#Adhaalath Party

[ehentha]

Visualising the votes that sold the Maldives

Here is a question for Maldivians: Can you name your constituency and your elected official without having to check it somewhere? 

Here is a question for Maldivians: Can you name your constituency and your elected official without having to check it somewhere?

— Burakashi 🎈❓ (@Burakashi) August 4, 2018

These are some visualisations of the public voting records of the people's Majlis session in 2015 that amended the constitution to allow for foreign ownership of land or freeholds. Land is an incredibly scarce resource in the Maldives, with the majority of Maldivians living in cramped quarters, never getting to access most of their own country.  For more context here is a clipping from a Maldives Independent article: 

"The parliament has amended the constitution to authorise foreign ownership of land or freeholds in the Maldives with overwhelming support of 70 votes in favour, a day after the amendments were introduced to the People’s Majlis.

Ten MPs of the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and nine MPs of the Jumhooree Party (JP) also voted in favour of the unprecedented changes. Some 14 MPs voted No.

MPs opposed to the move expressed concern over possible Chinese military expansion in the Maldives, and the lack of time to review the amendments. The bill was submitted on Monday, debated and sent to committee for review at an extraordinary sitting last night, and put to a vote today.

The opposition MPs’ backing was necessary as a three-quarters majority or 64 votes was required to amend the constitution. The ruling Progressive Party of the Maldives (PPM) and coalition partner Maldives Development Alliance (MDA) controls 48 seats in the 85-member house.

Shortly before the vote was called, former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, leader of the PPM and half-brother of President Abdulla Yameen, urged the president to seek public opinion before ratifying the amendments. This is the first time Gayoom has publicly opposed president Yameen’s actions.

The amendments will allow foreigners who invest more than US$1 billion to purchase land within the project site. At least 70 percent of the area when the project is completed must also be reclaimed land. The constitution previously prohibited foreign ownership of any part of Maldivian territory, but allowed leasing of land for up to 99 years."

And yes this is the same country that cannot allow for freedom of conscience because that would mean changing the sacred constitution. All it took was a day! They didn't even need time to consult their constituents whom they apparently represent. I guess there must be some equation where money plays a part in these sacred games.

Anyways, here are some visuals. They were created in excel after creating a data set with the voting records. I'm not trying to win any graphic design awards here, so they are just the default built in ones. If you want to double check the data, see more details, or use it for any other purpose, you can download the excel file as well as my sources + notes from the links below:    

Votes by Party

From a total of 84 votes, 70 voted yes while only 14 voted no. 

This means that 83% voted yes while 17% voted no. 

The parties with the most votes for Yes were PPM and MDP. These are also the two largest parties in Majlis. It is worth noting that the member composition at election, voting, and currently are not the same. Many members have changed their party; with both the MDP and JP losing members to PPM. Several MPs who were independent also joined PPM. 12 people who were MPs at the time of voting have also been unseated due to the anti-defection laws that were introduced this year. 

This chart shows an overview of how the parties voted by showing the percentage of yes/no votes within each party. 

The MDP (Maldivian Democratic Party) had a total of 21 votes. 11 members voted yes while 10 voted no. 

The 11 members that voted yes for MDP are: 

Abdul Gafoor Moosa [Haa Dhaalu - Kulhudhuffushi Uthuru]

Mohamed Nazim [Haa Dhaalu - Vaikaradhoo]

Abdul Bari Abdulla [Lhaviyani - Kurendhoo]

Mohamed Abdul Kareem [Male' City - Henveiru Dhekunu]

Abdulla Shahid [Male' City - Henveiru Uthuru]

Moosa Manik [Male' City - Hulhuhenveiru] (now in PPM)

Ali Azim [Male' City - Henveiru Medhu]

Ibrahim Naseer [Meemu - Mulaku]

Ali Nizar [Seenu - Hithadhoo Dhekunu]

Ibrahim Shareef [Seenu - Maradhoo]

Ahmed Marzoog [Vaavu - Felidhoo]

The 10 members that voted no for MDP are: 

Fayyaz Ismail [Laamu - Gan]

Ibrahim Mohamed Solih [Lhaviyani - Hinnavaru]

Mariyam Ahmed Didi [Male' City - Machangoalhi Uthuru]

Eva Abdulla [Male' City - Galolhu Uthuru]

Mohamed Falah [Male' City - Maafannu Hulhangu]

Imthiyaz Fahmy [Male' City - Maafannu Uthuru]

Mohamed Rasheed Hussain [Raa - Alifushi]

Mohamed Aslam [Seenu - Hithadhoo Uthuru]

Ahmed Nashid [Shaviyani - Komandhoo]

Rozaina Adam [Seenu - Meedhoo]

PPM (Progressive Party of Maldives] had a total of 44 votes, with all members voting yes. This must be what a homogenous society looks like. 12 MPs were in different parties at the time of election but were in PPM at the time of voting. 

