credible investigation and judicial [ Read more ]

(Bangkok, 5 April 2018) – The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA), the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders (an FIDH-OMCT partnership), Front Line Defenders, Amnesty International and the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative call on the Government of the Maldives to immediately end the targeted harassment and intimidation of prominent human [ Read more ]

Press Release 15 March 2018 Maldives: Stop Acts of Torture against Detainees The Maldivian Democracy Network (MDN), International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) call on the government of Maldives to refrain from acts of torture, cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment of detainees arrested since the declaration [ Read more ]

(Geneva, 08 March 2018) Today, at the UN Human Rights Council, over 40 States expressed concern over the situation in the Maldives. Speaking jointly, they called on the government of the Maldives to immediately address the deteriorating human rights situation in the country and peacefully end the state of emergency.[1] They further called on the [ Read more ]

We condemn in the strongest terms the conduct of the Maldives Police Service on 16 February 2018 by using excessive force to disperse demonstrators, especially the conduct against journalists covering the protests in the capital, Male’ City. The law enforcement, oversight bodies of the State, the Broadcasting Commission and the Maldives Media Council must investigate [ Read more ]

President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom The President’s Office Male’, Republic of Maldives 8 February 2018 Dear President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayyoom, We write to you in relation to the statements you made with regard to the Supreme Court judgment (No. 01/SJ-SC/2018) releasing all political prisoners, while addressing the Maldivian people on Tuesday, 6 February 2018. [ Read more ]

(Bangkok, 6 February 2018) –  The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) calls on the Government of the Maldives to immediately lift the state of emergency and restore fundamental freedoms and rights of its people. President Abdulla Yameen declared a 15-day nationwide state of emergency on Monday, 5 February 2018, amid intensified political [ Read more ]

Press Release 03 February 2018 Implementation of the Supreme Court Order no.2018/SC-SJ/01 We welcome the decision of the judiciary to reverse some of the unlawful and unconstitutional decisions that led to the destruction of the rule of law and the weakening of democratic governance in the country, and the call on all relevant government authorities [ Read more ]