As the dust settles on President Ibu and MDP's election loss in a contest widely hailed as free, fair, and transparent, it's clear that the Maldives is set to welcome a president I hadn't hoped for, having cast my support in favour of Ibu. Nevertheless, I extend my sincere congratulations to President-Elect Dr. Mohamed Muizzu. The essence of democracy is recognizing and respecting the people's collective will, and their voice, as expressed through their ballots, remains paramount.

While the election results may not mirror my hopes or those of many who share my views, it's imperative that we respect the democratic process. We have a collective responsibility to uphold and honour the decision made at the ballot box, even when it's not the outcome we desire. Democracy flourishes when we, its participants, engage positively, even amidst disagreement.

The New Administration's Role

To President-Elect Dr. Mohamed Muizzu and the incoming administration, as you prepare to take the reins of governance, my sincerest hope is that you remain committed to our democratic principles. The future strength and resilience of the Maldives rest on this foundational commitment. While the temptations to deviate from this course may present themselves, I urge you to resist.

Our democracy is both a hard-fought triumph and a delicate balance, and it's now in your hands. Treat it with the care and respect it deserves. Bring your vision and ideas to the table, absolutely, but let these be guided and constrained by the constitutional frameworks and laws we hold dear. The integrity of our nation depends on it.

MDP's as Opposition:

To President Ibu, the elected leadership of the MDP, and its supporters; the electoral outcome signals not merely a change in administration but a crucial shift in your roles and responsibilities. We must remember the context of your past opposition phase. Back then, after the toppling of the first MDP government led by Nasheed, the sense of urgency to agitate was fueled by perceptions of an illegitimate president. Such circumstances warranted the tactics you employed. However, this time, the circumstances are distinctly different. With an election that's been widely recognized as free and fair, the landscape is vastly different. The second MDP government led by President Ibu was not ousted but replaced through democratic means.

Your role now is not to resist what you perceive as an illegitimate regime but to adapt to the democratic will of the people. A thriving democracy needs not just effective governance but also a constructive and responsible opposition. It's time for a recalibration of your strategies in line with our democratic principles.

I am encouraged by the responsible approach to opposition displayed at the MDP's National Council meeting following the electoral loss. President Ibu and other party leaders, your commitment to this path is a heartening sign for the future of our democracy. Such stances, grounded in principle and focused on the well-being of the country’s citizens, are essential for the stability and progress of the nation. The MDP must remain resolute in this direction, championing our democratic ethos even amidst electoral challenges.

The trust the people once placed in you has now been granted to another party. This should be seen not as a rejection but as a natural rotation inherent in thriving democracies. The people have spoken, and their message is unequivocal. The role now is not merely to oppose but to engage constructively, safeguarding the democratic strides achieved in recent years.

Being in the opposition is not solely about dissent; it's about upholding your core values within the constitutional framework. It's about ensuring forward momentum for our democracy, regardless of which party leads. A party's true democratic commitment is revealed not just in governance but in how they conduct themselves when not at the helm. This is the MDP's moment to showcase maturity, foresight, and an unyielding dedication to the nation's well-being.

Let this be your moment to rise, not in opposition to a particular regime, but in steadfast commitment to the enduring principles that underlie our nation's fabric.

The Imperative of a Governance Referendum:

As we navigate this new political landscape, the issue of a governance referendum has never been more crucial. The notion of a governance referendum—offering the Maldivian public an alternative between retaining our current constitutional republic and adopting a Westminster parliamentary system—became a potent political tool. This framing of the issue fueled internal divisions within the MDP, led to the establishment of The Democrats, and significantly swayed public sentiment, contributing to President Ibu's electoral defeat. Now, after all the political turmoil, Speaker Mohamed Nasheed and The Democrats have paused their efforts to change the governance system.

This situation is untenable. The very issue that was weaponized to destabilize President Ibu's administration must now be conclusively resolved for the long-term health of our democracy. It's a glaring reality that the MDP, now in its role as the opposition, has both a moral and political obligation to facilitate this governance referendum. Intriguingly, The Democrats have shelved their push for a referendum now that they've achieved their immediate political objective—unseating President Ibu. By seizing the initiative on this critical issue, the MDP can not only close a divisive chapter but also neutralize a lingering political vulnerability that could be weaponized against them in the future.

It's a masterstroke for the MDP to champion this referendum, effectively turning the tables on Nasheed and The Democrats. Should the Maldivian public opt to retain our current presidential system, it would serve as a resounding checkmate to those who sought to weaponize this issue for their own political gains. At the same time, it would reaffirm the collective will of the Maldivian people in choosing the governance system that best suits their needs and aspirations.

The ultimate decision rests with the Maldivian people. As we embark on this new chapter in our national journey, the urgency of prioritizing this governance referendum cannot be overstated. Amidst various divisive factors affecting our country, this particular issue has cleaved the democratic side of our polity. The referendum presents a unique opportunity to decisively shape our future governance structure, offering the stability and clarity crucial for a flourishing democracy. This is not mere political gamesmanship; it's about aligning our governance with the core values and long-term vision that we, as a nation, cherish.

I'll be delving deeper into this critical issue of governance and the referendum in a forthcoming essay. The stakes are too high for it to remain unexamined.

The Vision for a Secular Maldives:

And finally, to my fellow advocates, both the unwavering pioneers who ignited our democratic journey in the early 2000s and the passionate modern voices, both online and offline, echoing the call for a Secular Maldives: I address you directly.

While our vision may currently sit on the fringes of mainstream society, it's driven by a genuine concern for the creeping shadows of Islamism and potential authoritarian tendencies. This isn't a mere theoretical debate for us; it's a tangible, pressing reality. Our commitment is evidenced not just in my spirited support for President Ibu's second term or our heartfelt plea to President Nasheed. It's in every blog post, every conversation, every debate, and every essay. It's in the very fact that many of us, including myself, have been forced into exile as political refugees, while others have tragically lost their lives or remain missing. It's in the sacrifices of those who were harassed, hounded, or forced to flee their homeland. Our dedication to a united vision for our nation has never wavered, and it's cemented by the sacrifices made by so many.

We've always championed a vision not against any individual or party but for the very principles that birthed our democratic aspirations. Our goal isn't opposition for its own sake, but the continuous evolution of our nation towards a more secular, just, and egalitarian society.

The elections may not have gone as we hoped, but this is neither the end nor a time for despair. It's a renewed call to action. As we've expressed before, our commitment isn't about opposition for its own sake. It's about ensuring our nation continues on its path towards justice, equality, and secularism. The dream of a Secular Maldives persists and is now intertwined with how we vigilantly hold both the MDP and the new government accountable. It's about ensuring they remain steadfast and resolute for the journey ahead, upholding the democratic principles we all cherish. The path towards a Secular Maldives is intrinsically linked to realizing the democratic dream of the Maldives in its entirety. These are ideals that are deeply intertwined, with one reinforcing the other.

In the true spirit of democracy, we must move forward. We are not adversaries of the new administration, the MDP, The Democrats, or even the religious Adhaalath Party; rather, we are collaborators in the grand endeavour of nation-building. Every step we've taken, from the earliest days of our democracy to today, is a testament to our enduring commitment to the Maldives.

Challenges are inevitable but united in purpose, we can steer towards a brighter, secular future—a more enlightened and humanistic society where religious views don't monopolize public discourse and are relegated to and reside in fringes of society.

In light of these new outcomes and the shifting political landscape, it's crucial for those of us aspiring towards a Secular Maldives to recalibrate. We may not be an organized movement, but we are a determined collective bound by shared ideals and visions. In a forthcoming essay, I'll delve deeper into how we can re-contextualize our efforts and regroup in this new environment. The playing field may have changed, but our collective resolve remains unshaken.

Our democracy's strength is not just in celebrating unanimous decisions but in how we navigate challenges, differences, and adversity. It's about rising, not as fragmented voices, but as a cohesive force, unwavering in our commitment to progress and the ideals we hold dear.

INTERLINKED IDEAS

For additional context, I invite you to read my other blog posts before the Maldives election.

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Dear President Nasheed,

The Maldives is at a historical juncture, a crossroad that will define our nation's democratic ethos and future. Your legacy, painstakingly built through decades of sacrifice and resilience, now teeters on the brink.

Your struggles have been monumental. From your early days of journalism, where you dared to voice against an authoritarian regime, to your arduous journey that led to the establishment of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and the eventual victory in 2008, you have been the beacon of hope for a democratic Maldives for many years. Your commitment to climate adaptation awareness, human rights, and democratic reforms has been unwavering for so long.

However, the recent political undertones suggest a different narrative. Your rift with President Ibu, rooted in the longstanding debate over the transformation of our political system from a presidential to a parliamentary style, has drawn significant attention. While the merits and demerits of each system can be debated, it's the larger vision for our country that must not be lost.

This rift has been exacerbated by your push for a parliamentary system, an idea you've advocated since even before your presidency. President Ibu's defence of the presidential system and his resistance to a referendum on the matter have deepened the divide. This isn't a mere ideological disagreement; it signifies two contrasting visions for our nation's governance and, by extension, its future.

Amidst these profound disagreements, the emergence of your breakaway party, 'The Democrats,' signals a pivotal moment. Not merely a political rebirth rooted in your differences with the MDP, this venture could bring a renewed perspective to our political discourse, promising a fresh chapter for our nation.

While it was understandable to enter the first round of elections as opposition to President Ibu, given the promise and positioning of 'The Democrats', your continued reluctance to temporarily unite with him for the broader electoral strategy, post-results is deeply concerning. This isn't about forging lasting alliances but rather about ensuring our nation stays its course, refining and fortifying our existing democratic trajectory.

In a recent parliamentary session, Nolhivaram Dhaairaa MP Mohamed Nasheed (Mostar) spoke words that should not be taken lightly. I've painstakingly transcribed and translated his speech to ensure the international community and, more importantly, you can grasp the depth of the rhetoric being shared in our parliament. You sat in the Speaker's chair as these words were spoken. It's crucial for you to watch this video again and reflect upon the implications of those remarks, especially as you and your party deliberate on potential alliances for the upcoming second round.

Watch as a member of Parliament openly advocates for a shift towards religious extremism in the Maldives. It's crucial for us to understand the potential implications of such sentiments on our nation's democratic path.

Below is a translation of MP Mostar's speech, crafted for clarity while capturing the essence of the sentiments expressed in the parliament.

"They refer to specific individuals who have formed a group under Maldivian law. While Jamiyyathul Salaf is a registered religious NGO in the Maldives and has not been officially labelled as criminals or terrorists, they are frequently in discussions about Salaf.

There are claims that, under a Muizzu presidency, the Islamic Ministry will be handed over to Salaf. However, what possible harm could come from this? Salaf are educated and good people, such as Dr. Ali Zahir. If irreligious individuals can hold higher positions in the government in the Maldives, why should Muslims with an Islamic education running things be viewed as scary? After all, the Maldives is a Muslim country.

Are you worried that Islam will continue to be prevalent in the Maldives? It seems that the word "Salaf" is constantly on the tip of the tongues of many. Are there no other topics to discuss in this country? Why do they persist in talking about it every single day? Even if these individuals were to come to power, Islam would still exist in the Maldives. The only difference might be that those who are irreligious may find their opportunities limited and may not be allowed to express themselves as freely. This fear seems to be the root of the issue.

Salaf members are not attempting to get involved in Maldivian politics or elect a specific person. They have the same rights as any Maldivian citizen, pay taxes like any other citizen, and are entitled to vote and hold positions of power. Denying someone access to power based on their attire is unjust. In a country where individuals who do not cover their awrah (the intimate parts of the body according to Islam) and go around naked are allowed to live, work, and hold any job or position of power they want, those who choose to cover their awrah and face should have the same rights. The naked can do anything or go anywhere they want, but if someone wears a face veil, it becomes a big problem. The idea that covering one's face and body will lead to the Maldives becoming like Kandahar is used to fearmonger. This is not the way it should be.

What is wrong with emulating Kandahar? Must this country turn into Sodom? Or should it resemble Bangkok, where prostitutes are prevalent? Is that the direction you want to take for this country? No, you will not have that opportunity. This is a 100% Islamic country. I urge all political figures in this nation to put an end to this! Thank you very much."

President Nasheed, although the opposition has consistently framed their campaign around political allegiances and international relations, sidestepping accusations of religious extremism, speeches like the recent one in parliament betray their obfuscation, revealing a deeper, more insidious intent. It's more than just the India factor or the Maldives' alliance with China. The crux is a pivot towards fundamentalist extremism, diametrically opposed to the democratic ideals you and many others have staunchly defended.

Mohamed Muizzu and his cohort, although parading under banners of sovereignty, national identity, debt management, and economic progress, are in truth, setting the stage for an Islamic extremist future for the Maldives. The 'India Out' campaign isn't just a cry for nationalistic pride or a geopolitical shift; it's a calculated play to remove the protective barrier that India's presence establishes against the tide of extremism. The campaign's real peril is not its overt themes but the latent radical transformation it seeks for our nation.

Aligning with such forces for short-term political gains will irreparably damage the democratic fabric of the Maldives Republic. Their promises to uphold the Maldives' Islamic identity are laced with threats to transform our nation into a regressive, theocratic state. Time and again, we've seen them weaponize Islam, manipulating our people's deep sense of religiosity for their gain. This isn't a new tactic; it's a recurring strategy. The same individuals who have been complicit in past atrocities, who have either imprisoned political opponents or been imprisoned themselves, who have plotted coups or suffered from them, are now uniting under a singular banner. Their financial motivations, combined with extremist ideologies, will plunge our nation into chaos. Moreover, watching you advocate for the release of former President Yameen, whom Muizzu's party intends to free despite his transparent, televised conviction for crimes during his presidency, is both bewildering and disheartening. To see you stand on their podiums, it's as if the wounds Yameen inflicted upon you and our nation's democracy have faded from memory. I had hoped that you, of all people, would retain a sense of dignity regarding such matters.

President Nasheed, reflecting on your recent actions naturally leads us to consider legacy; however, it isn't solely about it either. It's about the future of our nation and the generations that will inherit it. Are we prepared to sacrifice our hard-earned freedoms at the altar of political expediency? Your position in our nation's history has been unparalleled up to this point, yet its continued eminence hinges on the decisions you make moving forward. It's not solely about the legacy you craft here at home; it's also the impression you leave on the global stage. Every choice from here on will resonate throughout our history and be felt in international arenas.

The narratives of those who championed democracy but faltered in their journey are not just cautionary tales. They are stark reminders of how easily legacies can be tarnished and how quickly champions can turn to disappointments. Will you be the rudder that steers us through tempestuous waters, revered alongside the great champions of democracy? Or will you join the ranks of those remembered in hushed tones of disappointment, akin to Viktor Yushchenko, Hugo Chávez, Boris Yeltsin, and Aung San Suu Kyi?

President Nasheed, our nation's strategic location in the Indian Ocean has always made us a focal point of geopolitical interests. While we cherish our international partnerships, it's imperative to remember that the Maldives must always prioritize its sovereignty. External influences, while sometimes beneficial, can have long-term implications on our national fabric. As we tread this delicate balance, our decisions must always center on the Maldivian identity, ensuring that our nation remains the primary architect of its destiny. You taught me that.

Your international reputation, painstakingly built over decades of commitment to democracy and climate adaptation, hangs in the balance. President Nasheed, as you sat in the Speaker's chair, bearing witness to words masking ideologies that could unravel our democracy, did you grasp the gravity of what was being proposed? What went through your mind in that pivotal moment? Did you perceive the danger? Or were thoughts of political differences clouding your judgment?

The recently articulated sentiments in the parliament, championing the role of Jamiyyathul Salaf and hinting at a potential shift in the country's socio-political dynamics, are more than mere words. They are potential harbingers of the change they advocate, demanding our critical attention.

Let's dissect these sentiments:

• A Push for Theocratic Governance: The speech isn't merely promoting religious leadership but is making a case for theocracy. By emphasizing the Maldives' Muslim identity, it subtly suggests that secular, modern governance is incongruent with the nation's religious identity. Historically, such narratives have often preceded shifts from democratic to theocratic governance.

• Restriction of Secular Voices and Media Freedom: The potential "restriction" of "irreligious individuals" is deeply concerning. This isn't just about personal freedom; it's an affront to media freedom. When secular voices are silenced, a free press becomes the first casualty. Journalists, writers, and artists could face censorship, which will stifle the nation's vibrant and emerging media landscape.

• Equating Secularity with Immorality: The speech cleverly employs fear-mongering by contrasting the Maldives with 'Sodom' and 'Bangkok.' By equating secularism with immorality, it sets a narrative that can be used to justify crackdowns on secular movements, institutions, and individuals in the name of "moral and religious righteousness."

• Challenging the Right to Individual Expression: The debate over 'awrah' and face veils isn't just about clothing. It's a microcosm of the more significant battle over individual rights in a society. When the state begins to dictate personal choices, it's a sign of encroaching autocracy.