The members that voted yes for PPM are: 

Ahmed Thariq [Alif Dhaal - Mahibadhoo] (Independent at time of election)

Abdulla Khaleel [Faafu - Nilandhoo] (Independent at time of election)

Muaz Mohamed Rasheed [Gaafu Dhaalu - Madaveli] (Independent at time of election)

Abul Latheef Mohamed [Haa Alif - Dhidhoo] (Independent at time of election - unseated)

Ahmed Shiyam [Lhaviyani - Naifaru] (Independent at time of election)

Mohamed Abdulla [Haa Alif - Ihavandhoo] (JP at time of election)

Mohamed Hussain [Shaviyani - Kanditheemu] (JP at time of election)

Hassan Mufeed Abdul Gadir [Shaviyani - Milandhoo] (JP at time of election)

Nazim Rashaad [Baa - Thulhaadhoo] (MDP at time of election)

Ali Mohamed [Noonu - Holhudhoo] (MDP at time of election)

Abdulla Yamin [Noonu - Velidhoo] (MDP at time of election)

Mohamed Musthafa [Thaa - Thimarafushi] (MDP at time of election - unseated)

Ahmed Saleem [Baa - Eydhafushi]

Ahmed Asad [Gaafu Alif - Dhaandhoo]

Jameel Usman [Gaafu Alif - Gemanafushi]

Saud Hussain (unseated) [Gaafu Alif - Villingili]

Hussain Mohamed Latheef [Gaafu Dhaalu - Fares-maathoda]

Ahmed Rasheed [Gaafu Dhaalu - Gaddhoo]

Saudulla Hilmy [Gaafu Dhaalu - Thinadhoo Uthuru] (unseated) 

Abdulla Maseeh Mohamed [Gnaviyani - Fuvahmulah Dhekunu]

Ali Fazad [Gnaviyani - Fuvahmulah Medhu]

Ali Shah (unseated) [Gnaviyani - Fuvahmulah Uthuru]

Ibrahim Shujau [Haa Alif - Baarah]

Ali Arif [Haa Alif - Kelaa]

Mohamed Nasheed [Haa dhaalu - Kulhudhuffushi Dhekunu]

Ibrahim Riza [Kaafu - Guraidhoo]

Mohamed Waheed Ibrahim [Kaafu - Thulusdhoo] (unseated)

Abdul Raheem Abdulla [Laamu - Fonadhoo]

Ahmed Rasheed Ibrahim [Laamu - Isdhoo]

Ahmed Azhan Fahmy [Laamu - Maavah]

Asma Rasheed [Male' City - Maafannu Medhu]

Ahmed Nihan Hussain Manik [Male' City - Maafannu Dhekunu]

Abdulla Rifau [Male' City - Maafannu Dhekunu]

Abdulla Sinan [Male' City - Machangoalhi Dhekunu] (unseated)

Ahmed Faaris Maumoon [Meemu - Dhiggaru]

Mohamed Ali [Raa - Dhuvaafaru]

Ibrahim Falah [Raa - Inguraidhoo]

Mohamed Ameeth Ahmed Manik [Raa - Madduvari] (unseated) 

Jaufar Dawood [Raa - Ungoofaaru]

Ibrahim Didi [Seenu - Feydhoo]

Mohamed Shahid [Seenu - Hulhudhoo]

Ali Saleem [Shaviyani - Funadhoo]

Hussain Manik Don Manik [Thaa - Guraidhoo]

Riyaz Rasheed [Thaa - Vilufushi]

The JP (Jumhooree / Republican Party) had a total of 11 votes. 9 members voted yes, and 2 members voted no. 

The members that voted yes for JP are: 

Hussain Mohamed [Alif Alif - Mathiveri]

Ibrahim Hassan [Alif Alif - Thoddoo]

Qasim Ibrahim [Alif Dhaal - Maamigili]

Ilham Ahmed [Alif Dhaal - Dhagethi] (unseated) 

Ahmed Mubeen [Faafu - Bileddhoo] (now in PPM)

Abdulla Ahmed [Gaafu Dhaalu - Thinadhoo Dhekunu] (unseated)

Hussain Shahudhee [Haa Dhaalu - Hanimaadhoo] (unseated)

Faisal Naseem [Kaafu - Kaashidhoo]

Moosa Nizar Ibrahim [Vaavu - Keyodho]

The members that voted no for JP are: 

Ali Hussain [Baa - Kendhoo]

Abdulla Riyaz [Thaa - Kinbidhoo]

The MDA (Maldives Development Alliance) had a total of 5 votes, with all members voting yes. 

