(Bangkok/Kathmandu, 3 January, 2018): The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) expresses serious concern over death threats and online intimidation against Shahindha Ismail, the Executive Director of the Maldivian Democracy Network (MDN). On 21 December 2017, Shahindha responded to a speech by President Abdulla Yameen, in which he declared that Islam would be [ Read more ]

Trial Observation of Individuals Charged for the Abduction of Maldivian Journalist Ahmed Rilwan Abdulla  20 September 2017   Ahmed Rilwan Abdulla, journalist, blogger and human rights defender, was disappeared on 8 August 2014. The Maldives Police Service established in 2016 that Abdulla was abducted. Three men have been charged with terrorism for the abduction. According [ Read more ]

14 September 2017 The undersigned non-governmental organizations call on The Supreme Court of Maldives to rescind the indefinite suspension of all 56 lawyers who signed a petition to the Supreme Court calling for the independence and reform of the judiciary. Their suspension follows a joint petition on 30 August 2017 by 56 lawyers, two of [ Read more ]

36th Regular Session of the UN Human Rights Council Item 2 General Debate: Oral Update by the UN High Commissioner on Human Rights Oral Statement Delivered by R. Iniyan Ilango on behalf of Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) Tuesday, 12 September 2017 Mr. President, FORUM-ASIA welcomes the Oral Update by the UN [ Read more ]

President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom The President’s Office Boduthakurufaanu Magu Malé 20113 Republic of Maldives 10th August 2017 Dear President Yameen, We write to express dismay at your Government’s plans to resume executions in the Maldives, and your own statement on 6 th August that executions will take place in September. As Maldivian and international [ Read more ]

(Bangkok/Kathmandu, 7 August 2017) – The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) expresses deep concern over the lack of a credible investigation into the disappearance of Ahmed Rilwan. The inaction of the Government of the Maldives to pursue justice and legitimately address the matter contributes to a worsening environment for human rights defenders [ Read more ]

(27 July 2017) – We condemn the recent actions by members of the Maldives Police Service and call on the police to remain within the ambits of the Constitution and the laws at all times. On the 26th July 2017 we have observed that the police deployed around the rally venue of the Maldivian Democratic [ Read more ]

35th Regular Session of the UN Human Rights Council Item 3: General Debate on promotion and protection of all human rights, civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to development Oral Statement Delivered by Hussain Rasheed on behalf of Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) Wednesday, 14 June 2017 Mr [ Read more ]

Date: Wednesday, 14 June 2017 Time: 11:00-12:00 Venue: Room XXVII, Palais des Nations, Geneva Freedom of expression continues to be under threat in South Asia. Restrictive legislation, criminal defamation, abduction, digital surveillance, killings and threats from rising extremism are some of the trends that plagued have freedom of expression in South Asia. The side event will [ Read more ]

Date: 9 June 2017 Time: 11:00 – 12:30 Venue: Room XXI, Palais des Nations, Geneva Over 10 years ago, following domestic pressure and international censure, the Maldives initiated a reform process to transition from a long period of single party rule. In 2008, this led to the first full-fledged democratic elections. This transition to full-fledged [ Read more ]