• A Potential Shift towards Radicalization: Referencing Kandahar isn't arbitrary. Kandahar represents a version of Islam that's far removed from the moderate Islam practiced by many Maldivians. The speech hints at a desire to import a more radicalized and orthodox interpretation of Islam into the Maldives' governance by invoking its name.

These nuanced messages underscore a vital truth: democracies don't collapse overnight. They erode, bit by bit, through speeches that test the waters, policies that tighten the noose, and narratives that reshape a nation's ethos. When we fail to remain vigilant, when we overlook the subtleties, we risk losing the very essence of our democratic spirit.

In essence, the speech is more than just an advocacy for religious governance. It's a potential blueprint for a seismic shift in the Maldivian sociopolitical fabric, a shift that could see the Maldives diverging from its democratic path.

The Maldives looks to you, its stalwart defender, to rise above personal differences and steer us clear of the looming tempest. The choices you make now will not only shape the future of our nation but will also define your legacy on the world stage. It is a defining moment, and the nation watches with bated breath.

President Nasheed, the Maldives might be a small nation in the vast expanse of our world, but our voice and choices resonate far beyond our shores. You've shown us that our nation can wield influence on the international stage. Universities across the world will study your actions in the coming days. Students will debate your decisions. Historians will chronicle your legacy. The question is, how do you want to be remembered?

Will you be the hero who stood tall, defending the principles of democracy, or will you be the disappointment, the one who let personal grievances cloud the enduring promise of our nation?

President Nasheed, as someone deeply entrenched in the intricacies of politics, you understand better than most that numbers aren't just percentages or tallies. They are the embodiment of voices, choices, and the collective will of our people.

Let's break down the significance of the recent election numbers:

• Dr. Mohamed Muizzu's Position: He currently leads with 46.06 percent of the votes. However, as you know, this falls short of a majority. For a definitive mandate, a candidate must secure over 50 percent.

• President Solih's Stand: Holding 39.05 percent, he's close but not there yet. His challenge is to bridge this gap.

• Your Crucial Role: Your 7.18 percent isn't just a number. That's 15,839 voices that can potentially sway the election. They can bridge the gap for President Solih or widen the lead for Dr. Muizzu.

• Jumhooree Party's Potential: With their 2.47 percent (5,460 votes), they, too, hold a piece to this political puzzle.

Why This Matters:

• Slim Margins: The difference between President Solih, combined with your votes and the JP, versus Dr. Muizzu's tally is razor-thin. Every decision, every alliance, and every endorsement becomes crucial.

• Psychological Impact: Knowing that the race is so close can motivate voters, rallying them around their chosen candidate.

• The Power of Alliances: In such a close contest, alliances aren't just beneficial; they're essential. They can change the game.

• International Implications: The Maldives' election is not just a national event. The world is watching, and the outcome will shape our international relationships and reputation.

Numbers and strategic calculations, while crucial, are merely facets of a larger democratic tapestry. At its core, our democracy thrives on the aspirations of its people and their collective vision for a forward-looking Maldives. President Nasheed, your leadership has always illuminated the path for countless Maldivians. As the clock ticks closer to the runoff, the nation looks to you for direction, unity, and inspiration. It isn't merely about endorsing President Ibu; it's about rallying the masses, bridging divisions, and offering a compelling vision for our shared future. The sands of time are shifting rapidly, and the window for impactful action is narrowing.

President Nasheed, your relationship with President Ibu is emblematic of not merely personal camaraderie but a shared history of democratic struggles. Both of you have played foundational roles in establishing and nurturing our nascent democracy. Your combined efforts, sacrifices, and vision have been the bedrock upon which our nation has sought to build a democratic future.

However, as disagreements over our nation's governance structure have come to the fore, divisions have emerged. While your advocacy for a parliamentary system stems from a belief in enhanced governance and representation, it has unfortunately driven a wedge between two of the nation's stalwart democratic champions.

Your decision to diverge from the MDP due to genuine grievances is not just valid, but it's also an opportunity. Just as you laid the foundation for democratic resurgence with the MDP, you now have the chance to build a robust opposition party with 'The Democrats', strengthening the very fabric of our democracy. This isn't just about countering the ruling party; it's about ensuring that the voices of dissent, critique, and alternative visions are always heard and valued. Your legacy isn't just about what you've already built. Still, it's also about your resilience in the face of setbacks, your commitment to evolving and adapting, and your unyielding dedication to the democratic ethos. This unique trajectory is what sets you apart from many democracy champions worldwide and offers a blueprint for resilient, democratic leadership.

However, this election transcends individual grievances. It's about the momentum of our nation. While your party can and should continue to challenge and critique robustly, this is a pivotal moment where unity can send a powerful message. Supporting President Ibu now does not dilute your criticisms or your party's distinct identity. Rather, it can be seen as a magnanimous gesture – a commitment to the broader democratic vision, even when personal dynamics are fraught. It's about ensuring the continuation of our democratic journey, with the promise of a more vigorous opposition that keeps the ruling party in check.

Post the election, with the immediate threat averted, 'The Democrats' should harness their momentum to build a robust opposition. This opposition isn't just about countering policies but about continually refining our democracy, ensuring checks and balances, and upholding the values we've fought for. This is an opportunity for you to rise, to own the narrative, and to showcase the maturity and foresight that has always set you apart.

In these defining moments, leaders don't just make decisions; they shape narratives. Authenticity and sincerity in these narratives are paramount. The Maldivian public is past the point of wanting orchestrated shows of unity; they crave genuine dialogue about the differences and challenges that have long lingered unaddressed.

President Nasheed, now is the time to champion and lead essential dialogues. It's about delving deep into the distinct perspectives between your party and President Ibu's administration, especially when it comes to pivotal structural reforms. This includes not only governance models but also the nuances of electoral processes and decentralization. These are foundational elements that will shape the nation's evolving trajectory for generations. While entrenched views on these reforms are expected, given their importance, the shared commitment must always remain: to engage, deliberate, and, when the situation demands, find that crucial middle ground for the overarching benefit of the Maldives.

Your longstanding advocacy for a transition from a presidential to a parliamentary system underscores your vision for more representative and accountable governance in the Maldives. While President Ibu might presently be hesitant about a referendum on this matter, fostering such discussions is vital. Democracy thrives when we perpetually evaluate and refine our governing structures.

Further, the concerns surrounding the management of the COVID-19 pandemic, potential lapses in accountability, and intricate party dynamics demand thorough consideration. Allegations of corruption, a remnant from decades of autocratic rule, stand prominently among them. This corruption is often a reflection of a society that, over the years, has felt compelled to scramble for meagre benefits in the margins, seeking fleeting advantages in the shadows of power. Addressing this malaise goes beyond policy—it necessitates a societal introspection and a unified effort to rebuild trust, instill transparency, and foster a renewed sense of collective responsibility.

Yet, as we address these internal challenges, we must remain acutely aware of the broader landscape. The looming threats of totalitarians and extremists, eager to erode our hard-fought democratic gains, cannot be underestimated.

While disagreements within the democratic fold are natural, even expected, they should never eclipse the overarching mission. Backing President Ibu while fortifying a robust opposition is not a compromise of principles; it's a strategic move to ensure that the Maldives stays its democratic course, resistant to forces that threaten to pull us back. This isn't merely about individual or party gains. This is about the essence of our nation, about our shared democratic legacy, and about ensuring that our future generations inherit a Maldives that's stronger, more united, and more democratic than ever.

True healing won't come from masking differences but from highlighting the shared goals amidst the disagreements. It's about acknowledging past discord but having the vision to forge a collaborative path forward. Instead of merely opposing, it's about offering constructive alternatives and pushing for meaningful changes. If that means rallying for a referendum to determine system changes, then that path should be pursued with vigour.

Reconnect with your historical allies and engage in dialogues rooted in shared values, not just political convenience. The Maldives needs leaders who prioritize national unity and societal progress above all else. Opposition isn't about obstruction; it's about ensuring the nation's unfolding path aligns with the aspirations of its people.

The Maldivian people have always admired your leadership, not just for direction but for inspiration. As we navigate this pivotal juncture, your words, actions, and the narrative you champion will set the tone for our nation's future.

The horizon of our nation's future is shaped by the choices made today. While your individual legacy is undoubtedly significant, it's intertwined with the broader democratic narrative of the Maldives on the world stage. Amidst the tumultuous currents of politics, the guiding light of our shared democratic values must remain unwavering.

The path ahead, while promising, is fraught with challenges. A lack of cooperation at this juncture could lead to fragmentation of the democratic base, giving way to forces that might not prioritize the nation's democratic values. Beyond the immediate electoral implications, there's the risk of a weakened democratic framework susceptible to regression.

Imagine a Maldives where democratic institutions are not just established but are thriving; where varied political voices coexist, debate, and cooperate for the national good; where our youth look forward to a future filled with promise and potential. This vision is within our grasp. With strategic cooperation and an unwavering commitment to democratic principles, we can ensure a Maldives that stands as a torch that lights the way for emerging democracies everywhere.

For the soul of our nation, for the dreams of generations past and those yet to come, and for the principles that define us, the moment to take a resolute stand is upon us. The Maldives teeters on the brink of monumental change.

President Nasheed, weigh each of your decisions with the depth of its implications. Our nation watches intently, and pen-poised history awaits to chronicle your chosen path. Choose wisely, for every step you take now casts a long shadow on our shared destiny.

With hope, conviction, urgency, and a plea for foresight,

Muju Naeem
Exiled Political Dissident
Advocate for a Secular Maldives

In the aftermath of the 2012 coup, a moment of solidarity with President Nasheed. As I pen this open letter today, our unwavering commitment to a democratic Maldives remains as vital and steadfast as it was in these captured moments.

INTERLINKED IDEAS

While my open letter to President Nasheed underscores the need for unity and collaboration, it's essential to understand the broader context. Why is a second term for President Ibu so crucial? In this piece, I articulate the rationale behind my support, emphasizing the strides we've made and the potential risks of shifting gears now.

Thank you for taking the time to read my work. My writing is purposed to make us all think together, not to impose my thoughts. If you enjoyed it and found it valuable, there are many ways you can show your support and help me continue writing.

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In the tranquil vastness of the Indian Ocean, the Maldives emerges, celebrated for its pristine beaches and turquoise lagoons. Yet, beneath this idyllic veneer, the islands grapple with profound societal dichotomies—a tussle between time-honoured religious beliefs and a growing clamour for free expression, enlightenment values, and human rights. In these turbulent waters of change and resistance, I have persistently found myself not as a mere observer but deeply entwined, navigating the intricate tapestry of a nation in transition.

From the days of Dhivehi Observer in 2004, my journey as a political writer and publisher began. My writings, advocating for democracy, secularism, human rights, and the rights of the marginalized, didn't just echo my beliefs. They were a catalyst, sparking conversations and helping to bring together a community of kindred spirits. Over time, this community grew, and as it did, we explored the evolving landscape of social media and technology, leveraging them innovatively for our causes. My role wasn't just of an initiator; I was a part of an organic evolution of ideas, often at the forefront but always as one among many.

In our collective quest for a liberal and humanist Maldives, my activism and writings were just a piece of a larger mosaic. Many of us, bound by shared ideals, confronted threats and intimidation. While the dangers solidified our dedication, they also highlighted the tangible risks surrounding our efforts. I was far from being the sole target; numerous fellow activists faced similar challenges. Recognizing these escalating threats, I took steps for self-preservation, such as departing the country in 2013 and subsequently seeking asylum through the UNHCR in 2017. Tragically, not all of our collaborators had the chance to make such choices, and their untimely demises stand as stark reminders of the costs associated with our mission for a democratic and secular Maldives.

Faced with an agonizing choice between my safety and my activism, I chose life. With a heavy heart, I left behind my homeland, seeking refuge under the protective wings of the UNHCR. My journey led me to the shores of Canada, a nation anchored in hard-fought humanist and enlightenment values, presenting a profound contrast to the Maldives. In this land of snow-capped mountains and vast forests, I found sanctuary. But Canada offered more than just refuge; it provided an environment where I could be myself, unburdened by fear. While Canada, like any nation, faces its share of evolving challenges, its foundational values, especially those enshrined in its Charter Rights, are what draws me and countless others to stay. These principles stand as its true north, a testament to the enduring spirit of a country globally admired and cherished.

Looking back, it's a journey filled with contradictions. From the tropical warmth of the Maldives to the chilly embrace of Canada, from the dangers of activism to the safety of exile, my life has been a rollercoaster ride of highs and lows. But through it all, one thing has remained constant: my unwavering belief in the power of humanism, enlightenment values, secularism, human rights, and the indomitable spirit of the human will.

Dark Chapters

The Maldives, often painted in hues of blue and green, took on a darker shade for many of us during a particularly turbulent era. The events that defined this period were not just political shifts or policy changes; they were deeply personal, visceral tragedies that left indelible marks on our collective psyche. Two names, in particular, stand out as symbols of the perilous journey of secular activism in the Maldives: Ahmed Rilwan and Yameen Rasheed.

Ahmed Rilwan, a journalist by profession, was a beacon of truth in a nation where many preferred to turn a blind eye. His writings, candid and unyielding, peeled back the layers of societal issues, revealing the underlying currents of radicalization and extremism. His commitment to the truth was unwavering, but it came at a price. One fateful night in 2014, Rilwan was abducted, a grievous act that was later linked to radical Islamic extremists. Investigations eventually revealed the harrowing truth: he had been brutally beheaded and then sunk into the ocean, a chilling end for a voice that had bravely spoken out against the rising tide of intolerance. This heinous act served as a grim testament to the lengths some would go to silence voices of dissent. To this day, the void left by his tragic end resonates deeply within the Maldivian community.

Then there was Yameen Rasheed. A close friend and fellow blogger, Yameen's wit and incisive commentary made him a beloved figure in the Maldivian secular community. His blog, 'The Daily Panic', was a haven for those seeking a humorous yet insightful take on Maldivian society and politics. But in 2017, the laughter was brutally silenced. Yameen was found in the stairwell of his apartment, having been savagely stabbed over 30 times. This gruesome act was not just an attack on him, but a chilling message to all like-minded Maldivians: it starkly illustrated the grave dangers of voicing dissent in the face of rising extremism.

These two harrowing incidents, while profoundly shocking, sadly weren't anomalies. Alongside Rilwan and Yameen, there were others who faced the wrath of Islamic Supremacists: Afrasheem Ali, a moderate Islamic scholar and Member of Parliament who was brutally murdered; Hilath Rasheed, who, against all odds, survived after his throat was slashed with a box cutter; and countless incidents of violence and intimidation. All of these painted a grim picture of the surging extremist sentiment that was suffocating the Maldives. My ancestral home, with its tranquil beaches and serene lagoons, was being overshadowed by a pervasive darkness. Amidst this turmoil, with a heart laden with grief and a sense of urgency, I penned an open letter to the then-president, the government, and even more crucially, to the country itself. It was an earnest appeal, a beacon of hope, and an unwavering act of defiance in those bleak times, brimming with demands and fuelled by both exhaustion and anger.

The memories of Ahmed Rilwan, Yameen Rasheed, and others stand as a testament to the courage required to defy religious extremism. Their legacies underscore that the struggle for a secular, enlightened, and humanist Maldives is not merely a political endeavour—it's deeply personal. Every word we pen, every stance we adopt, is imbued with the gravity of their sacrifices.

The Dawn of a New Epoch - A Nation at the Crossroads

As the golden hues of 2018 painted the Maldivian skies, the archipelago found itself at a historical crossroads. The impending presidential elections were not just about choosing a leader; they were about determining the very essence of the nation and its people. With democratic tenets teetering on the brink, the Maldives urgently sought stability and a path forward for meaningful reforms and societal transformation. Enter Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, or as many fondly call him, President Ibu.

For many, including myself, President Ibu represented a grounded and principled leadership, distinct from the populist rhetoric that often clouds politics. His straightforward demeanour, unwavering work ethic, and language of genuine change resonated deeply with the populace. While elected under the banner of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), his ascension wasn't just a political transition—it symbolized the nation's collective yearning for stability, reform, and a return to democratic norms.

Upon assuming office, the tangible shifts were palpable. Political prisoners who had been victims of a compromised justice system were released. The oppressive environment that had curtailed freedom of expression and assembly began to lift, offering space for a range of viewpoints and critical voices. While investigations into past injustices have been initiated under his administration, they are still ongoing. Many in our nation are understandably restless eager for swift justice. Yet, it's crucial to recognize that alongside these investigations, deep systemic changes are being undertaken. It's not merely about addressing past wrongs but setting the nation on a correct course. While the ultimate destination of a just and accountable Maldives hasn't been reached, the trajectory set by President Ibu's leadership is encouraging. True change demands not just leadership from the top but active participation and patience from its citizenry. We must not merely chart a forward course, but ensure our nation's evolution is informed by past lessons, fostering growth from past scars and nurturing a more resilient Maldives for the future.