The members that voted yes for MDA are: 

Ahmed Amir [Dhaalu - Kudahuvadhoo]

Ahmed Siyam Mohamed [Dhaalu - Meedhoo]

Mohamed Ismail [Haa Alif - Hoarafushi]

Ali Mauroof [Noonu - Kendhikulhudhoo]

Umar Hussain [Noonu - Manadhoo]

At the time of voting there were two independent members. One of the voted yes, and the other voted no. 

The independent member that voted yes: 

Hussain Areef [Haa Dhaalu - Nolhivaram] (JP at time of election)

The independent member that voted no: 

Ahmed Mahloof [Male' City - Galolhu Dhekunu] (PPM at time of election)

The AP (Adhaalath / Justice Party) had a total of one vote from member Anara Naeem [Haa Dhaalu - Makunudhoo]. Considering that their sole member in parliament is a woman, It's pretty ironic that the AP disapproves of female running mates in the current election. I wonder how Anara feels about that. 

Votes by Region

There are a total of 21 regions represented in the Majlis. I have included Male' City as a separate region from Kaafu atoll despite Male' City being located within in. This is because Male' City has 13 members while the rest of Kaafu atoll only has 3. 

This graph shows how each region voted by showing the percentage of yes/no votes for each region. Maybe this beautiful pattern can be our new flag. 

Male' City had the greatest total amount of votes for a single region with 13. Of this, 8 members voted yes while 5 voted no. 

Votes by Gender

Of the 84 members present at the time of voting, 79 were men while 5 were women. 

This means that only 6% of the people supposed to represent all Maldivians are women. 94% of the people making our laws are men. 

When we look at the percentages, 80% of women voted no while almost 90% of men voted yes. So much for the conspiracy theories about more female politicians being bad news for the future of the Maldives. It's not like the endless stream of Alis, Abduls, Abdullahs, Ahmeds, Ismails, Ibrahims, Hassans, Mohameds, Rasheeds, and Adams have been of much use anyways.  I also didn't feel the need to include religious demographics as non-Muslims participating in Maldivian politics is illegal as per the Maldivian constitution. So much for those damn atheists selling out the Maldives to the gay zionists amirite?  I hope you've found these visuals interesting. They are just the tip of the iceberg as far as the insight that could be drawn from just the data set for this voting session. A whole thesis could be written about just the changes of allegiances and their associated events.

Another thing that stands out is the hypocrisy of Maldivian politics. The unchangeable constitution that is used to oppress Maldivian minorities is like tissue paper when it comes to satisfying business interests. Contrast the hateful rhetoric against foreign workers with the reality of how they've allowed the sale of Maldivian land to the most powerful of foreign elites. Marvel at the misogyny and exclusionary policies of Adhaalath Party when their only representation in parliament is a woman.  Consider all the members who were voted in by their constituencies to represent a certain political party who change their allegiances whenever it benefits them. 

If nothing else I hope this gets you thinking more about how little we think of our elected officials as being representatives for their respective regions. Do their votes reflect the views of their constituencies? I somehow doubt it. 

[keyolhuhasanu]

Adhaalath Party dhivehi rayyithunnah rangalhu nimmumeh nimmaifi! @AP_Community #habeys 👆🏽 http://pic.twitter.com/3MVHCmLrhZ

— Keyolhu Hasanu (@keyolhu6san) January 10, 2017

from Twitter https://twitter.com/keyolhu6san January 10, 2017 at 04:36PM

[fwmv-blog]

Adhaalath Party “curses” Nasheed, accuses MDP of increasing support through black magic

Religious conservative Adhaalath Party leader Sheikh Imran Abdulla has accused Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) presidential candidate and former President Mohamed Nasheed of using black magic to garner support for the party.

“As a result of bringing in people from India, Sri Lanka, and various parts of the Maldives to perform black magic for [Nasheed], and then casting spells on food and feeding them to the masses, Nasheed has caused large numbers of people to become blind towards all his wrongdoings, and to imagine characteristics of being democratic and pro-development in him, and to be deluded into thinking they are in absolute support of him while in reality they are in a crazed state of enchantment and therefore run behind him,” Imran said, addressing the Jumhoree Coalition’s first major rally in the capital.

“Nasheed’s followers are anti-Islamic people like him and huge criminals. The rest are people under the influence of his black magic. Most people are bewitched and under black magic spells. This is the state of this country,” he said.

