Sandhaanu
Encyclopedia
Sandhaanu was a political news magazine in the Maldives
. Its main editor Ahmed Didi together with his main contributors Ibrahim Lutfy and Mohamed Zaki were sentenced to life in prison while another editor (Fathimath Nisreen) to 10 years in prison in 2003 for their criticism of President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom
and his government. One of their contributors(Ibrahim Lutfy) managed to escape from prison and went under the protection of the Switzerland government. The others remained in prison and suffered torture and isolation constantly before being released due to the threat of economical sanctions by the European Union against the Maldivian Government. Hence, as a show of cooperation to the EU, the Maldives Government released the remaining editors one by one erasing all criminal charges brought against them.
At the end of 2006, they started an online version of their news article at which have gained popularity for Maldivians living abroad. By 2007 they had started the production of their own weekly magazine which mostly is seen as a magazine opposed to the Gayyoom's Government.
After ousting of Gayoom from power, Sandhaanu has been a pro-government magazine focusing on various areas of concern in the country.
Maldives
The Maldives , , officially Republic of Maldives , also referred to as the Maldive Islands, is an island nation in the Indian Ocean formed by a double chain of twenty-six atolls oriented north-south off India's Lakshadweep islands, between Minicoy Island and...
. Its main editor Ahmed Didi together with his main contributors Ibrahim Lutfy and Mohamed Zaki were sentenced to life in prison while another editor (Fathimath Nisreen) to 10 years in prison in 2003 for their criticism of President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom
Maumoon Abdul Gayoom
Maumoon Abdul Gayoom was President of the Maldives from 1978 to 2008. After serving as Minister of Transport, he was nominated as President by the Majlis of the Maldives and succeeded Ibrahim Nasir on November 11, 1978. He eventually became the longest-ruling head of government in Asia...
and his government. One of their contributors(Ibrahim Lutfy) managed to escape from prison and went under the protection of the Switzerland government. The others remained in prison and suffered torture and isolation constantly before being released due to the threat of economical sanctions by the European Union against the Maldivian Government. Hence, as a show of cooperation to the EU, the Maldives Government released the remaining editors one by one erasing all criminal charges brought against them.
At the end of 2006, they started an online version of their news article at which have gained popularity for Maldivians living abroad. By 2007 they had started the production of their own weekly magazine which mostly is seen as a magazine opposed to the Gayyoom's Government.
After ousting of Gayoom from power, Sandhaanu has been a pro-government magazine focusing on various areas of concern in the country.