Yet, as is the nature of transformative journeys, the path wasn't devoid of challenges. The Maldives, under President Ibu's leadership, had to navigate a labyrinth of economic hurdles, with the shadows of global phenomena like the Covid-19 pandemic looming large. Environmental threats, ever-present for this island nation, continued to be a pressing concern. And in the intricate dance of politics, internal fissures began to appear, most notably the divergence between President Ibu and Mohamed Nasheed, a stalwart of the Maldivian democratic movement.

Despite these tribulations, when one looks at the broader story of Maldivian history, President Ibu's tenure shines bright. It stands as a testament to the resilience of a nation and its people and their unwavering commitment to democratic ideals. As we approach the 2023 elections, the stakes couldn't be higher. It's not just about choosing a leader; it's about advancing our journey towards a Maldives that is democratic, respects individual rights, and thrives on a plethora of ideas. A nation that not only remembers its past but is also unwavering in its pursuit of a brighter future.

A Vision for Transformation - The Path Forward and Beyond

The ripples of an election extend far beyond the immediate aftermath. As the Maldivian electorate stands at this crucial juncture, the question isn't solely about evaluating the past half-decade. It's about charting the nation's course for the years to come. Does President Ibu warrant another term at the helm? My conviction resoundingly affirms that he does.

This endorsement isn't birthed from blind allegiance or unthinking loyalty. Instead, it's rooted in a careful assessment of the progress we've witnessed under his aegis and the profound societal metamorphosis he has catalyzed. As the prospect of a second term for President Ibu and the MDP looms, it's pivotal to appreciate the broader transformation that's unfolding in the Maldivian landscape.The Maldives isn't merely an archipelago wrestling with its political ethos. It's steadily maturing into a democracy where reason, logic, and science are brought to the forefront, while older religious modes of thinking recede into the background, allowing humanist principles the opportunity to emerge and eventually flourish.

While no leader is the epitome of perfection, President Ibu's monumental contribution lies in nurturing this democratic evolution, allowing space for discourse, and welcoming criticisms, all while keeping the nation's best interests at the core of his presidency. As we gaze towards the horizon, the aspiration isn't restricted to a secular Maldives. It's a vision of a nation that stands tall as a beacon of democracy, where justice, equality, and civilizational advancement aren't mere buzzwords but are etched deeply into its very essence.

Modern Governance and Reform - Reviving Democracy and Justice

In the annals of Maldivian history, President Ibu's tenure will be etched as a time of democratic revival and a commitment to justice. While the everyday ebb and flow of politics often captures public attention, it's crucial to sift through the noise and identify transformative shifts that have lasting impacts. From the onset, his administration demonstrated a clear intent to address and rectify the vast majority of the shortcomings of the past. As we delve deeper, three pivotal areas of reform emerge that underscore the administration's commitment to rejuvenating democracy and justice in the Maldives:

The Restoration of Civil Liberties:

The atmosphere in the Maldives underwent a palpable shift following President Ibu's assumption of office. One of the most striking changes was the restoration of civil liberties, especially with respect to media freedom. The contrast with the preceding regime could not be starker. Under their rule, freedom of expression and assembly had been stifled, with media outlets and journalists operating under the looming shadow of censorship and reprisal. With President Ibu at the helm, this cloud began to lift. Activists, journalists, and free thinkers, many of whom had previously been persecuted or forced into silence, found themselves reinvigorated, contributing once more to a vibrant public discourse in the Maldives.

Release of Political Prisoners:

The atmosphere in the Maldives underwent a notable shift following President Ibu's assumption of office. A pronounced change was the restoration of civil liberties, especially concerning media freedom.

However, another pivotal stride towards re-establishing democratic norms was the release of numerous political prisoners. These individuals, incarcerated under the previous regime, found their freedom restored under President Ibu's leadership. This act was more than a political gesture; it symbolized a commitment to human rights and justice and resonated with the demands of the open letter. While the quest for a flawless justice system continues, these releases highlighted the administration's intent and direction.

Among the political prisoners released:

• Mohamed Nasheed: The former president and the current speaker of parliament. Initially sentenced on trumped-up terrorism charges, he was pardoned by President Ibu Solih. While Nasheed has been a notable figure in Maldivian politics, his new party is now presenting a contender in the upcoming elections.

• Qasim Ibrahim: Leader of the Jumhooree Party (JP) and a seasoned businessman-politician. After being sentenced on contrived charges, he was pardoned by Ibu Solih. Interestingly, Qasim is one of the individuals now running against Ibu in the forthcoming elections.

• Sheikh Imran Abdulla: Leader of the Adhaalath Party (AP) and a notable cleric. After being sentenced on contrived charges, he was pardoned by Ibu Solih. Today, Imran serves as the Home Minister in Ibu's government, representing a coalition partner. His inclusion in the cabinet is a strategic move by President Ibu, ensuring that religious factions are integrated into the governance process, thereby keeping extreme ideologies in check and fostering a balanced, broad-based administration.

• Mohamed Nazim: Former defense minister and ally of Abdulla Yameen. Pardoned by Ibu Solih, Nazim is now one of the contenders running against Ibu.

• Ahmed Faris Maumoon: Son of Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, the long-serving former president. After a pardon from Ibu Solih, Faris is also in the fray against Ibu in the upcoming elections.

These individuals, while representing a part of those freed or exonerated, also showcase the dynamic and multifaceted political landscape of the Maldives under President Ibu's administration.

Judicial and Institutional Reforms:

But President Ibu's vision of reform wasn't limited to mere symbolic gestures. Recognizing that the root of many of the Maldives' challenges lay in systemic issues, his administration embarked on a journey to reform key institutions, particularly the judiciary. The goal was clear: to restore the rule of law and ensure that the justice system was both independent and functional. This was paramount to ensure that the dark chapters of the past would not be repeated. An added layer of transparency was introduced by allowing media access to the judicial process, fostering trust and underscoring the administration's commitment to openness. As these reforms take hold, the ripple effects on Maldivian society are anticipated to be profound, laying the groundwork for a more just and democratic future.

Economic Development and Stability

In addition to the strides in governance and civil liberties, President Ibu's administration laid significant emphasis on bolstering the nation's economic bedrock.

Diversification and Growth:

Under President Ibu's leadership, the Maldivian economy witnessed a notable shift towards diversification. Rather than solely relying on the traditional pillars of the economy, there was a conscious effort to broaden the economic base. This meant exploring and investing in sectors like technology and sustainable tourism. The fruits of these initiatives became evident when, in 2019, the Maldives recorded an impressive GDP growth rate of 7.8 percent. This momentum was a testament to the efficacy of the administration's economic policies, even though global events like the Covid-19 pandemic would later present unforeseen challenges.

Infrastructure Enhancements:

Aligned with the vision of "Jazeera Raajje", President Ibu recognizes the importance of robust infrastructure in realizing sustainable economic growth. Significant investments flowed into key infrastructure projects, including the construction of a new bridge, land reclamation, roads, ports, and harbours. Additionally, transit networks such as buses, ferries, and speedboats have received enhancements. These developments not only improves the nation's connectivity but also opened up new economic opportunities for local communities. By facilitating the efficient movement of goods and services, these infrastructure projects will mature to play a pivotal role in energizing and integrating various parts of the Maldives, ensuring that prosperity is more evenly distributed.

Education, Health, and Social Harmony:

At the heart of President Ibu's administration lies an unwavering commitment to uplifting the Maldivian populace, ensuring their holistic well-being and nurturing an environment conducive to growth, harmony, and prosperity.

Empowering young people through Education:

If the youth is the future of a nation, education is the compass that guides it. Under President Ibu Solih's leadership, the Maldivian education system has witnessed a resurgence. With a 25 percent budget allocation towards education, the commitment towards cultivating intellectual capital is evident.

Here are some notable milestones achieved during President Solih's tenure:

• Maldives Education Management Information System (MEMIS): In collaboration with UNICEF, the government unveiled the MEMIS, a real-time student information system. This innovation facilitates the tracking of educational achievement, ensuring students receive the necessary resources and interventions.

• Free University Education: President Ibu championed free university education, ensuring that deserving students, based on academic performance and financial need, had their higher education fees covered. This move has exponentially increased access to tertiary education, bridging the divide and fostering a culture of academic pursuit.

• National Institute of Education (NIE): An institution established to maintain the quality and standards of education across the Maldives. It's not just a regulatory body; the NIE is a hub for the training and certification of teachers, curriculum development, and setting educational standards. By doing so, the NIE ensures that the quality of education remains consistent across the archipelago.

• New Curriculum Framework: The government rolled out a fresh curriculum for grades 1 to 12, emphasizing fostering critical thinking, creativity, and innovation among students. By equipping students with these skills, the administration is preparing them for the challenges of the 21st century.

• Teacher Recruitment and Welfare: Recognizing that the quality of education is as good as its educators, the government revised teacher recruitment policies. In addition, by hiking salaries and allowances, the administration underscored its commitment to the teaching community.

• Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET): An area that had previously been overlooked, TVET programs were expanded. This is especially beneficial for out-of-school youth and women, providing them with the skills necessary for gainful employment.

• Digital Transformation in Education: Reflecting the global shift towards digital, the government launched a pilot project to provide tablet devices to middle school students. This move not only familiarizes students with technology but also ensures that learning isn't hampered by physical constraints.

Through these initiatives and reforms, the administration has not only shown its commitment to education but has laid the foundation for an educated, skilled, and future-ready Maldivian generation.

Universal Health Coverage:

The axiom that health is wealth has never been more pertinent, and under President Ibu Solih's administration, this has been keenly understood. The emphasis has been on ensuring that every Maldivian, regardless of their socioeconomic standing, can access quality healthcare. The vision isn't just about immediate care but encompasses a holistic approach to long-term public health challenges.

Here are some of the notable achievements in the healthcare sector under President Solih's leadership:

• Balanced Approach to Public Health Emergency: The decision to lift the public health emergency in July 2020, declared in response to the pandemic, was emblematic of the challenges in balancing economic revival, health concerns, and civil liberties. While the tourism industry viewed this as a lifeline for the Maldivian economy, health experts approached it with caution. At the same time, civil society activists emphasized the need to preserve freedoms even in challenging times. Impressively, the government navigated these complexities without resorting to the heavy-handed authoritarian measures witnessed even in many Western nations, showcasing their commitment to holistic welfare and democratic principles.

• Establishment of Maldives Health Service: A landmark decision that underscores the commitment to primary healthcare. This institution is poised to cater to the nation's public health needs under a decentralized setup, focusing on human resource development and technical staff training in the health sector.

• Introduction of Maldives Healthcare Quality Standards (MHQS): With WHO's technical assistance, the government rolled out MHQS, setting standards and indicators to gauge and enhance the quality and performance of health facilities.

• Bilateral Cooperation with India: Reiterating the "India First" policy, the administration fortified its health partnership with India, leading to assistance in terms of medical supplies, vaccines, and financial aid during the pandemic.

• Telemedicine Services: In a move to bridge geographical barriers and provide healthcare access across the islands, a telemedicine service was launched. This service ensures remote consultations and referrals, making healthcare more accessible.

• Digital Health Card System: Embracing digital transformation in healthcare, a digital health card system was introduced, streamlining access to health services and information for citizens.

• Drone Pilot Project: In a pioneering move, a pilot project was initiated to deploy drones for the delivery of medical supplies and blood samples to the remote islands, ensuring that distance isn't a barrier to medical needs.

While the path to universal health coverage has its challenges, the trajectory set by the administration is clear: to provide comprehensive healthcare while safeguarding individual rights, and to be ever-evolving in the approach to ensure the health and well-being of every Maldivian.

Curbing Islamic Extremism through Promoting Moderate Islam: 

In the broader spectrum of worldviews, humanism stands out as a beacon of reason, science, and evidence-based thinking. It offers an understanding of ethics and morality grounded in human values and concerns, starkly contrasting with religious worldviews that often rely on ancient texts, myths, and divine commandments. Many of these religious narratives don't hold up to scientific scrutiny, functioning more as legacy cultural software that has propagated through centuries.

The Maldives, with a history spanning over 2000 years, once practiced Buddhism before the forceful introduction of Islam just over 900 years ago. This religious shift was later entrenched through centuries of governance by a sultanate/clerical class. Today, the nation grapples with the challenge of transitioning from these legacy narratives towards a more enlightened understanding of the world. Historically, despite its enforced introduction, Islam in the Maldives evolved into a more laid-back form, perhaps influenced by the nature of island life, which didn't adhere strictly to orthodox Islamic texts. However, modern times saw Maldivians receiving religious education in the Middle East, inadvertently importing more radical ideologies akin to those propagated by extremist groups like ISIS and Al-Qaeda. This underscores the importance of the current administration's efforts to promote a more moderate and secular version of Islam. 

It's a daunting task, and like any evolutionary process, requires gradual, measured steps. In examining the Maldives' trajectory, I recognize a pivotal evolutionary shift. While President Ibu's administration may not explicitly frame it in such terms, their efforts to promote a version of Islam that leans towards secular and moderate values plays a crucial role in this transition. By doing so, they are effectively shifting the societal Overton window, steering it away from extremist ideologies and towards a more humanistic understanding. This context is essential to grasp, and it underpins my support for these measures.

This isn't merely a theoretical exercise. Concrete actions have been initiated by President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih's administration since its inception in November 2018:

• Defence and Security Reforms: Enhanced budget allocations for the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) and increased defence collaborations with India underline a strengthened security focus.

• Police Reforms: The appointment of a new Commissioner of Police, Mohamed Hameed, and the establishment of the National Integrity Commission (NIC) aim at restoring public confidence in the police.

• Prison Reforms: In an effort to combat radicalization within prisons, the government established a special rehabilitation center on Maafushi island, targeted at inmates convicted of terrorism or extremism offences. This center aims to de-radicalize and reintegrate inmates, supported by a team of experts.

• Home Ministry: The appointment of Sheikh Imran Abdulla, an influential Islamic scholar and leader of the Adhaalath Party, aims to challenge extremist narratives. Sheikh Imran's advocacy for a moderate interpretation of Islam has been instrumental in this effort.

• Intelligence: The restructuring of the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) and its collaboration with international partners strengthens the nation's counter-terrorism endeavours.

• Government Initiatives: The Ministry of Islamic Affairs (MIA) launched a national strategy to prevent violent extremism, while the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment (MYSC) works to engage the youth and prevent them from falling into extremist ideologies.

• Decentralization: Empowering local councils and island communities is another strategy to counteract extremism at the grassroots level.

However, challenges persist. Extremist groups continue to target advocates of secularism, democracy, and minority rights, with some attacks resulting in fatalities. Additionally, political dynamics, including opposition parties' criticism of the government's approach, further complicate the situation.

Yet, in a testament to President Ibu Solih's adept maneuvering, even the clerics in the country have endorsed him for a second term. This endorsement is a reflection of the president's ability to bring about changes without triggering outright resistance. It's reminiscent of the analogy of a frog placed in tepid water that is slowly heated; the frog doesn't realize it's in hot water until it's too late. In the Maldives, the gradual and strategic changes might just lead to a more moderate and tolerant society without causing severe societal upheavals.

It's clear that combating extremism is not just about policy but also about navigating complex social, political, and historical terrains. As we navigate this evolutionary shift, it's vital to remember that while the journey is long, every step towards a more enlightened, humanistic society is a stride in the right direction.

Addressing Environmental Concerns with a Critical Eye:

Often described as the "canary in the coal mine" when it comes to discussing climate change on the geopolitics stage, the Maldives is acutely aware of the significant impacts of unpredictable sea levels and shifting weather patterns. The nation has consistently aligned with mainstream climate science, recognizing the potential human-driven environmental changes as an existential threat to its low-lying islands and inhabitants. While President Ibu's government actively collaborates with the international community on environmental challenges, it's imperative to do so with discernment. Though the administration engages in good faith, vigilance is crucial to ensure that the Maldives doesn't become merely a case study or a pawn in global agendas. Instead, the nation should stand as an active participant, championing both its national interests and the broader values of humanism.

In the face of global challenges, nations often look to universal frameworks like the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the UN. The Maldives, under President Ibu's leadership, should certainly respect its international obligations; however, we should remiain keenly aware of the potential pitfalls of such a one-size-fits-all approach. As we engage with global frameworks, it's crucial to do so with discernment, being vigilant of underlying political ideologies that might be at odds with democratic, classical liberal, or humanist values. The concerns about vested corporate interests and the rise in centralized digitization associated with the SDGs are notably relevant. We must be wary, as some of these frameworks may bear ideological biases that diverge from the democratic, classical liberal, or humanist principles essential for genuine environmental stewardship.

While the Maldives actively engages in global climate discussions, it's essential to ensure that the nation's unique context and values aren't overshadowed by overarching directives. The administration must persistently advocate for international climate adaptation programs that align with foundational humanist documents, such as the UN's Human Rights Declaration (UNHRD), ensuring that Maldivian interests resonate with humanity's broader goals. 

However, climate adaptation shouldn't equate to civilizational stagnation. Solutions such as the adoption of nuclear energy as a sustainable power source should be prioritized over unsustainable de-growth and dependence on intermittent energy sources for transitioning away from fossil fuels. As the Maldives engages in global climate adaptation efforts, it should champion these human-centric solutions on the world stage. Because at the heart of all these efforts, lies a profound humanist ethos.