“Nasheed is doubtless an agent – one who has been rather well trained – sent in by enemies of Islam and our nationalism,” Imran continued. “A vote cast for Nasheed is an act which will facilitate the eradication of Islam from this country and will hurl us into a state of slavery.”

Read More

[endhimariyambu-blog]

Enough with the ladheenee talk!

The term ladheenee is by far the most irritating tagline used in Maldivian politics at the moment. Ladheenee, meaning un-Islamic, irreligious or secularist (depending on the context), was popularised during the pre-2008 campaigns to ‘de-throne’ Gayyoom and more recently it has been used to delegitimize Nasheed’s administration in the run up to February 7th 2012. The religious hooligans in the country, led by Adhaalath Party, are the main protagonists in the on-going religious strife in the country, defining ladheenee as it best fits their agenda and interests; and using Islam as a tool to delegitimize its opponents.

Adhaalath Party, ultra-conservative and extreme in their views, surfaced into Maldivian politics in 2005 using the liberties granted by what they call ‘dheenmugura’ or what we call democracy. Back in the Gayyoom days, whilst some people were genuinely fighting for civil liberties, Adhaalath Party hopped on to the democracy bandwagon to spread their ultra-conservative religious agenda into mainstream politics. This agenda was partially based on characterising opponents according to what they perceive as Islamic and un-Islamic. Calling themselves ‘dhanna beykalun’ (meaning: know-it-alls) they began a campaign to rile up a country that was practicing Islam peacefully for 800 years.

 On 22nd September 2008, 44 religious scholars, of whom a large majority were from Adhaalath Party, released a statement against Gayyoom, criticizing him for advocating secular and ladheenee ideas.  Gayyoom’s stance against death penalty, compulsory veiling and attempts to control religious extremism earned him the label ‘ladheenee apostate’ by the religious conservatives. In the run up to the election in 2008, Adhaalath Party leaders were crying on podiums and begging the country to free themselves of Gayyoom.

Three years down the line, how mighty the tides have changed.

Adhaalath Party still exists, but the Gayyoom they judged as a ‘ladheenee apostate’ has become their current political guru. Almost all of the 44 religious scholars that released the statement against Gayyoom in 2008 now belong to Gayyoom’s party, Progressive People’s Party (PPM). And the man they rallied support for in 2008, Mohamed Nasheed is now labelled as the ‘ladheenee apostate’.

For Adhaalath Party, being put in charge of their own ministry to spread their venom did not suffice. School children’s singing competition was ladheenee. Celebrating New Year’s Eve was ladheenee. The tomb of Abul Barakaat Yusuf al-Barbari was ladheenee. The democratic ideals that empowered them to open their big mouths also became ladheenee.  In short, the whole world except the Wahhabi clan in Saudi Arabia became ‘ladheenee’.  However, much to their disappointment their targeted audience was not too receptive to their ridiculous callings.

Nasheed’s administration became the obvious target to direct their religious frustrations and what better way to rile up anti-government support than to use Islam. They had already experienced success with this political tactic in 2008. By making people feel as if their religious identity was under threat, together with the backing of power-hungry politicians, a movement to remove President Nasheed developed.  And this, they did very well - with public statements, tears on podiums, brotherly love developed in the name of Islam, protests and of course who can forget the melodramatic 23rd December Ithihaad! As I have said before, some of the criticism directed towards Nasheed’s administration was well-deserved; but religious fanatics used this as an impetus to create an anti-Islamic conspiracy around President Nasheed. This drama unfolded with President Nasheed being ousted on 7th February 2012 and now, guess who has two seats in the current cabinet?

Clearly their ladheenee gibberish worked its magic because as fools we have begun to characterise politician’s behaviour according to the Adhaalath-endorsed ladheenee scale. The irony is that a lot of people that now use the term ‘ladheenee’ are liberal advocates, only using the term in an attempt to mock the current regime. When President Waheed attended a church service in honour of the Queen’s diamond jubilee, his opponents (including liberal advocates such as Dr. Farahanaz Faisal) criticised his attendance purely for spite. If she was invited I’m sure she would have attended as well but obviously the opportunity to point his ladheenee behaviour was too good. The ‘Bon Aqua incident of hand holding with a strange woman’ by Sheikh Shaheem, a photograph of President Waheed and his wife in front of a temple, the recent video of President Waheed’s daughter speaking at a conference about a ‘Dark Mother God’ and the hiring of a foreign women as a legal consultant by the current regime are examples labelled and popularised on social media by the liberals as ‘ladheenee’. People do this for fun, to mock and scapegoat, to spite and out of anger, but who wins in the end?

