Maldives Brief (8/16)

(Based on Media Reports)

MALDIVES:

President Yameen receives ‘Dr.Kalam Pursakar’:

1. President Yameen is to receive the Dr Kalam Smirthi International Alliance Award. He arrived in Thiruvananthapuram, India on April 26 to attend the “Dr Kalam Puraskar for Excellence in Governance 2016” awarding ceremony. The event is organized by Kalam Smrithi Organization – set up by well-wishers of the late Indian President.

President Ratifies a Bill to Establish Religious Fatwa Councils:

2. President Abdulla Yameen ratified the Amendment to Religious Unity Act, which will allow the government to establish a religious fatwa council. President’s office said in a statement that the amendment would address challenges concerning religious unity among Maldivians at a national level and will seek to provide a legal basis, and opportunity, to study Islamic fiqh and facilitate timely and constructive religious counsel.

Adhaalath Party Calls for Immediate Implementation of CMAG Term:

3. Adhaalath Party has called for the immediate implementation of the suggestions made by Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG). Although the Maldives was not included on the CMAG agenda, a statement was released after the meeting saying that there has been no progress in the granting of basic civil rights to the people of Maldives. CMAG said that it needs evidence of progress with the all-party talks and wants a roadmap on achieving the goals. A CMAG meeting has been scheduled for September to evaluate the implementation of their conditions by the Maldives.

Nasheed’s Medical Leave in UK Extended by 30 Days:

4. Maldives Correctional Service has extended the leave of the former President Mohamed Nasheed currently in the UK for medical treatment, after the ex-President submitted the relevant documents as per the regulations. President Nasheed had left to the UK from Colombo on 21 January 2016.