Treading the Global Diplomatic Stage with Vigilance:

In an increasingly interconnected world, under President Ibu's leadership, the Maldives has actively re-engaged on the global diplomatic stage, following a period of relative disengagement under the previous administration. Yet, as with any theatrical performance, not everything is as it seems. Larger nations and influential institutions might possess ulterior motives, hidden behind the curtain of diplomacy. For nations such as the Maldives, it's paramount to remain vigilant and scrutinize every international commitment to ensure alignment with national interests.

Being a part of the global community is undeniably essential. However, it's crucial that the Maldives not just blend into the chorus but ensures its unique voice is heard. This means continually prioritizing national interests, even in a sea of global voices. The Maldives' commitment to foundational humanist documents, like the UN's Human Rights Declaration, must remains unwavering. It's this commitment that must act as a compass, ensuring the nation doesn't stray into frameworks that could overshadow or compromise its core values or our own interests.

Public participation and vigilance form the backbone of any vibrant democracy. Under the environment fostered by President Ibu's administration, the Maldivian citizenry, bolstered by an active civil society, must remain instrumental in shaping the nation's international interactions. Their role shouldn't be limited to passive observation; it encompasses staying informed, critically engaging with policies, and holding leaders accountable. This proactive involvement ensures that the nation's leadership remains transparent and firmly aligned with the values we aspire to advance and champion.

Engaging in global initiatives shouldn't result in the Maldives merely echoing international sentiments. While the global stage provides a direction, the nation crafts its own narrative, ensuring that every global commitment is tailored to resonate with its distinct cultural, environmental, and political nuances. It's this synthesis of global participation and indigenous perspective that ensures the nation's aspirations and unique identity remain intact.

To navigate the complex maze of global geopolitics, the nation ought to heed earlier warnings and be deliberate in cultivating sophisticated diplomacy. Recognizing the potential pitfalls and subtleties of the international stage, there should be a concerted effort to fortify Maldivian diplomats and experts in international relations. Endowed with a deep understanding of global affairs and geopolitical intricacies, these envoys can ensure that the Maldives not only engages in global dialogues but also stands as a vigilant and unwavering champion of its national interests and values.

The Promise of a Prosperous Future in a Decentralized Landscape

For years, the Maldives operated under a centralized governance model. While this might have seemed efficient on the surface, it presented numerous economic and governance challenges across the nation's atolls and islands. Under the centralized governance model that once dominated the Maldivian landscape, there were evident imbalances in resource allocation and development. Under the centralized governance model, many regions were left behind, with primary benefits flowing predominantly to a select few areas. Such centralization not only resulted in stark disparities, with some islands lacking essential infrastructure and unequal access to basic amenities, but also eroded the autonomy of the islands. This system further entrenched a culture of patronage, where those with connections and affiliations found themselves at an advantageous position, effectively creating a hierarchy of privilege within the society. By fostering dependencies, it diminished the islands' abilities to chart their paths of self-determination. Consequently, this centralized approach stifled local initiatives, innovations, and aspirations, hindering the nation's potential for broad and balanced growth.

Under President Ibu's administration, the long-held aspirations of the people for more decentralized governance began to take shape. While acknowledging the inherent limitations and challenges of centralization, the administration facilitated a notable shift towards a more distributed governance framework. The intent wasn't just a top-down directive; it echoed the people's desires, tracing back to the beginnings of the democracy movement in the country. The objective was clear: to ensure the nation's prosperity wasn't limited to the capital but was uniformly accessible across all its islands and atolls, allowing the people to autonomously determine their collective future.

Under President Ibu's leadership, the Maldives has witnessed remarkable economic growth. Efforts have been made to diversify the economy beyond just tourism, tapping into sectors like fisheries, agriculture, and technology. Such diversification initiatives not only bolstered the nation's economic resilience but also opened up new avenues of employment and growth for locals.

Furthermore, infrastructural developments have been at the forefront of this administration's agenda. From building better transportation networks to enhancing local amenities, the goal has been to uplift the quality of life for every Maldivian. These infrastructural projects, executed within the decentralized framework, have ensured that development isn't just concentrated in urban hubs but is spread across the archipelago.

This shift from a centralized to a decentralized model, underpinned by economic growth and diversification, signifies a new chapter in the Maldives' journey. It's a testament to the nation's commitment to ensuring that progress and prosperity are not just buzzwords but lived realities for its citizens.

Catalyzing Localized Economic & Social Growth Through Decentralization

The Maldives, in its pursuit of economic growth and self-reliance, has taken significant steps to decentralize its governance structure over recent years. This move, though rooted in governance principles, is intrinsically tied to the nation's economic aspirations.

Institutionalizing Decentralization: At the forefront of this transformation is the establishment of the Local Government Authority. Created to be the linchpin in this evolution, the LGA’s mandate is to oversee and coordinate the decentralization process, ensuring it seamlessly integrates with the country's broader developmental goals. This move was more than administrative; it was a resounding declaration of the country's commitment to empowering local administrative bodies.

Elections and Empowerment: The 2020 local council elections played a pivotal role in this decentralization narrative. Beyond electing local representatives, these elections enshrined progressive ideals into the governance fabric, most notably guaranteeing a one-third representation for women in each council. This wasn't just a nod to gender equality; it was an acknowledgment of the economic potential that comes with inclusive decision-making. Empowering women to be part of local governance decisions can lead to more comprehensive, balanced, and sustainable economic outcomes.

Tailored Economic Vision: Underpinning these initiatives is the National Decentralization Policy, which charts out the nation's vision for its decentralized future. It envisions a country where development isn't dictated by a central playbook but is instead reflective of local needs, strengths, and aspirations. This localized approach to economic development, backed by the policy, aims to capitalize on the unique potential of each region.

Towards More Distributed Prosperity: In its essence, the Maldives' decentralization journey is more than an administrative reshuffling—it's an economic reimagining. By placing power in local hands, championing gender-inclusive growth, and tailoring development efforts to local strengths, the Maldives is charting a course towards a future where prosperity isn't just seen in GDP numbers but felt in the lives of its citizens across every atoll and island.

The Real-world Impacts of Decentralization

Decentralization, while rooted in governance frameworks and policy documents, finds its real value when its effects trickle down to the lives of the people it intends to serve. The shift towards a decentralized Maldives isn't just a tale of policy changes but of real stories, real transformations, and tangible progress.

Empowering Female Leadership: Decentralization, combined with Women's Development Committees and affirmative action, has significantly expanded leadership opportunities for women. This not only amplifies their voice but also actively involves them in shaping the future of their communities.

Youth Involvement in Decision Making: The voice of the youth, often sidelined in governance, has found a robust platform in the decentralized Maldives. Decentralization isnt just symbolic; it provide an avenue for young people with an avenue to voice their opinions, participate in the political process, ensuring their involvement in shaping the future of their regions. This active participation ensures a more vibrant, dynamic, and forward-looking governance model.

Community-led Environmental Initiatives: Decentralization isn't just about governance; it's about enabling communities to address their unique challenges.

These stories, among countless others, spotlight the profound impacts of decentralization. They showcase a nation in transformation, where every island, every atoll, and every individual plays a part in shaping its future.

Revisiting the Vision for a Secular Maldives

Before I bring this post to a close—a post that has taken longer to pen than I initially imagined—I believe it's crucial to revisit the thirteen demands set forth in my earlier open letter. These demands serve as both a reflection of our past aspirations and a gauge of our ongoing journey towards a secular Maldives. While the intent isn't to assert that President Ibu's administration will fulfill all these demands, it's essential to recognize how each aspect of his leadership inches us closer to this vision.

Several years ago, my open letter painted a picture of the Maldives—a land at the crossroads of monumental change, where age-old traditions could harmoniously dance with progressive ideals. The thirteen demands weren't mere wishes; they represented our collective yearning for a societal metamorphosis. As we take stock of President Ibu's time in office, it's imperative to discern the manner in which his tenure has either directly met these demands or sowed the seeds for their eventual fruition.

Our ultimate vision remains unwavering: A Maldives that emerges as a beacon of enlightenment. A nation that celebrates its cultural wealth but forges ahead, guided by reason, logic, and a steadfast dedication to societal upliftment.

Let's take a cursory look at each demand, gauging the progress since the letter's inception and the challenges that still lie ahead. Please note that this is a preliminary analysis, and I intend to delve deeper into each aspect in a subsequent post.

1. Universal human rights: Medium.

   • Progress: Notable improvements in the human rights situation.

   • Challenge: Persistent gaps in ensuring universal rights for all, largely stemming from religious exceptions. Achieving a complete separation of religion from the state (as highlighted in Point 5) may be necessary to fully realize this goal.

2. Vibrant participatory democracy: High.

   • Progress: There has been a noticeable revival in democratic processes and political participation under Ibu Solih. The administration has actively engaged with the public and civil society, and elections have been largely perceived as free and fair.

   • Challenge: There continue to be instances where threats against journalists, activists, and critics manifest in the form of violence, harassment, or legal consequences. The journey towards a politically mature society is ongoing and requires time and collective effort.

3. Free and fair media: High.

   • Progress: Notable enhancement in media freedom and broadening of media outlets.

     Challenge: While advancements have been made, maintaining media freedom requires constant vigilance from the public. Without consistent oversight, there's a risk that the gains achieved could be compromised by biases or vested interests.

4. Overhaul of education system: Medium.

   • Progress: Steps continue to be taken to enhance the education system.

   • Challenge: A comprehensive curriculum revision, especially in areas like biology, evolution, and the nature of the universe, is needed for students to grasp a more complete and well rounded education. However, the intertwining of religion and state, as highlighted in point 5, poses significant hurdles to adopting a consistently modern, science-based curriculum.

5. Separation of state from religion: Low.

   • Progress: Limited advancements in this arena.

   • Challenge: The deep-rooted constitutional and legal ties binding the state to Islam present a significant obstacle. This intertwining not only hampers the progression of secularism but also impedes the realization of several other demands, as religious stipulations often override progressive reforms.

6. Judicial reform: Medium.

   • Progress: Marked progress in the reformation of the judiciary system.

   • Challenge: The intimate nature of our small community presents unique challenges, such as the ease with which witnesses can be intimidated. While improvements are evident, establishing a consistently impartial judiciary that upholds justice equitably for all in such an environment remains an ongoing endeavour.

7. Police reform: Medium.

   • Progress: Initial steps have been taken towards reshaping the police force. Challenge: In a small community setting, maintaining unbiased policing is inherently challenging. Furthermore, effectively countering extremism and ensuring consistent accountability within the force remain areas that need attention.

8. End to gangsterism & establish rule of law: Low.

   • Progress: Recognizable efforts to curb gangsterism, though tangible results are limited.

     Challenge: Persistent gang violence continues to disrupt societal stability and hinder economic progress. The complex nature of the issue demands innovative and comprehensive solutions.well-being.

9. Better tax laws: Medium.

   • Progress: Significant reforms in the tax system.

   • Challenge: Ensuring transparency in tax spending and crafting tax policies that account for imminent challenges such as automation.

10. Better social services and healthcare reform: Medium.

• Progress: Tangible advancements in social services and healthcare provisions.

• Challenge: The journey towards comprehensive healthcare reform and bolstered social services is ongoing. Efforts are needed to elevate education, retain skilled professionals within the country, and address other foundational challenges to ensure consistent progress.

11. Future forward transparent national development plans: Medium.

• Progress: Efforts towards transparent development plans. Furthermore, public and civil society engagement has been prioritized for more broad-based decision-making.

• Challenge: Despite these advancements, hurdles like corruption, mismanagement, and lack of coordination among governmental levels and stakeholders persist. There's a pressing need to streamline policy alignments and strengthen the monitoring and evaluation processes to measure the impact of developmental projects effectively.

12. Electoral reform: Low.

• Progress: The existing electoral system remains unchanged with no effort to revise the system.

• Challenge: The Maldives retains a first-past-the-post system for crucial presidential and parliamentary elections, limiting proportional representation. Despite calls for the adoption of a single transferable vote system to ensure more equitable representation, the government faces resistance from factions benefiting from the current structure.

13. Women’s rights: Medium.

• Progress: Significant steps have been taken, including appointing more women to leadership roles across various sectors and implementing laws such as the Domestic Violence Act and the Sexual Harassment Prevention Act. Initiatives to empower women in education, health, and economy have been launched, with a mandate ensuring women occupy one-third of local council seats.

• Challenge: While progress is evident, persistent discriminatory laws and practices, especially those rooted in religious beliefs, continue to hamper women's rights in areas such as inheritance and marriage. The intertwined relationship between state and religion, as pointed out in point 5, remains a significant barrier. Cultural and societal norms further limit women's active participation in politics and decision-making, and prevailing socio-economic challenges inhibit women’s opportunities and overall well-being.

Concluding thoughts

I still remember the days when voicing out on the internet felt like walking on a tightrope, with the vast abyss of backlash and retribution looming below. Growing up in the Maldives, my transition from a traditionalist to an activist was punctuated with clandestine online activism, spearheading communities that dared to challenge the status quo. Homelessness became a testament to my commitment, as I wandered, always wary yet defiant, striving to reshape societal narratives. Those were times when dissent wasn't just a risk—it was a potential catastrophe. Memories of dangerous rallies, the thrill of seeing ideas resonate with people, and the subsequent fear of retaliation—they all echoed our collective desire for freedom, for change, for a brighter Maldives. While shadows of those times still linger, the promise of a new dawn, of a more democratic Maldives, seems tantalizingly close.

The proverbial darkest hour came right before dawn. In 2008, the Maldives bore witness to its inaugural multiparty presidential election, marking a watershed moment of silent struggles, aspirations, and the indomitable Maldivian spirit. The shadows of a 30-year dictatorship began to recede, replaced by hope. But this newfound democracy was transient, ending with a coup that exiled many, including me.

Yet, the resilient spirit of hope never wavered. With President Ibu's election in 2018, the nation embarked on a path of redemption. Reforms, previously mere dreams, have begun materializing, highlighting the continuous effort to uphold and advance democratic values. The journey, with its peaks and valleys, stands as a testament to the Maldivian spirit, emphasizing that the pursuit of democracy is an unending endeavour, with every challenge overcome brightening our future.

In the years since my open letter echoed our collective aspirations, we've navigated hope, transformation, and challenges together. The letter was more than mere words; it was a beacon, lighting our path to a brighter, more inclusive Maldives. Today, as we look to the horizon, our direction is firm and resolute.

We now stand at a pivotal juncture, where the goal transcends leadership. We're on the brink of a new era demanding our collective vision and engagement. I call upon every citizen, thinker, and visionary to rise, converse, and shape our future. Let's guide our beloved Maldives towards a future enriched with enlightenment values, secularism, humanism, and boundless progress.

This journey, inspired by a dream of a secular Maldives is a challenging one. Yet, with dedication and unity, it's achievable. As we journey forth, President Ibu represents not just a leader but a necessary stepping stone along our path. Amidst the cacophony, it's imperative to keep our gaze fixed on the extensive fabric of our vision. He is a crucial chapter in the unfolding story of the Maldives' evolution.

Here is hoping President Ibu secures another 5 more years in office.

INTERLINKED IDEAS

For those who've read my deep dive into why I support a second term for President Ibu, it's clear that the challenges we face are multifaceted. As we discuss the importance of unity for the sake of Maldives' democracy, it's crucial to directly address the influencers and decision-makers. Dive into my open letter to President Nasheed where I delve into our nation's trajectory, risks, and the call for a united front against the threats we face.

Thank you for taking the time to read my work. My writing is purposed to make us all think together, not to impose my thoughts. If you enjoyed it and found it valuable, there are many ways you can show your support and help me continue writing.

- Become a patron by subscribing to my premium membership.

- Share my blog with someone you know who may also find it interesting or useful.

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- Leave a comment with your thoughts or questions to engage in a dialogue and give me feedback.

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To comment on the contents of the conference, and how the proceedings went, these are some of my main observations; 

To comment on the contents of the conference, and how the proceedings went, these are some of my main observations; 

1. The mullahs didn’t come at us with jihadi rhetoric, declaring the authors of the report and the members of MDN need to be given sharia punishments. It was odd that this wasn’t their method of approach, given how it is seemingly the apparent approach based on past activities of these mullahs. I would say they almost approached it in a civilized way. How about that, huh?  So much butt-hurt thought.

2. They laid out what they believed to be the problems with the report, in numbered points – a total of 10 which was greatly expanded upon through out the conference. I find this to be fair for now, at least it gave us a clearer picture of the grievances that these people are holding against the authors of the report, its contents and MDN. We now know what exactly we are dealing with here. 

3. Then they proceeded to interpret the laws of the land through their Islamic lens and claimed how they believe that “this grave crime of insulting Islam” has happened in the report and how they should be punished for that report according to the religious unity laws of Maldives. They do include everyone involved as including financiers and supporters as a party to the alleged criminality. 