The whole basis of me writing this piece is because I wanted to highlight the repercussions of the continuous moral categorisation and judgement of individual behaviour for which ever reason.  

Firstly, by calling people ladheenee and supporting the accusations of our so-called religious scholars we are empowering them. When President Waheed attended the church service many tweets were directed towards Sheikh Shaheem asking his opinion, obviously in sarcasm. My view is that if you make mullahs feel as if their gibberish matters and their opinions count, they will act as if they have a moral authority over people (even if no one is listening!). It makes them feel important.

Secondly, the continuous use of the term ‘ladheenee’ sends the wrong message to young people. If both the religious conservatives and the liberals in the country continuously pick on each other’s behaviour and label each other for mockery or for religious reasons, young people read and dwell in an environment where intolerance is emphasized. How can we create an inclusive culture and teach our children to respect equality and diversity if we continue to morally police each other? The political unrest in the country is not hidden from young people and the language we use will be emulated by them. Furthermore, it may make young people fearful of doing entirely normal things or fearful of questioning anything because they may be deemed ladheenee.

Finally, calling each other ladheenee and pointing fingers will never let us be in peace. Sensationalising each other’s private lives or every action to show whose the worst ladheenee is petty and a waste of time - time we could spend to try and resolve our differences. The current political mess we are in is not some high school drama – remember that every action has a repercussion which shapes the stability of this country.

Enough said, shall we stop with the ladheenee talk!

[mujunaeem]

I distinctly remember Adhaalath party claiming at onetime that women should not be politicians (or they should not be involved in politics... something to do with some archaic belief, that a womans place is at home). Now I am wondering what has changed since then.

P.S. word web defines "hypocrisy" as 

1. An expression of agreement that is not supported by real conviction

2. Insincerity by virtue of pretending to have qualities or beliefs that you do not really have

derived: hypocrite (noun), hypocritical (adjective)

hypocrite

1. A person who professes beliefs and opinions that he or she does not hold in order to conceal his or her real feelings or motives

hypocritical

1. Professing feelings or virtues one does not have - e.g. "hypocritical praise"

[fwmv-blog]

International press freedom NGO Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has included ‘extremist religious groups’ in the Maldives in its ‘Predators of Freedom of Information’ report for 2013

http://en.rsf.org/spip.php?page=predateur&id_article=44484

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=576359299062449&set=a.551413674890345.1073741826.320142271350821&type=1

[fwmv-blog]

Anti-American protest in Maldives over anti-Islam movie : Sept 14, 2012

[fwmv-blog]

16 year old female victim of rape to be flogged in Maldives

A 16 year-old female victim of rape has been sentenced to 100 lashes & eight month house arrest in the Maldives. >A man from R. Atoll, Angolhitheem (name of island) has been sentenced to 10 years in jail today for ‘sexual misconduct” with a minor. >R. Atoll Hulhudhuffaaru Magistrate Court, which issued the verdict, stated that the man sentenced was Ahmed Rasheed, 29 years, Finivaage (house name), R. Angolhitheem. **They also informed us that the 16 year old girl was sentenced to one month house arrest and also flogging as she confessed to zina (fornication)**. However the man contested the charges of zina. >An official from the magistrate court stated that both parties have confessed that the man visited the island on the invitation of the girl. When she was late in returning home one night, her family went looking for her. They found the man and the girl in the bushes behind the Hulhudhuffaaru power station. >“The girls parents wanted to bring the case to court and prosecute the man. The man was sentenced to jail, and the girl sentenced for zina (the sentence for which is flogging),” the official said. English translation of [Haveeru article](http://www.haveeru.com.mv/dhivehi/news/126595). Translated by [Nooshin Waheed](https://twitter.com/NooshinWaheed). Photo: Rally held by members of Adhaalath party and other Islamists to denounce UN HR Commissioner Navi Pillay's call to [ban flogging in Maldives](http://www.smh.com.au/world/female-flogging-on-rise-in-maldives-20120124-1qfmd.html). Adhaalath is part of the new government of the Maldives and controls the Islamic ministry which is responsible for interpreting Islamic law and their application to Maldivian citizens. Whilst Maldives had a pretty liberal constitution in 2008, the constitution is subject to an Islamic override which is being exploited by Adhaalath. UPDATE: **Hulhudhufaaru Magistrate Court in Raa Atoll has sentenced the minor to 100 lashes and eight months house arrest according to [Minivan News](http://minivannews.com/society/court-sentences-16-year-old-girl-to-100-lashes-for-having-sex-with-29-year-old-43311). The sentence is to be carried out when the girl turns 18, as she is a minor under Maldivian law at the moment.**