A Flash Back

It’s been quite a while this blog has not been updated. Well, I have my own set of excuses for that. After such a long time of inactivity, it’s time for a flash back into the history. Along the way into the past couple of months a number of child abuse cases have raised up and has quite been talked about in the media. More and more people are getting aware about the worsening situation. More and more people are concered and discussing about the issue of child abuse in Maldives.

• On the 15th of September 2007, Jazeera Daily reported that a video of a 9 year old child being engaged in sex with an adult male, was being circulated around Male’ and that they have received a copy of it too.
• On the 03rd of October 2007, Jazeera Daily reported that the father of an 11 year old girl has been presented to the police station of Alifu Dhaalu atoll Himandhoo in charge of the 11 year old girl been married. The father has defended against the charges saying that the gossip around the island that the girl has been married is indeed wrong.
• On the 04th of October 2007, Haveeru Online reported that police have arrested two people in Raa atoll Maduvvaree on charges of sexually assaulting an eight-year-old child. According to a close friend of the victim’s family the assault had taken place that Tuesday night while the child had been sleeping.
• On the 12th of November 2007, Minivan News highlights once again the case of an Imam accused of serial child abuse remaining free on his home island, six months after police promised to investigate. “Family attempts to bring the case to the attention of authorities in Malé have met with silence, fuelling growing sentiment on Baa Atoll Goidhoo that the Government is turning a blind eye to child abuse on the island.” says Abdulla Jaisham of Minivan News.
• On the 17th of November 2007, Haveeru Online reports that a 15 year old girl who went to Hithadhoo Regional Hospital in Addu has been allegedly sexually abused by a physiotherapist there. The person who is alleged to have committed this act is an Indian national working at the hospital. He had asked everyone to keep out of the physiotherapy room and was inside, alone with the girl, when she suddenly screamed and burst out of the room.
• On the 26th of December 2007, Jazeeera Daily reported that a step father has sexually abused his six year old step child and the case has been presented to court. Haveeru Online also has reported the same case an Jazeera Daily reported on 31st December that the step father has been sentenced for three year for jail.
• On the 05th of January 2008, Jazeera Daily reported that an 18 year old girl who has previously killed her child after giving birth, has again given birth in Dhanbidhoo. Haveeru Online reported the same case on the very next day.
• On the 04th of February 2008, Jazeera Daily reported rape of a 14 year olf girl in Gaafu Dhaalu Rathafandhoo. The girl was raped twice in two different nights. Haveeru Online has also reported the same case.
• On the 11th of February 2008, Haveeru Online reports that A 17 year old has hanged herself in Alif Dhaalu atoll Mahibadhoo.
• On the 13th of February, Haveeru Online reported that an 18 year old girl has been raped by a gang of four in Raa atoll Ungoofaaru.
• On the 19th of february 2008, Haveeru Online has reported that a 39 years old man has been arrested by the Police in Fuvah Mulah for the alleged sexual abuse of a thirteen year old girl. Minivan News has reported the same case too.
• On the 17th of February 2008, Jazeera Daily has reported that an 11 month old baby has been found dead and taken to hospital in Addu. The baby has been allegedly killed by its own mother who already has six children. It was reported that there was a fight with the husband as she got pregnant with the baby. Haveeru Online has also reported the case.
• On the 24th of February 2008, Minivan News reported that Ali Hassan, 66, Imam of Gnaviyani atoll Fuvahmulak, was accused of molesting and raping a ten-year-old girl. Miadhu Daily reported the same case.
• On the 15th of March 2008, Haveeru Online reported that a 48 year old was being held for investigation on suspicion of the sexual abuse of several children from one family. According to the report, the children were not of the same parents, but are related. Miadhu Daily reported the case too.
• On the 17th of March 2008, Haveeru Online reported that a director at the President’s Office has been held while on his way to travel abroad; at Hulule International Airport. The man is accused of having sexually abused his daughter who did her GCE OLevel last year. An update from Jazeera says that the abuse was taken up with the mother, by the victim about eight months ago. It also confirmed that the mother had reported the case to the Police.
• On the 06th of April 2008, Minivan News reported that A family have accused a lance corporal in the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) of repeatedly abusing their six-year-old child in the capital, Malé, after “grooming” her with gifts and chocolates.

All these cases added up, we can understand the seriousness of the current situation of child abuse in Maldives. Moreover, the issue is being taken up more broadly in the CAWM facebook group.