What is notable is this appeal for the implementation of the law in dealing with MDN, minimizes possible jihadi type reactions from radicals within society. And this is despite Ilyas claiming once during the conference that religion is more important that the laws. And all of this comes as an awkward shot at their own feet, as this approach is an implicit recognition of secular laws over Islamic sharia. The religious unity act, as annoying as it is, treats it the points raised in their initial numbered points as misdemeanours almost when compared to potential sharia alternatives. This, my friends, is an essential incremental win. Don’t rest on your laurels yet; we still have a long way to go, however. 

Now given that this has happened the way it has, in a democracy rule of law must reign supreme, and we must be in support of it. Unfortunately, this opens doors for members of MDN and the authors of their report as well as potentially many others to be prosecuted by current laws. This also makes it clear, the specific laws that we must now keep in our crosshairs that is needing to be amended down the line, given opportunities that will emerge.

If authors and MDN members get subjected to this scenario of persecution, they must take it with grace because we all knew the risks we take the minute we entered the activist space we operate in, and we all made decisions to be a part of it. This sucks, but it is what it is. The silver lining in all of this is that all critical persons named currently resides outside of the Maldives. And for the time being, they will remain unaffected by this in a more significant way. 

Having said that, I see more opportunities emerge from this current situation as the #SecularMaldives approach is an online engagement based social engineering approach intertwined with political game theory, so I do want to talk about that in this post as well. 

The Mullahs, despite their constant posturing, appear to concede that given the risks of severe societal instability with the issues at hand, they don’t want to press on to the government in a hardline approach, which could result in a coup. Or they may have recognized despite the weapon of religion they wield, the political landscape has shifted against their favour, and are hesitant to test how strong a leg they have to stand on if push comes to shove. It is after all 30 odd mullahs that the government has to contain to take control of the situation. This is a more transparent and easily defined task if the government is presiding over a police force and the military with full control over them. Obviously, this is an unknown at the moment if they are in complete control, given we don’t fully understand how deep the tentacles of the deep state goes. 

The government, on the other hand, should know through the experience of already once being toppled in a coup back in 2012, the risks they face if they give in to a coup plot. They should be vigilant and prepared that a coup could be brewing. It is in the interest of the MDP government to avoid any coup attempts and continue with political reforms promised in Agenda 19. 

The Agenda 19 platform carries with it the hopes and dreams of the typical Maldivian person and is very much representative of grassroots aspirations of the Dhivehi people for progress and prosperity. And given that the MDP government exists side by side with a parliamentary majority of their own, this gives the government a lot of room to maneuver in the current environment. I believe that the government should take all precautions to avoid a possible coup and should now be seeking opportunities to implement the newly amended anti-terrorism laws to curb the activities of radical Islamists in the country. That leaves all these mullahs of the deep state on their toes all the time to avoid criminality. Any misstep by them lets the state exercise its powers through the police and the military to maintain the rule of law in a potential escalation. The government also has the luxury of invoking powerful military allies in India and elsewhere if they need help in maintaining safety and stability in the country. This is comforting to understand.

Where does that leave #SecularMaldives advocates? I think, we should continue pushing on with #FikuryInqilab activities, and #NormalizingDissent as this will continue to push the boundaries of what is acceptable in society and continue to keep the mullahs on their toes, while the government, using the laws of the land, its institutions of power that it wields keeps the mullah in check.

This new environment, if maintained, would defang the mullahs over an extended period, as the new-normal starts setting in and people begin to become socialized into that new reality, potentially further raising the liberal baseline of society over time. This is key to achieving the #SecularMaldives ambitions of many of us. The fact the events of this mullah conference played out the way it has is a testament to the already shifted of liberal baseline in the country and should be viewed as incremental progress. 

As for the “ilthumaas” demands of these mullahs, its irrelevant to #SecularMaldives activism whether the government follows through and bans MDN. 

As a final note, I wanted to dismiss everything Sheikh Ilyas said as imaginary drivel belonging to a made-up religion. Completely removed from reality and irrelevant! But I advise the good sheikh to reflect on my tweet below.

Your privilege is showing. Islam dehumanizes unbelievers in the theology & you all repeat it everyday, indoctrinating and socializing everyone is a cycle of hate. We will continue to call out your religion as long as this situation exists. Change your religion to fit the times. https://t.co/O3h9fOwfQo pic.twitter.com/MyxNwVTyK5

— Muju 5.0

(@mujunaeem) October 14, 2019

Your started the dehumanization of everyone else through your religion. Yet it is our rejection of your ideology somehow makes us criminal? How? And why would be accept that? We refuse to give your religion a pass until you address the problems within your religion!

In parting, I remind you all, the waves of time will move forward, and your religion is in the way of human aspirations for progress and prosperity. You will not fare well in the face of that very unique human desire. And we now wield the tools of science and technology at our disposal. And unfortunately, you are just in the way!

This is the journey that we all must take. For us to get to the free country that we all aspire to. This is the beginning of a long hard road ahead. We must keep at it. #NormalizingDissent #FikuryInqilab #SecularMaldives pic.twitter.com/OsDLMTsQh8

— Muju 5.0

(@mujunaeem)October 7, 2019

We march forward! Have courage my friends. We will win this.

Thank you for taking the time to read my work. My writing is purposed to make us all think together, not to impose my thoughts. If you enjoyed it and found it valuable, there are many ways you can show your support and help me continue writing.

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Posting this because it should have been a public conversation, to begin with.

These are screenshots from a conversation I had this morning with a guy named Aiman Ahmed (https://www.facebook.com/emperorrrrr). The account may very well have been made to interact with me. Looks fake as fuck. He’s been trolling on my Facebook page recently and he initiated this private chat on my page messenger.

The reason I am posting the screenshots is because it’s the sort of conversation I would have wanted to have in public. It serves no purpose just sitting in my inbox. Hence this blog post.

Postscript: These screenshots happen after the blog post.

Thank you for taking the time to read my work. My writing is purposed to make us all think together, not to impose my thoughts. If you enjoyed it and found it valuable, there are many ways you can show your support and help me continue writing.

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2. Share my blog with someone you know who may also find it interesting or useful.

3. Spread the word by sharing this post on your social media channels.

4. Leave a comment with your thoughts or questions to engage in a dialogue and give me feedback.

I deeply appreciate your support and generosity, as writing high-quality content requires a significant investment of my time and energy. One of my primary goals with this blog is to achieve greater financial autonomy and reduce my reliance on traditional employment. While I don't expect to make a full-time income from this, every subscription and every bit of support brings me one step closer to this goal.

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The Maldives needs an electoral system overhaul. This post explains how Single Transferable Vote can be that change.

Before I was forced to abruptly stop the #fikuryingilaab web video series on Youtube and apply for political asylum, I had a Skype conversation with the former chair of the  Elections Commission of the Maldives where we talked about the systemic flaws in the electoral system that rigs it against the will of the people.

The current system is designed for the people to have an appearance of participatory democracy but doesn’t quite deliver on the promise.

Listen to the conversation below;

In my opinion, the solution to the problem would be a complete overhaul of the system towards what is known as the Single Transferable Vote (STV).  The system, which at first may seem complicated, is designed to achieve proportional representation through ranked voting in multi-seat elections.

In the educational video series below, presented as lessons, Youtube publisher CGP Grey explains how everything works in detail. The series is titled “The Politics of the Animal Kingdom“.

The videos start with explaining the problems in the first past post voting systems before going into explaining the Single Transferable Vote as a solution and how something that can be implemented in a country like the Maldives or similar country.

*Note: the videos are not made to describe the exact system in practice in the Maldives, but rather as a general description of common voting systems in countries (the Maldives included). They are presented for information and comparison. The videos in Section 1 have slight variations to the electoral system in practice in the Maldives, but still manages to do a very good job explaining most of the problems and is therefore recommended watching in sequence.

Section 1 – The problems

The Problems with First Past the Post Voting Explained

The Alternative Vote Explained

Mixed-Member Proportional Representation Explained

Gerrymandering Explained

Multiple Party Gerrymandering

The Shortest-Splitline Algorithm: a Gerrymandering Solution

As you can see, there are many ways to try and fix the problem with current systems and ends up being a confusing mess sometimes to the ordinary person as there are many instances that allow for manipulation to impact the outcomes of the election.

A system that allows for fair and proportional representation for all peoples to be heard, we need to look at the solution that Single Transferable Vote provides.

Section 2 – The Solution

Politics in the Animal Kingdom: Single Transferable Vote

Footnote ‡ from STV: Hare Vs Droop

Footnote † from STV: Switch To STV

Footnote * from STV: Proportional Systems vs STV

Extra: STV Election Walkthrough

I don’t expect that people will go out tomorrow to try and change the system. For that to happen, enough people need to know the benefits they will get if they changed the system. So to make this possible, thoughtful people need to share this post with enough people and have conversations about the benefits to spread the message and to convince that we need to change the system. Slowly you need to build consensus among the people for change to be possible. And only you can do that.

I hope this single sharable easy link to be a seed for something good down the line. I always wish the people of the Maldives well.

Thank you for taking the time to read my work. My writing is purposed to make us all think together, not to impose my thoughts. If you enjoyed it and found it valuable, there are many ways you can show your support and help me continue writing.

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2. Share my blog with someone you know who may also find it interesting or useful.

3. Spread the word by sharing this post on your social media channels.

4. Leave a comment with your thoughts or questions to engage in a dialogue and give me feedback.

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Whether you share my beliefs or not, whether you agree with my convictions and stances or not, whether you like my works or not, or whether you have a good opinion of me or not, consider reading this from start to end. This is not about religion or petty death threats; this is about the actual, realistic dangers all Maldivians face – from the average person to the poor and elite.

Yesterday morning, just before lunch time (in Male’), I received some messages on my Facebook page. Someone who called himself Tarzan WoWo (Leandro) on Facebook was sending me messages incessantly. Before I reproduce those messages, here is a picture of person available on his Facebook profile. Just in case he decides to remove it later.

From this post on Facebook page Resist I was, however, able to get a clear picture of his face.

From this Police tweet from 8th April 2016, we know that his name is Abdulla Naasih. He was 20 years last year. He would now be 21 years of age. He is from Ga. Atoll, Kodey Island, and his home is Dhaarul Garaaru.

We also know from the link in the Police tweet that he is a felon who has been tagged with an electronic “MoniCon” bracelet which is used to monitor the whereabout of some criminals in the country. The tagging can be done by order of the courts.

We also know from this criminal court document that he also had a court hearing against him on 28th November 2016. His name appears on page 4 as the last entry. The case against him was “causing bodily harm to a person.” No other details are provided.

He responds to the police tweet by tweeting at them asking for a better picture to be included and then goes on to provide a clearer picture of how he likes himself to be seen as. In the tweet, he says “people will think what you want them to think about me (with that picture). Put this photo instead rather than the current photo (referring to the mugshot).

From his cover image on Facebook, we can tell that he is very proud of the gang that he is affiliated with.

Masodi Gang is now parading around as a Sports Club like many of the gangs in the country. It’s an easy cover for all the gangs in the country.

Below are the screenshots of the messages that I got from this guy earlier today; He spoke in Dhivehi while I spoke in English. I have paraphrased translations after every screenshot below. I am only able to bring this story because this radicalized gangster felt the need to gloat and brag about his handy work to someone. And he picked me thinking I have something to do with the meme pages (been getting a lot of that lately).

In the first messages he says;

Tarzan: Not very good huh? All talk frothing at the mouth. Ultimately that video had to be deleted after bragging about how you all want to “fly like a bird and die like a hero”. It had my picture in it.

Tarzan: You can make bubbles while you stay abroad (sends a screenshot). Tell the people that run this page.

Note: I was going to say “I am not sure it was deleted by them” but had gotten autocorrected to “I am sure it was deleted by them”.

Tarzan: Ask them about the video. Whether it got deleted after reporting or whether they deleted themselves.

Tarzan: (sends two screenshots) Ask these people then.

He then responds to my comment about being someone’s tool by saying “ Yes. Slaves of Allah. We know that”

Tarzan: Bwahaha. Give my regards to the kids who cried last night. You can only be strong while being overseas.

My comments.

Tarzan: When we get our hands on you, you will be also just like your boys last night.

Tarzan: Yeah. You are the one who knows (everything).

My comments.

Tarzan: I also don’t know. You would like to know very much, wouldn’t you?

Tarzan: Hahaha. I am really just a young guy. I will always be on the streets even if I am young or older.

My comment.

Tarzan: Free like a bird.

My comments.

Tarzan: You don’t have balls or anything else.

My comment.

Tarzan: Drugs my ass. I am not mad like you.

My comments…

Tarzan: Do you think everyone on the streets is an addict?

My comments…

Tarzan: I am not mad like you. Where are your balls you can’t come to Male’?

Tarzan: I wouldn’t be hiding even after doing something.

My comments…

Tarzan: (If you are so scared) don’t do things. Hahaha. Do you think we sell drugs for a living?

Tarzan: We go to jobs and earn our own living.

My comment.

Tarzan: Your best part is talking while in hiding. Isn’t it? Bark like a dog.

My comment.

Tarzan: Hahaha. You are hiding because you are gay (implying coward).

Tarzan: Afraid of Jail. Afraid of the cops. Afraid of kids on the street.

My comment.

Tarzan: Who stay high overseas without coming to the Maldives.

Tarzan: Taking LSD and other things.

My comment: Masodi gang can fuck-off.

Tarzan: You can only say all that while being far away. That’s all that everyone does.

My comments.

Tarzan: All you people want is not to go to jail, not to get hurt and still talk. That’s how gays are.

My comment.

Tarzan: why are you talking to an idiot if you think I am?

Tarzan: Even if you live 1000 years, there is no happiness for you when you die. 1000 years is a small time period.

My comment: Yeah you are so great bullying young kids.

Tarzan: You don’t know. The two FB profiles I just sent, they are older than me.

My comment: Do you think you get something great when you die? Everybody just rots in the end.

Tarzan: You will see what rot is. I don’t mess with kids. That’s what you think. You don’t even know that they both are 22.

My comment.

Tarzan: You don’t even know the age of your boys. (he really thinks those two guys they abducted was working for me. And that was why he was messaging me. To gloat at how clever he is).

My comment.

My comment.

Tarzan: You should see how they pissed themselves after all that talk on FB.

My comment.

Tarzan: You are still by far more scared than they were. I really hope you live a long life. (sarcasm?)

My comment.

Tarzan: 100 plus

My comments.

Tarzan: You could die right at this moment while you are talking.

My comments.

Tarzan: So don’t mess with people like me

Tarzan: Look, it’s gonna be better for you too. I’d have to mess with you because you mess with me for nothing.

My comments: Just watch how I mess with you.

Tarzan: If you keep quiet I don’t have to mess with you. But don’t mess around being far away like a gay.

My comment.

Tarzan: It’s a dirty thing

My comment.

Tarzan: That is very dirty.

My comment: You and I don’t think alike, I don’t share the same values as you.

Tarzan: Hahaha. You can’t do anything. You can only talk being far away. You can’t do anything else.

At this point, I stopped talking to the guy. He would later block me from Facebook as well.

——

I then messaged the Meme page in question. Raajjethere Adventures of Yaameen Abdul Gayyoom and Friends. I approached them directly about the kidnapping incident, with the screenshots and identities of those Tarzan provided. Sadly, I was unable to retrieve the desired amount of information, as there are still questions that I don’t know, but they have answered all the core questions.

Below I am publishing screenshots of the conversation I had with this page. The whole conversation happened in English.

Here I am publishing the screenshots passed to me by Raajjethere Adventures of Yaameen Abdul Gayyoom and Friends about the conversation they had with one of the abducted persons. It was Maisam Moosa Ali that they forced to message the meme page.

The other person they were holding captive was Zakwaan Asim (Zaki). I understand them both to have been freed by their abductors after the video was deleted. Sources who would like to remain anonymous tell me that the abductees were released and left on “good terms”, and wanted to “pass it away as a misunderstanding” as none of the parties wish to be further involved. I suspect this, as Tarzan (Abdulla Naasih) did say they were “silenced”.

This is the video that was first published by Raajjethere Adventures of Yaameen Abdul Gayyoom and Friends and later removed under duress. I had come across the video when it was first published last week. I noticed that it was the very first-time gangsters were being used in a satirical meme video publicly and noticed the attention it was getting on social media. For whatever reason, instead of simply observing, I decided to download and save the good ones to my Google Drive. Just like everyone else, I knew these rash toying around will not end well, even if they were just memes. But  I never expected to be re-uploading it onto my Youtube channel and posting it on a blog post about an abduction, or what possibly may have been one.

At this point, I needed to know more about this Abdulla Naasih aka Tarzan WoWo. So I looked searched for him on Twitter and found his Twitter account.

On Twitter, he describes himself as, “Slave of Allah” as you can see from the image below; Also notice the hand gesture next to the Slave of Allah description. It’s the finger symbol of Tawhid. It’s very common for Islamist militants and ISIS members to be photographed with their index finger pointing upwards.

