PARADISE FOR SOME

This I posted one year ago 26/02/08 on my old blog (Illustrated PIG To Islam)

The Maldives is like a string of pearls - 1192 islands and atolls, none more than 6' above the sea level. The country stretches 600 miles north-south with no island more than a couple of miles long as it dangles below the Indian sub-continent.

The Maldives are reminiscent of the South Pacific Islands with clear waters, gentle breezes, and white sandy beaches.

PARADISE

For tourists without any knowledge of domestic sharia laws in the Maldives, it is a country of peace and tranquility, paradise. For the moslem men who strive to follow their prophets perfect example the Maldives is paradise

Fuvahmulak Imam Accused Of Serial Paedophilia

By Aiman Rasheed
February 25, 2008

Ali Hassan, 66, Imam of Gnaviyani atoll Fuvahmulak, has been accused of molesting and raping a ten-year-old girl last Wednesday.
The gynaecologist at the island’s hospital, Dr Thajwar, told Minivan News there was conclusive evidence of rape and that the ten-year-old had been “sexually active.”
Police media co-ordinator Sergeant Shiyam confirmed that such a case was “under investigation,” but refrained from revealing any further information “due to the nature of the case.”
But local police said they were investigating other, similar allegations against the same suspect, who is currently out of the country.

Grooming

Abdulla Ahmed, brother of the alleged victim, said that Ali Hassan had “groomed” the girl by giving her sweets and money before allegedly committing the crime.
Mazeena Jameel, Director General of the Child Protection Authority, said international research indicates paedophiles either “threaten” or “bribe by giving presents” to the child they plan to abuse, as part of a “strategy” to gain access.
Staff Sergeant Hassan Shifau, who heads Fuvahmulak police station, told Minivan News that further allegations of child abuse against Ali Hassan were being investigated by Fuvahmulak police.
But the investigations are hindered by the absence of Ali Hassan, who is out of the country for medical reasons, he added.

Social Stigma

The family of the alleged victim also believe it was “not an isolated” incident. They accuse Ali Hassan of being a “serial molester.”
Aishath Mohamed, 47, claims that Ali Hassan also molested her daughter, now 16 years old, seven years ago.
However, Aishath said she had not gone to the authorities because the Imam was a “respected member of society”.
She felt that pressing charges would “hurt her daughter” due to the social stigma attached to such an incident.

Justice

The families of both of Hassan’s alleged victims question whether justice will be served.
In child abuse cases, there maybe no evidence of trauma on the victim’s body, argued Aishath Mohamed.
This means that – unlike in last week’s case – there would be no way to prove her child had indeed been molested, besides the child’s evidence.
In child abuse cases, medical reports, witness accounts and victim statements can be used as evidence, State Attorney Hussein Shameem said.
Shameem added that a draft bill on admissible and inadmissible evidence had been completed, and that this will clarify how expert opinion – such as a statement from a psychologist – can be used as evidence in courts of law.

Further Cases

Another case of accused child abuse is under investigation by Fuvahmulak police, but the accused man, Ahmed Shareef remains at large in the island while the investigation is ongoing.
This case comes after the Justice Ministry announced that sex offenders will face jail sentences rather than banishment under amendments brought to sentencing earlier this month.
This is the second case of alleged paedophilia from Gnaviyani Atoll Fuvahmulak this month.

Now this takes some believing

Banishment

By Minivan News
January 29, 2008
A gang of four men cleared previously of raping a twelve-year old girl were sentenced to two years' banishment for "forceful sexual assault" in a high court appeal case today.
But in defiance of previous government pledges, the court has not imposed any prison sentence.
The state had appealed following a ruling last July that the men were guilty of "consensual sex before marriage", claiming the girl had agreed to have sex because she didn't "scream out" after the men broke into her house.

The men were then sentenced to eight months' exile from their home island, Lhaviyani atoll Kurendhoo, the minimum possible for sex outside marriage.

The High Court has now overruled the previous verdict, stating that sex was not necessarily consensual, and has increased the punishment.
But the victim's father said he is concerned the men will be free to reoffend - echoing previous comments by local women's and children's organisations.

Banishment

The four men were sentenced to a total of two years' banishment and fifteen lashings each. But the gang have already served part of their banishment sentence so face only eighteen months more in exile.
However the ruling directly contradicts a government commitment to the UN that child sex offenders would be imprisoned rather than banished.
The government had also pledged to change the law, which allows sex offenders to live and work among children on any island outside their own atoll.
The father of the victim, who has four children, said: "The government should not allow the criminal to have access to other children on other islands. No parent would want it."

The Attack

The twelve-year-old was attacked on January 31 2007 when the group of four men, aged between 19 and 25, used an axe to smash the window of the her bedroom before taking her from her bed and having sex with her.
The father also alleged that, although the defendants were said to have been under house arrest in Male' in the run-up to the trial, one of them, Ahmed Jaleel, had broken into a shop during that time.
He also told Minivan News that his daughter was "psychologically affected" by what had happened and has still not recovered.
In July, the judge noted "the girl had reached puberty" and found "she was a willing partner," because she had not screamed, struggled or told her sister-in-law or stepmother about the event.
But on Tuesday, High Court Judge Ali Hamid said that the explanation given for the decision that sex was consensual was inconsistent with Maldivian legislation and Shari'ah law.
State Attorney Hussein Shameem said he believed the new sentence was "probably about average" for such a crime.
During the prosecution case, Shameem argued the minor could not give consent for something that was harmful to her. He also said that just because the girl did not struggle, it did not mean she had consented.
Defence Lawyer Mr Shaheem refused to comment on the case.

"Protect Our Children"

A number of high profile sexual offence cases in recent years have increased pressure on the government to confront the issue and reform the law.
Local NGO Rights for All launched a campaign last year to raise awareness.
And the lack of harsh sentencing has led to an online petition calling for legal reform.
With about 200 signatories, it demands that current gender minister Aishath Mohamed Didi "protect our children" by condemning lenient sentencing.
"How can four men, who raped a twelve year old, be sent to an island - possibly four separate islands - where there will be other vulnerable young females?" Aishath Velezinee, of women's rights NGO Hama Jamiyya, said after the previous hearing.

Stay away from this paradise for perverts