Below are some of his Islamist tweets;

In the Tweet below, he says: “Why are you not jailing people who say things against the religion? Why are they not being punished?”

It was interesting to note that he had commentary regarding Yameen’s murder as well. In the Tweet below he says: “It is a bigger danger to not punish those who mock the religion”

The quoted tweet says: “People giving encouragement to those who killed Yameen in the name of religion is a national security risk”

In this tweet, he says: “Islam does not come after people asking them to learn it. People have to go after the religion to learn it if they want to”.

In this tweet, he says: “You won’t know what Islam is by watching TV. Or doing your O’level. Or A’ levels. Don’t open your mouth if you don’t know the religion. Only those who seek will know the religion”.

In this tweet, he says: “Do you not know why it can’t be stopped? This is the end times. Bloodshed will increase. Not even @PoliceMv or even if the whole world tried to stop it. @Lucasjalyl”

If this does not sound suspicious, it’s ridiculous. It also clearly and outrightly supports murder and bloodshed – and this is conveniently coming from a known convict who has “caused bodily harm” to someone, as we know from the police records.

The quoted tweet says: “Why are people being killed? Why can’t it be stopped? How many families has to face this sorrow? Stand up for justice”

The image in the quoted tweet shows both the mothers of Yameen Rasheed and Ahmed RIlwan.

In the tweet below, he posts an image that has screenshots of Yameen Rasheed’s tweets and some writings from his blog.

The Dhivehi language comment in the image says “People who know him (Yameen) knows this. Below are two tweets of blasphemy”

With this image, he tweets: “We should not pray for a person like this. When will the Maldivians realize this”

The day after Yameen’s murder he was “inconvenienced” that their gang area was being monitored by the Police – He tweets: “Whenever something happens in Male’, Police knows to put checkposts only near Masodi ge. Stop being personal and work for the nation” (Note: the gang Masodi is named after the house Masodi ge)

In this next tweet he says “Whenever something happens in Male’, do the police only see ‘Masodi’? (referring to his gang) Arrest them wherever you see them?”

Two weeks before Yameen’s murder this ominous tweet appeared;

At this point, all Maldivians should be very concerned. All these gangs are normalized in the country as sports clubs. Their members are radicalized and operates systematically; they have infiltrated the judiciary and society and they are openly abducting people and even killing people to achieve dominance. The police doesn’t care, doesn’t do anything, and/or maybe directly involved. The people are left to fend for themselves.

At this point, when people are being abducted and interrogated for things as little as joking around, and cannot safely rely on the authorities, do people not need to band up and seize their own basic safety and wellbeing?

NOTE: At the time of this post, the meme page Raajjethere Adventures of Yaameen Abdul Gayyoom and Friends was offline. It wasn’t offline when I talked to them. I am unable to verify what had happened to the page.

FURTHER EDITORIAL NOTE: The “jobs” that all these gangsters are referring to, is working at the Maldives Ports Limited. If anyone looks close enough, you will all realize how many gangs related persons are being employed by the Ports Authority where they are effectively around cargo clearing. It enables drugs, illegal weapons and other contraband to enter the country without being checked. Don’t believe me? Go look for yourself.

UPDATE: This post was unpublished 48 hours after publishing it first on 6th June because of sustained threats by the members of Masodi gang and their sympathizers. I am republishing this now again, after securing my safety.

Thank you for taking the time to read my work. My writing is purposed to make us all think together, not to impose my thoughts. If you enjoyed it and found it valuable, there are many ways you can show your support and help me continue writing.

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Murdered blogger and my friend, Yameen Rasheed's father is currently on a visit to Indian capital Delhi to garner support for an independent investigation into his son's murder.

During this visit, he has met multiple media organizations. The following video is Mr. Hussan Rasheed's exclusive interview with Indian media WION.

In a heartbreaking and emotional interview, Yameen's father talks about the moment he was informed of his son's murder, events that happened at the hospital, the cover-up of the crime scene, their life in India, coming back to the Maldives in 2010, death threats Yameen had been receiving and much more.

Yameen's father also asks Maldivian youth to not give up in our fight for justice in the country and to take inspiration from the bravery of his son did in the face of injustices we experience daily.

Thank you for taking the time to read my work. My writing is purposed to make us all think together, not to impose my thoughts. If you enjoyed it and found it valuable, there are many ways you can show your support and help me continue writing.

1. Become a patron by subscribing to my premium membership.

2. Share my blog with someone you know who may also find it interesting or useful.

3. Spread the word by sharing this post on your social media channels.

4. Leave a comment with your thoughts or questions to engage in a dialogue and give me feedback.

I deeply appreciate your support and generosity, as writing high-quality content requires a significant investment of my time and energy. One of my primary goals with this blog is to achieve greater financial autonomy and reduce my reliance on traditional employment. While I don't expect to make a full-time income from this, every subscription and every bit of support brings me one step closer to this goal.

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I write this to you, sir, as a visible public figure of a growing political movement in the Maldives. It is a movement for the establishment of a secular democracy in the Maldives. When activist, blogger and my friend Yameen Rasheed was brutally and mercilessly murdered at his home in the early hours of last Sunday morning, I made a decision to make a public stand against such atrocities from taking place in the country. Its the 3rd such attack on my friends in the last few years. Hilath Rasheed had his throat slashed, barely surviving the attack. Ahmed Rilwan was abducted from his home to never be seen again - feared to be dead. And now Yameen Rasheed has been hacked to death in his home.

The issue was further exacerbated when you attempted to whitewash the realities of the situation in the Maldives political landscape following Yameen's murder. You have attempted to label our demands for democracy, universal human rights, secularism, and modernity as "hate speech" and claimed that "vigilante justice" could happen to such a person. And you audaciously claimed that is how things are done in the Maldives. You have disgustingly attempted to normalize violence and gangsterism as part of our society.

No, Mr. President, we will not accept vigilantes running around and killing people as normal. That is not how a modern functioning democratic society should be. We intend to change that.

You then failed to acknowledge the growing problem of violent Islamist extremism carried out by Salafi-Wahhabi named and unnamed groups in the country. You attempted to label criticism of their hateful ideology as an attack on Islam and religion.

Mr. President, you should understand that critiquing hate-mongering Sheikh's and violent Salafi-Wahhabism isn't mocking religion. Since when did these people and their hateful ideology become a religion?

I wanted to say to you, we heard you, Mr. President. Our response is, we will continue doing it despite your warnings, as long as we have to.

This was followed by your politicized Islamic Ministry making an announcement, that they will be conducting programs for Islamist extremists and those who are "irreligious" as well.

Your ministry also claimed that you are printing books in the Dhivehi language to explain concepts like jihad and women's rights as approved by Saudi Arabia.

I want to tell you and your Islamic Ministry, as secularists we will not be accepting anything approved by the barbaric and ideologically insane Saudi Arabia as remotely acceptable to our country. I would also like to use this opportunity to make it clear to you our political goals and vision for the country we call home. We will be making the following demands as part of our ongoing activism;

1. We demand universal human rights for all persons of the country regardless of their beliefs, non-beliefs, sexual orientation or gender identification.

2. We demand a vibrant participatory democracy with the freedom to express ourselves without persecution.

3. We demand an unobstructed environment for free and fair media to flourish.

4. We demand an overhaul of the education system with modern science-based curriculums.

5. We demand absolute separation of the state from religion in order to avoid the political abuse of religion for purposes of power such as you wield it today and past presidents of the country.

6. We demand judicial reform. This is important to seek justice for those who have lost their lives and their hard-earned livelihoods under the leadership of multiple past presidents of the country. It is also vital for the restoration of faith in the state by the people of Maldives as serving the rights all people.

7. We demand Police reform to put an end to the impunity of state-sanctioned violence that has continued to plague the nation at the hands of the Maldives Police Service.

8. We demand an end to gangsterism in the country. Common criminals with multiple records of violence against the public shall not be allowed to continue intimidating the public.

9. We demand better tax laws designed to reduce inequality.

10. We demand better social services and healthcare reform. We refuse to be beholden to powerful interests and then be manipulated according to the whims of those in power whenever the health of a loved one fails.

11. We demand future forward transparent national development plans.

12. We demand electoral reform towards a Single Transferable Vote (STV) system to create an environment of systemic equality of all peoples.

13. Women's rights are human rights. Without exception. Period.

Anything less than that and I promise you, we will continue to agitate the system towards our desired and declared goals. These are our non-negotiable terms.

In order to avoid any misunderstanding, I want to make clear a few other points as well to you and your government. Firstly we wholeheartedly reject the established official narrative of the Maldives being a 100% Islamic country. I have had the privilege of meeting many exMuslims, people of other faiths, atheists, who are as Maldivian as you and I. I have also had the privilege of meeting second generation and third generations of the same group. Applying apostasy laws on to this minority segment of the country is inhumane and cruel. Apostasy laws and other archaic, sometimes medieval laws have no place in a modern society.

I also want to remind the president, that it is established science that gays and homosexuals are part of the human population all over the world. It is not a choice for someone to be gay. It is nature and how it intended it to be. You of all people, who is a practicing closeted bi-sexual should know this by now. Your attempts to court Islamist radicals in a hypocritical attempt to maintain your grip on power will be rejected. And we will stand in your way and defend the rights of the LGBT community in the Maldives.

It's time you took us seriously and accepted us as part of the national dialogue. We are not going anywhere. We are here to stay. This is our country too. We will no longer remain silent or be marginalized.

Welcome to the new political landscape of the Maldives in 2017.

Thank you for taking the time to read my work. My writing is purposed to make us all think together, not to impose my thoughts. If you enjoyed it and found it valuable, there are many ways you can show your support and help me continue writing.

1. Become a patron by subscribing to my premium membership.

2. Share my blog with someone you know who may also find it interesting or useful.

3. Spread the word by sharing this post on your social media channels.

4. Leave a comment with your thoughts or questions to engage in a dialogue and give me feedback.

I deeply appreciate your support and generosity, as writing high-quality content requires a significant investment of my time and energy. One of my primary goals with this blog is to achieve greater financial autonomy and reduce my reliance on traditional employment. While I don't expect to make a full-time income from this, every subscription and every bit of support brings me one step closer to this goal.

Thank you again for your readership and support.

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Local media have since reported that the individuals were arrested for an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) bomb plot in the capital city of Male'. Police have continued the detention of 3 people from multiple persons arrested that night.

The persons arrested for the suspicion of the bomb plot are all known Islamist extremists in the country with a history of threats and abuse on social media and other platforms.

Mohamed Ameen. He was a suspect in the Sultan park bombing case. He has spent a considerable time in hiding but was arrested in 2010 from Sri Lanka. Why he was released is unknown. His house was raided last night. He is in police custody. He is a known close associate of Ali Jaleel, Maldivian suicide bomber.

Iuthishaam a resident of Madaveli. Iuthishaam and his wife were previously arrested while they attempting to flee to Syria. Their passports were confiscated they were released. He was better known on Twitter as @Epicloser. The twitter handle says it all about him. He is an Epic Loser. He is the owner of the travel agency that was raised. The travel agency may be a front for the money transfers for the fighters they were supplying.

Ali Nashiu. He lived previously in India. Belongs to the Kuda Henveiru gang and is a relatively new recruit. 

Abdulla Haisham. Haisham and his wife and his 7-month-old baby were deported from Turkey recently while trying to illegally enter Syria from the border. He and his wife's brother Suvaid were arrested for the investigation of Rilwan's abduction as they were caught on CCTV as following Rilwan. They were later released.

Mohamed ThasleemFrom Hoarafushi. He has a history of violence behind him. People has claimed that he barged into a party in Hulhumale island with a knife to stop it once. He is also a terrorist recruiter and was also arrested at the unnamed travel agency.

Kuda Henveiru Ali Shaafiu (Recruiter). He recruits young people from the Maldives to go to war in Syria. It is claimed that he gets $2000 per recruit as his share of fees. He has tried to leave for Syria in 2015 with his wife and kid, but were detailed at the airport and later released. He was also arrested during the investigation of the President Yameen's speed boat blast and for suspicion of involvement for the weapons cache that was discovered sunk into a lagoon during the same time.

Ameen and Haisham have since been released by the police.

Items recovered in the raid include unknown chemical cylinder, TNT powder, mobile phones used for detonation purposes and pressure cookers.

These persons are known for their openly radical views as they conduct and carry their get-togethers out in the open in cafes and hotels in the capital Male'.  

This blog post is an opinion post about things that has continued to bother me since the unnatural death of Raudha. It's not meant to be an investigation and it's certainly not proof that Raudha was murdered. But as long as these questions and the issues raised remain unanswered, I am finding it extremely hard to accept that she committed suicide, despite what the official narrative is. Therefore, I continue to call her death a murder unless someone can conclusively establish that it was indeed a suicide.

NOTE: Every link and video in this post is provided to back every claim made in this article. Don't take my word for it. See for yourself.

The Maldives Police Service have yesterday at a press conference told the public that the unnatural death of Raudha was in their opinion, a suicide.

So let's get right into the issues with this press conference, shall we?

---

Firstly, let's start with the time of death. As far as I know, in most cases where someone has died, whether it is murder or suicide, one of the first things that the investigative authorities do is establishing a time of death. In this case, neither the Bangladeshi police or the Maldives Police Service has given a time of death. Even after the autopsy was done. So I think her family and the public would still like to know why this information have been withheld so far.

-----

The police have previously claimed that they were able to unlock and get access to Raudha's iPhone (here, here and here).

The police have also claimed that media reports are obstructing the investigation into Raudha's death (here).

The police most recently then claimed, based on the information gained from Raudha's phone she has had an argument with her boyfriend Shahi Ghani who is a student studying in the UK (here). Bangladesh police also have also made the same claim about an argument with the boyfriend (here).

The likely hood of these stories is to provide a premise that Raudha was indeed depressed, thus likely to kill herself. I can also reveal that the police have told journalists in private after the conference that Raudha was pregnant at the time of her death. If this was true, why was this also left out of the conference?

----

Now before we get deep into this post, let's first talk about Raudha's iPhone. Maldives Police made the claim that they have unlocked Raudha's phone. A dead person's finger can't open the iPhone unless the body was recently dead. This is because of the "capacitative" surface of the sensor. An electrical discharge is identified before it works. (I found this out later). The police claimed that the iPhone 7 was unlocked by trying combinations from information received from Raudha's friends. I don't think this is true because any competent investigative authority would not risk something like this because the iPhone gets disabled when the wrong passcode is entered 6 times if the owner hasn't set specific instructions on data security. Alternatively, the owner can set from settings to wipe the phone after 10 failed attempts. They should have explained in detail how they were able to get into Raudha's phone. Last year' the biggest data security court case in the world was over the same issue as the FBI in the United States took Apple computers to court trying to get a backdoor into iOS for the exact same specific reason. One year after the court case, the issue still remains unresolved.

The police have attempted to justify their narrative by claiming that they somehow were able to get the passcode of her phone because she has lent her phone to someone else - is dodgy at best. The distraction used to sell this story is how they were sharing laptops around, therefore phones were also being shared. And along with it, passwords and passcodes for the phones. How convenient.

The police didn't present evidence of the phone being unlocked. I am going to go out on a limb here and call bullshit on the police claim that they had gotten into Raudha's phone. Some journalists later have claimed to me privately that the police did show some pictures of information that the police have taken from her iPhone. But this wasn't done publicly. More like an attempt to pacify journalists who attended the conference from asking more questions.

-----

What about the door to the room. Why is there a contradiction to the issue of the door being broken in? The pictures that circulated in the media after the family and Maldives police went to Bangladesh showed that the locks of the door were not broken in as the official first narrative of how the body was found. It claimed that the students saw through the door Raudha hanging and broke in the door.

At the press conference, the police attempted to justify that when the door was shaken hard, the locks did came loose. If so, how is that a secure door? And why are the doors of the rooms basically "unlockable" like this? Also, this story is a contradiction of the initial claim by the crime scene police that the door was BROKEN into by concerned students. Shouldn't the claim have been that the locks came undone when they attempted to open it?

The police also said that among the people who opened the door, there were people from 4 different countries. What they were leading to with this is, since they were from different countries, they can't be involved in a cover-up. Now I am not claiming that everyone is involved in the cover-up. But where someone is from has little to do with being radicalized. People are being radicalized from all over the world, regardless of their nations, ethnicity, language or gender. And this school is a radical infested nest that is being used by vested interests to further radicalize students into their extremist ideology.

The door would have been locked from inside to justify that suicide narrative. Now assuming that the doors were bolt locked as the official claim goes and if she was really murdered as I suspect she was, how did the killers leave the room after bolting the door shut from the inside?

Why didn't the police make any comments about the condition of this window in the above image which is by her bed? What's on the other side? Is there a ledge or a balcony that a person can go to the next room? Were fingerprints taken from there? If so what were the results? If finger printers were not taken, why not? Killers could have easily left through the window in the back after locking main doors from inside. Yet all they said was that there was a grill on the door. Why not show pictures of the grill. How was the grill fastened? If there was such a grill, could the grill be removed and replaced back easily? Why were no pictures released of the window, the balcony, the grill and how it was fastened?

Are we supposed to dismiss this line of inquiry as soon as they claim that the next door room had 2 Maldivian students living there? Can they not be complicit by virtue of being Maldivian all of a sudden? Isn't radicalization a problem in the Maldives already?

-----

Then there is still the missing CCTV footage. Claims of Raudha's movements on the night of her murder and the days leading to it can't be verified at all, other than the stories coming from the official narrative. How convenient, that the footage simply goes missing from the 25th to the 31st of March. The system came back online soon after she was murdered. The critical thinking skeptic in me keeps nagging in the back of my head saying, the murder may not have been planned for the actual day that she was murdered. But the school authorities had turned off the system so that in that a window of opportunity could be found to carry out the murder. So 5 days lapsed before that opportunity was available when they eventually did the deed. The system conveniently came back online right away.

----

I also think it was very dishonest of the police to claim they checked Seerat Instagram to see if she was following Raudha. And they said she was. The issue raised was not that Seerat was following Raudha, but the issue of why Raudha's account wasn't following Seerat and the likelihood that this unfollow had happened after her death.  What the police had tried to do was attempt to blatantly twist the issue in the most dishonest of ways. They changed it to Seerat unfollowing Raudha. It's a very disgusting attempt to flip the story and hoodwink the public. They assumed people would not notice the twist in words. This is a major red flag.

While we are discussing Instagram, I now don't think that someone actually has control of Raudha's Instagram as I did earlier. The reason that I don't think so anymore is when I found out later on how the Instagram algorithm detects fake followers. The reason that the algorithm is built that way is to stop people from buying fake followers, which seems to be a common thing.

These screenshots taken two days apart shows a doubling of followers from 31 thousand to 64 thousand after her death. This could easily have triggered the algorithm to think that the spike in new followers was being added so rapidly were fake. The algorithm can't understand what was going on after all.

"According to Instagram, profanity, spam, using fake likes and nudity are reasons for an account to get shut down." Another reason an account may be disabled is if there was mass reporting of an account happening. But let's keep in mind, there isn't a person behind any of these actions that Instagram does. It's just how the Instagram algorithm is written. To rule out this possibility, the family should write to Instagram on their support email (support@instagram.com). More information about this is available in their terms of use and their community guidelines.

---

The same way they said they talked to the doctor who did the autopsy. Autopsy lead doctor is compromised. These doctors have faced previous legal problems in past "suicides" at the college. Just because 3 doctors did the autopsy and they were all from different institutions doesn't mean anything when we are able to establish quite easily that the entire Bangladeshi system is now infested with extremists. And if we pursue this line of thinking, then I would pose more questions like, who assembled the team of autopsy doctors? Why were they specifically picked for this autopsy? In the past, similar cases of "suicides" have been concluded as murder and this same schools autopsy doctors charged even though they would still get away from it - which ended with the husband of the victim being blamed for it. Notice a pattern? Raudha's boyfriend is now being labeled as a cheat which "drove her to commit suicide".

-----

Going back to the beginning of the press conference, the police made claims about talking to the school authorities, other students, teachers. The problem with this for me is that the assumption of innocence on the part of the school authorities by the police. What they say must be true. Simply taking their word for it isn't good enough. I don't accept that neither should anyone else.

So let's have a look at what kind of school this really is and who owns it. The school is owned by the Bank Islami organization. Which also appears in this list of terrorist groups entrenched into the Bangladeshi system and civil society. It's absolutely mind blowing how deeply rooted the problem is. And they have been quite skilled in using the system to their benefit and success to protect themselves.

This same Bank Islami, the parent institution of the college, has been under investigation for terrorist funding in the past.

The question of whether they are part of actually the Jamat Islami terrorist group has also been raised.

Here is a video where they denied such activities.

So we are just going to take the word of these people and their employees now?

----

So let's talk specifically about the police claim at the end of the press conference which said that a school is a safe place for students. And that they had given assurances that there is no need to be concerned about.

The below video is from the 39th anniversary (you read that right.. that's how long they have been there) Islami Chhatra Shabir, which is the student arm of the Bangladeshi Jamat Islami terrorist organization, a well-known Islamist terrorist organization originating out of Pakistan, but now has deep roots and local branches in Bangladesh.

Here is another video about these Shabir guys celebrating their 39th anniversary.

It sure looks like the school's authorities let them pretty much have their way around there. You can also read more about Islami Chhatra Shabir and Bangladesh Jamat Islami if you want to know more about them.

So what kind of activities is this Shabir group involved in? The below video shows them being involved in gang wars with extremists on the other side of the Islamist extremists divide.

Now here is a video of a violent armed attack at the school. Does that still look like a safe place for students?

So what about that time the teachers of the school actually attacked journalists that were investigating the activities that are being carried out the school?

So what's it like in Rajshahi? Not the school, but the city.

And let's not forget the time that the director of Islami Bank Medical College was arrested for unnamed “subversive activities”. And also let's not forget that 29 Shabir activist were arrested from the same college just a week before Raudha's murder.

So how are the Maldives police able to claim that this is a safe school for students? Are they just going to take the word of the people that run this place, which increasingly looks like terrorists themselves? And we are just supposed to be ok with it and send more students?

-----

4 days ago, I had information that the MPS was going to conclude Raudha's death as a suicide. While they didn't exactly say it was, everything they said at the presser leads to attempts of convincing that it was indeed a suicide. Easier that way. So case closed. The nagging problem of a globally popular strong independent woman murdered for her strength and personality by religious extremists wasn't something they were ready to get deeper into and investigate.

So what was the goal of the press conference other than to support a pre-established conclusion? It felt like the entire goal of the presser was to debunk claims made by Dr. Athif regarding the death of his daughter. And if anything more, they were trying to debunk my argument of a possible Islamist murder. Police claim that "someone on social media" was trying to change the story of how Raudha died. They should have had the balls to name me if they were accusing me. And for the record, wanting to get to the truth of Raudha's murder isn't attempts to try to change the story as they call it. If anything, they are the ones who have helped the concocted story to stand instead of seeking the truth and finding justice for the victim.

Now lets come to the issue of why MPS maybe be lying about Raudha's death and trying to cover-up possible Islamists murder of Raudha. Why would this be? I have three hypothesis. One is the police officers that went for the investigation were bought off. This is the "disgusting hypothesis" as I would like to call it. Money can be a powerful tool to buy someone's silence or loyalty. And why wouldn't they? They have everything to lose if exposed. The carefully planned Islamists takeover of Bangladesh would collapse completely if this facade cannot be maintained. But they have been trying. And they have been rather successful at it so far.

My second hypothesis is that the police officers that went are ideologically similar to the Islamists we are dealing with here. I call this the "scary hypothesis" because this is far more frightening to even think about. But this is not such a wild assumption to make either. President Nasheed has talked about the problem as well. The police have even attempted to deny this, rather than conduct an inquiry into the issue. The same problem has existed in the MNDF as well. The MDP has even gone on public record about the problem. We should also remember that MDP was trying to tackle this problem when they were labeled as laadheenee (irreligious) (here and here). Wasn't that the main narrative used to overthrow Nasheed's MDP government (here and here)? And where is the funding coming from that continues to fuel extremists in the Maldives?

And the third hypothesis I am calling is the "incompetence hypothesis". That people are simply not capable of doing the jobs that they were assigned to do, for whatever reason. The things that back this are the past incompetence and negligences which have left a series of crimes unsolved to this day. The disappearance of Maldivian journalist Ahmed Rilwan Abdulla, who may have been investigating Islamist activities and those sending fighters to Syria, still remain unsolved. The countless other murders starting from 2001 till now remain unsolved. Yet we are to trust that these guys have cracked this case with two officers in an overseas country with just two officers? Get real!

------

Meanwhile, religious extremists have a well-established narrative of "laadheenee" (irreligious) people are prone to depression which often ends in suicide. You can see similar posts on many Islamists social media accounts.

And then there are the really sinister ones who preach that "every death is a lesson to the living".

This exact same narrative can be seen on any extremists social media account. The same extremists would regularly advocate killing persons they view as irreligious or independent of thought. Such advocation for murder is always following by claims the people are either apostates, murtads or atheists.  Freedom of conscience is their biggest enemy. So getting rid of the people they can't silence is the easiest way to continue with their propaganda and indoctrination works.

----

Now let's talk about the Modus Operandi (MO) of past Islamist murders. There is a clear pattern where women are found dead in claims of "suicides" (here, here, here, here, here). In places like Bangladesh where there are high suicide rates in their millions with specifically high rates for an unmarried single woman, it's easier to hide these murders among actual suicides.  And when it comes to the men, they are brutally hacked to death . But that is not to say men have not been killed in staged suicides in the past. And male students have also been found in such "suicides" in Bangladesh colleges as well. The logical explanation for this method of getting rid of critics is, if women, which half of the earth's population were killed in the same way as the men, there would be global outrage that they can no longer control. And the men are simply made examples for those who even think to talk about these people and their continued calls to establish a violent "global caliphate so that Islam rules the world".  The MO isn't always consistent, but they do try and keep it that way as much as they can.

----

In Raudha's case, I would assume that her strong and independent personality had gotten her marked with a bullseye. Bank Islami Medical College was actively indoctrinating the students there, both male and female. Raudha's presence at the college would make is hard for them to maintain their narrative to other young women in the college who saw Raudha's as a role model and someone to look up to. This is by the far the most likely motive for her murder in my opinion.

So when I say Islamist extremists, I am not talking about the millions of peaceful Muslims (people that follow the Islamic religion). I am talking about a specific group of people who aims to use certain interpretations of the Islamic source materials (Quran & Hadith) for a specific political gain (establishment of a caliphate at any cost).  And it is for this reason that these people are so dangerous to our societies and to the world at large. It is these people that have tarnished the names of millions of peaceful Muslims all over the world and continue to set the stage for a war between the west, their allies, moderate Muslims against themselves.

Staying silent about the problem will only empower these religious fanatics. And the whole world will lose. And we must decide if we are going to allow that to happen or not.

I write this to advise independent activist who promote human rights, minority rights and universal freedoms in the country. 

​I would advise that none of you should click any links that is being sent to you by unknown persons regardless of the story they are telling no matter how believable it maybe. 

It's an attempt to phish your account details, log key strokes, steal passwords, username, and other important details. If your accounts get compromised people are going to get hurt. Even if you know the person who sending you links, be aware of short URLs that's being sent. Short URLs are used to hide as a mask for malicious links for the same purposes. Also even if the link contains verifiable and reputable domain names and associated words, but the order of the domain name and it sequence is suspicious, you must ignore it. 

And in the event you really want to click a link, but is unfamiliar with the domain, use a online URL scanner service which you can Google for easily. When using a URL scanner to verify a link, copy the link without clicking it, and then paste it in the scanner tool to run for verification. 

Be safe guys. We are basically dealing with a life and​ death situation where these religious extremists will not hesitate to murder you if your identity or accounts are compromised. 

Be vigilant. Be smart. Your life may actually depend on it. 

I think it's very important for people to understand that because I broke the story of possible extremist murder of Raudha and took a secular argument for the public consideration to avoid these things from happening in out country, it's now basically become evident that these extremists are real and they need to silence me. So they have engineered a method to create doubt about me by making fake tweets out of a real conversation I had on Twitter.

And if we start having a national conversation about the importance of secularism, their agenda of creating an ISIS style caliphate in the Maldives becomes more difficult. They will use democracy to get to top and start changing the rules. That's been there strategy all over the world where they exist. Maldives is no different.

So the best way to deal with the problem is have me killed or discredited or both.

As you can can understand these are organized criminals dressed as pious men trying to Hoodwink the public because of an agenda. And their agenda involves the people of Maldives loosing their sovereignty, freedoms and democracy.

Can you imagine living under ISIS? Because that's where this is heading.

As screenshots of above interaction hit the social media soon after Sheihk Mohamed Shafiu made a second statement about me. In a continued effort to discredit me and my work, this Sheihk has been actively involved in creating hate towards. He is the same person who issued a facebook fatwa for my beheading as well. He has called me an atheist and laadheenee (irreligious) in the typical fashion these extremists use to justify attacking people they disagree with. They are incable of having a discussion on the issues being raised and are afraid of people who think for themselves because they are unable to execute their agenda of an ISIS style caliphate in the Maldives. His mission it seems is to inspire lone wolf type attacks on me.

The message reads;

"Dear beloved Muslim brothers and sisters of the Maldives. Muju Naeem is someone who is making Facebook pages and making fun of Allah and the prophet. He is a filthy murtad kaafir (an apostate) who doest believe there is a god. And he works tirelessly to spread atheism and secularism in the Maldives. He has used the murder of Maldivian student Raudha (may Allah have mercy on her soul) in Bangladesh to publish investigations in his blog which has resulted in many people sharing sharing his posts, and many people giving likes to his page. This is a game he is playing to increase the people who is following him. Liking such blogs and pages and sharing those things gives them more hope amd encourages them, I am asking all citizens not like, share or follow this murtad (apostate). We have evidence that it is he who runs pages making fun of Allah and the prophet. We will be sharing this information with the investigation authorities. If your heart is not angered when someone makes fun of Allah and the prophet, I question your eeman (faith) in Islam. Dear god, if its not in your desire to show him the correct path, destroy him and make him an example to all of mankind. Amen"

The link to the post can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/sheikhshafiu/posts/2388797017927673

The link to his facebook page with 31,000 fans at the time of this post can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/sheikhshafiu His facebook user profile is: https://www.facebook.com/mohamed.shafiu.10

His user profile says that he is a Associate Lecturer at The Maldives National University. He also claims he is a writer at DhiSalafiyyah. And that he studied at Islamic University of Madinah. Went to Jalaluddin School and Ihavandhoo Madharusa. Ihavandhoo maybe the island he is from.

This threat is now being circulated by extremist media in the country with forged screenshots to back their claim: http://www.atollnews.com/5728

Yesterday the public was concerned about extremism. Today their are concerned by my character, while Raudha's death and other issues in society are about to get swept under the rug.

A secular country is important for these guys to never reach positions of power in the government. Ever.

As things stand at the moment, it is increasingly looking like that the authorities and the college administration are involved in the cover-up of Raudha's murder to make it look like a suicide. Religious extremists have deeply infiltrated government positions in Bangladesh since way back as 2009. 

Powerful forces entrenched in the system seems to be playing all available cards to obstruct the investigation. The authorities and the college claimed it was a suicide much before the autopsy report was ready. School authorities have claimed the CCTV footage from 25th March to 30th March "has gone missing".

The crime scene was not secured by the police, and they had let others tamper with the crime scene. Claims of breaking down the door after they saw her body hanging are a lie as parents reveal pictures of the door and locks to show the door has not been broken in.

Raudha's bed frame is broken, as if 2 or 3 people have been on it, possibly attempting to hang the body after murdering her.

The family is getting ready to file a case with Bangladeshi courts for obstruction of justice by the police and school administration.

At this point, I am going to make an important point that may seen insensitive to some people.

I believe that as things stand if the family goes to court, it is very likely that a second more independent autopsy is going to be authorized by the courts. And the body will be the evidence of foul play. So it's very lickely the same powerful forces that have obstructed the case are going to try and get rid of evidence conclusively so that they can maintain their narrative of suicide.

So I call for security around Raudha's grave as long as needed till a second independent autopsy can be conducted. Her body is the most important piece of evidence and the people involved will go to any lengths to make the truth remains hidden.

Earlier today I received links for these videos which I have mirrored in my YouTube channel in case they disappeared. 

​The video that shows the crime scene is from Bangladesh news service 71 Bangla TV. It shows her room and Raudha's dead body along with police and countless others at crime scene.

The video raises the following questions;

Who cut her down? Why was the crime scene not closed off? Was the scarf cut or did it come loose? If it was cut, shouldn't the other part be on her neck? If it came loose, it wouldn't be strong enough to hang a body, wouldn't it? If as they claim this was a suicide, how did Raudha get all the way up to tie the scarf to the fan? Was there a ladder in the room?

Below is Raudha's rushed burial video from Bangladesh with family in presence as they were not given a choice for an independent autopsy.

Update 1: new videos added

Raudha's father Dr. Mohamed Athif interview to Bangladesh media

Video footage from the college and police interviews.

Update 2: new video

Video footage from college and crime scene (29th March 2017) 

If we look at Joaslin's this specific post, she says the cartoon is a caricature of her sister while "sick" while tagging to her sister @amina_touvent.

Then when we look at the comments of the post, she goes on to interact with her sister in the post and then confirm to someone else that it is indeed her sister.

So I had a look at the profile of the sister to have a look. On the sisters profile description appears the flag of Madagascar alongside with the French flag. Meanwhile the Joaslin art profile is only presented as someone in France. Also she the sister has a darker skin tone as most people in South Asia does. At first this made me think this person could also be Bangladeshi.

Now look at this post from Joslin. You can see her hand. Its also of darker skin tone. So we can safely assume they are sisters as they claimed. The hand looking feminine is also the reason I am refering to her as a "she". I could be wrong.

Now coming back to why I am saying Joaslin & Rose Quartz are the same person. Take a look at this post by Joaslin. She shows a character and then says its her favorite from "Steven Universe".

So where have we seen "Stevens Universe" before? Look at Rose Quartz profile description again. Bingo!

So whats the connection of this person to Raudha's death? At this point, other than the seriously disgusting profile write up of raping the dead, there probably is no connection. Nothing. So what about the "you will get yours soon" comment?

Joaslin is a cartoonist who does drawings of people as cute caricatures for her Instagram. She mostly likely was talking about doing a caricature cartoon of Raudha. So I thought I would write a seperate blog post to clear that out since I already pointed out the two accounts because it caught my attention when doing research for the Raudha's missing Instagram follows post.

The post previously mentioned the the flags on the profile was Bangladesh. This was an error. It's a Madagascar flag. 

These are screenshots taken on two separate days. The first set was taken on the day of her death. Google search engine crawled and cached that Raudha was following 371 people on the day she died. But immediately when I went to Raudha's Instagram, I noticed that she was following 370 people.

This struck me as odd, because if Raudha was dead, she would not be able to unfollow someone, unless someone else had access to her account. I can now confirm that no one else had access to her account because she was using an iPhone 7 and the security on it is literally impenetrable. Even the American FBI is has been unable to get past the iPhone security and last year had taken Apple to court to force them to open a backdoor into the phones which Apple had won. Police in Bangladesh is in possession of the phone and they have not yet been able to get in. I can also confirm this now.

So basically what this means is someone who Raudha was following had to have blocked her account to make the follower disappear. There was simply no other way for that to have happened. While I thought this was puzzling, I didn't think much of it. But then I looked at it again and I noticed someone else has also done it again today. And now it's says she is following 369 people.

So the questions that I am now creating is who are the two missing Instagram users from her following list? And why did they want to be not associated with her as soon as she was dead?

The other thing is the official autopsy report is still not out. I can also confirm this today. So why is the authorities and the college administration giving report to the media saying according to the autopsy her death is a suicide?

Other bits of information that I think is relevant are;

I can also now confirm that one of her "friends" from college had attempted to drug her with sleeping pills. Raudha had told this to close friends and family.

I can also confirm that Raudha had complained to friends and family of people at college verbally attacking her for what they called "immodest" and "unislamic" dress style of hers even though she did wore veil to class as per the school dress code.

Update 1: Finding one of the missing follows

Since I posted this blog post, I was very encouraged to find out the Internet hivemind got very busy  trying to track down who the missing follows are. It didn't take much long for the Internet to come back with a credible answer for one of the missing follows.

Looking at the image above from Raudha's Instagram we can tell that this is one person that Raudha has followed, and she is able to tag her in a image. The picture also shows what looks like "good friends". But are they really?

To double check if this was one of the missing follows, I looked at Raudha's follow list to see if Seerat was still there. Lo and behold, guess what I found?

Seerat was definitely one of the missing follows. Anyone can check this information by simply going to Raudha's Instagram and doing a search among her follows.

At this point, I needed to cross check if Seerat's account was still active after comments on my Facebook page suggested maybe the missing follow was the result of an account deactivation rather than someone intentionally blocking Raudha after her death. So I looked more. I was able to search for Seerat quite easily proving now without a shadow of doubt the missing follow was the result of intentionally blocking Raudha.

Notice my miss-spelling of her surname while doing the search? It still found the person I was looking for. That is because of the Artifical Intelligence driven predictive search used by Instagram which is owned by Facebook.

I was also able to visit Seerat's account and found that it was a private account. This is very common for young women using Instagram.

So why is so significant? It seems she was close to Raudha. In fact Seerat makes another appearance in Raudha's Instagram with an affectionate caption from Raudha.

So who is her and where had I heard the name before?

Her name had appeared in the Mihaaru article as the "friend" who was last seen with her and had refused to speak with the media.

The above excerpt is from this Mihaaru article: https://mihaaru.com/news/15203

This is the same article that had quoted Raudha's family as saying that they rejected the claim by the police and the medical college that she had commented suicide.

The family had also claimed in the article that they believe there is a cover up and the police and the medical college had refused to allow and independent autopsy to be carried out on her body and pushed for burial quickly.

Interestingly enough the following comment on the article was really disturbing to me.

The commenter had raised the question, would somebody who was with her "best friend" moments before her death and seemed happy would go and kill herself? I don't know the answer to the question. But it's still struck me.

In another comment in a Mihaaru another person had the exact same idea as I was having at this point.

The commenter had asked that Siraat should be questioned regarding Raudha death. Why was this "close friend" all of a sudden blocking Raudha's account? The really likely answer is she is probably not blocking her now. As continuing block Raudha's account would mean she will not be able to come back and see comments other content on Raudha's account. But a initial blocking was necessary to remove her from Raudha's follow list.

I would also later find out Seerat has also actively attempted to try and hide people sharing the image of Raudha's body as found in the crime scene.

Other interesting tidbit bits

This commenter had started to appear on Raudha's Instagram post spamming all over suggesting that she had commented suicide.

So I looked deeper at the commenter who was spamming her photos and this is what I found.

The account appears to be recently made with a single post. The person appears to only follow 17 people and and had only 169 followers. The followers could have been the result after the person started spamming Raudha's Instagram posts.

I then looked the Tumblr account of this person from the link provided in the description. I found out that he is a prolific poster in Tumblr as his Tumblr had extensive amount of posts. This was someone who spends a considerable amount of time on the internet by the looks of it. So why was this same behavior not evident in his Instagram account? Could it be because it is new and made specifically for the purpose of spamming Raudha's Instagram account? The account name "lawlitsmeee" is a play on words of meaning "Lol (laugh out loud), it is me".

These are some of the interesting content I screenshoted from this anonymous persons Tumblr.

And this particular post from his Tumblr suggest this may be a Maldivian.

So the question that begs is who is this guy and why was he so interested in trying to convince others Raudha's death is a suicide? Could it be the other missing Instagram follow? Maybe not since the account looks too new. If so, that still leaves the question of the other missing follow unanswered still.

There is something else that caught my attention. The very last person that Raudha had followed in her Instagram had a very interesting Instagram account with a large number of following. This person also shares artwork and cartoons on Instagram.

The profile description is what is so striking about this person.

Its probably nothing, it probably is something. Seeing the kind of stuff on the internet, I wouldn't have thought twice about the profile description. What is significant is that this is the last person Raudha had followed in Instagram.

I will update this post, if I get any more information down this rabbit hole.

Update 2: It's entirely possible someone may have had access to Raudha's phone

While the news reports tell us that her friends broke in to the room after seeing through the window her dead body hanging, I was under the assumption that the door of the room would have signs of forced entry.

The family now confirms that the room door has no signs of forced entry. And lock and the door/doorframe looked quite normal and nothing like someone had broken in to the room. So who else had access to the room? Could it be a friend?

And if someone had access to the room or the killer itself, would they then not have access to Raudha's phone? And since the iPhone security depends on a passcode or a finger print scan, who's to say that the perpetrators not opened the phone? Why do I say this? Because even the dead still has fingers and the fingers can still scan. That's why.

Hand marks on her neck

The family also now confirms that Raudha hand a large distinct hand marks on her neck. The mark had one thumb on side and 4 fingers in the other side. As if someone hand grabbed her neck with their bare hands to strangle her.

When the family had raised the issue with the police, they had dismissed the hand marks as "she had tried to change her mind after the hanging and these were marks left from her own self.

Seriously?

But this doesn't sit well with me. Because the picture of the body at the scene showed Raudha's fists clenched. And rigor mortis will set it one the body dies.

Take a look at her hands again.

Update 3: Was another Maldivian at the same college also being threatened?

It has been brought to my attention by multiple sources that another Maldivian student may have been studying at the same college and had returned back after fearing for his life.

It true, who is this person and what was the nature of the threats? If the person can be traced and someone can verify the claim, we would know more about what it's like to study there is and if threats are a common thing there. And what type of people were making the threats.

Update 4: The second missing follow has been identified

The internet hivemind doesn't seem to rest, as it's now brought back the other missing follow from Raudha's account.

Md Mohsin was one of her follows and "friends" it seems. She had even tagged him to this image and he had likes the post back. Tagging is what tells me that Raudha was following him as well. And they seems to know each other. He had also interacted with this post and possibly others. To go though all instances of interactions would take time, but definitely can confirm interaction with this post.

When I looked for Md Mohsin, I also noticed that his account wasn't deactivated. I was able to search for him quite easily as well.

He also has a private account which I am unavailable to access. This is also quite normal.

What is not normal is he is also now not in the follow list of Raudha's as well.

Basically these are the two missing follows from Raudha's account.

So the question now begs again as before, is why is he no longer in her follow list?

The people investing this case must follow up these points as they try to get to the bottom of how Raudha had died.

Update 5: Is this the potential murderer?

Again the internet hivemind mind goes above and beyond to see what may have happened Raudha and came back with this little gem.

This image of Seerat with Raudha had 12 comments as of today. I have screenshot of 11 of them (the top one is the actual post caption) for the readers of this blog post to have a look at. Unlike previous times I have kept their identifiers like username visible in these images.

The conversation between Seerat and Raudha here is interesting. You will notice that some comments have been deleted from this thread as Raudha asks her friend what "bhains" mean in English. Her friend then comment back saying "shoot at sight orders for you". Then another commenters says "you will get yours soon". Below is the profile of the person who made that comment.

Again this profile has a large following as is also someone who is posting art works on Instagram. Is it a coincidence that this profile has similarities in their content as the last person Raudha followed? I don't know. You be the judge.

What is more interesting is the last two comments made by a profile that goes by the name of Irfan Hasham.

In his comment he is not tagging anyone, but speaking rather directly, asking someone "if this is her account" and then proceeded to thank the same someone. Was he talking to Seerat here? Or was it to someone else who deleted their comment later on? Was Seerat identifying Raudha to someone with her comment? What "bhains" the word for flagging/marking Raudha? Who do you suppose made the missing now deleted comments? What do you suppose actually is said in the missing comment (s)?

So I did a search for Irfan Hasham and this is what I found.

Looking at the profile description sent a chill down my spine.

This person is neither following Raudha or in her follows list.

Instagram has a Airtifical Intelligence driven predictive search too. My misspelling of Hasham's name as Hashim makes very little difference for it to find the person I am looking for while doing the search.

Instagram has an artifical intelligence driven predictive search. My miss-spelling of Hasham's name as Hashim has little difference for it to search the name in the list.

Are we looking at the murderer here? Did the internet hivemind just find the killer of Raudha? Let a free and independent investigation decide the truth. I have done my best to bring the issue to the public asking the collective brain capacity of users of the internet (know colloquially as "internet hivemind") to help investigate the matter for us all and they have not let us down.

And now we as a society must not let Raudha down. There are young girls and women everywhere in our societies are scared of these people and we must acknowledge the problem, have an honest conversation about it so that in the future no more dead bodies keep popping us. We must have compassion for our fellow humans. All lives must matter. Not just certain peoples.

Update 6: Someone has access to Raudha's Instagram

Confirming suspicions that someone has access to Raudha's phone, as soon as this post appeared and started circulating, someone pulled down Raudha's Instagram account. All the content and the conversations and any evidence with it is now gone. Other than what's here, her content is gone. If anyone else made screenshots they should make it public.

Someone is definitely trying to hide something.

Edit: It was brought to my attention later on that the phone is not needed to delete the Instagram account. In fact, account deletion cannot even be done with the phone. But through the browser. So someone may have access to her account with access to her phone, just the password. If they dont have password of the instagram account, but has access to Raudha's email, they could request a procedural password reset request.

I believe the family should follow the Instagram guidelines on reporting the deceased account in order to recover and  memorialize the content. The instructions for the procedure is available here: https://help.instagram.com/264154560391256/

Some interesting links that paint a picture of a lot of unexplained deaths of young woman that appears as "suicides" in the same area. 

The links below are some of the most disturbing stories you will read in a long time. The pattern of unexplained "suicides" of young women and others in Bangladesh is scary.

http://vnewsbd.com/college-student-kills-self-by-hanging-in-rajshahi/

http://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/2016/10/21/college-girl-commits-suicide-rajshahi/

http://archive.newagebd.net/158027/woman-commits-suicide-in-rajshahi/

http://www.nirapadnews.com/english/2016/05/09/news-id:70164/

http://thebangladeshtoday.com/2017/02/couple-extramarital-affair-found-hanging-gazipur/

And this article claims 29 Islamist extremists were arrested by the police from the same college the week before Raudha's death.

http://en.poriborton.com/bangladesh/5253

And this article from 2015 October claims the Dr. Mamun-ur-Rashad, Deputy Director of Rajshahi Islami Bank Medical College was arrested for unnamed "subversive activities". What may they be?

http://www.nirapadnews.com/english/2015/10/26/news-id:39182/

A university professor was hacked to death in Rajshahi, Bangladesh April 2016, in an attack police say is similar to killings of secular bloggers and atheists by suspected Islamist extremists. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/36119151

I continue to call bullshit on the claim that Raudha committed suicide. It's definitely murder staged as a suicide. Likely culprits are definitely religious extremists.

Visit initial publication

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I am writung this because of comments that I have recieved reagarding the picture of Raudha laying on the bed that I have posted in my Facebook. People who are close to me and who even support my work have questioned my posting the image. I have been accused of posting the picture for cheap likes at the expense of the death of someone so loved my many people  They have even questioned me,  if I would have posted the image had been my own son. To those people I say, I would have still posted the picture even if it was my own son. 

Its all about asking the right questions. Let me explain.

The photo that everyone keeps asking specifically to remove is really important to be made public in my humble opinion. The reason is because most people are not aware how a camera lenses work. The picture is taken from a higher angle through a window by someone who is not in the room. 

The black frame around the picture appears to be a wall/window frame. It's absolutely black because when the f-stop correctly focus on the right amount of light in the room, the black border appears. Any photographer would be able to confirm this. 

In the top left corner a shoe of a man can be seen. One can argue that it could be the police in the room after the body was brought down from it's original hanging position. Or it could be someone else. The photo just doesn't give enough details. Obviously the image is taken in the morning. We can tell this by looking at the back window which has light streaming through. 

Who took the picture and why? I came into possession of the image after it was being shared in a chat group on a messaging app. So the picture was already in the public domain. No one else was questioning the image and the circumstances around it's capture. I thought it important that this issue that was bothering me was highlighted. 

Other information that are important to note is her fist is clenched. Usually when body's hang, the hand eventually releases itself.  And she is fully dressed. Either she was on her way out, had just come back home. If she had just come back home, it's like somebody was with her. 

I posted the unaltered image as I received it, so that a professional photographer or an image analyst can study it. 

The photo is not posted for likes or being insensitive. It's posted because of what I believe to be significant. Attempts to hide the image smells of cover-up in the name of privacy and sensitivity. 

As a free speech absolutionist, I believe even the the topics that are extremely difficult and distressing to some people are still important conversations to have.

Update: new information since the original post

Since I posted the original picture, allowing people more qualified than me to study images and do analysis to study the image, I can confidently say the original hypothesis of the image being taken from a window is proven now to be wrong. 

A Photoshop image analyst has sent me the below image which appears to confirm that the photo is actually taken from another phone that had the image. 

At least that's one mystery about the image that's is solved. Having said that, the significance of image still remains unchanged as it shows how she was dressed at the time the body was found and her clenched fists and other vital information. 

New update: new picture of crime scene

Image posted by Raajje Mv news article.

Edit: Getting the original photo

T​his post will get updated when and if new information is available.

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Maldivian Fashion Model Raudha Athif was found dead earlier this morning in what looked like a set up to be a suicide in her hostel dorm room. 

How was this picture taken? Was someone in the room before to take her down? If that's the case why is that person not in the room when the picture was taken? Where was the police? Who cut her down?

She was a student studying in Bangladesh. He has been featured in such reputable publications like The Vogue.  It is very important to note that Bangladesh has seen a lot of Islamists attacks and many people have been killed in the last year or so. The modus operandi of such attacks has always been either blatant hacking to death or staging a suicide. 

While we don't know the details of the events surrounding her death, I refuse to accept that she killed herself. She was known to be a happy person with a bright future and career ahead of her.  There was no indication that she was depressed or anything like that. She even posted as usual on her Instagram yesterday and the day before as regular. As someone who has almost 30 thousand Instagram followers, her posts spoke of someone who is quite happy with her life. (https://www.instagram.com/raudhaathif)

I feel it is my responsibility to call for an investigation into her her death which is suspiciously looking like murder. And I hope those who committed the crime will be brought to justice. 

It is important to note that the person who posted about the news on Facebook has now deleted the post. And I question his ending of the announcement. Why does she need to be forgiven? This person would be a good place to start the investigation. 

Her mobile phone would be important for this investigation as she would have received threats or something like that.  This is not OK. And we must not ever be ok with this.

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