:: Dhivehi Observer :: Peoples Press ::

Maldives Student spills her heart hoping for change

Juway - Male, Galolhu Maldives - Wednesday, May 26, 2004 at 20:24:15 (MDT)

Dear Ismail Saadiq,

I am student at CHSE and I want to share my life with you, DO readers and other organizations, which are trying their best to help the Maldivians to get out of the iron grip of this cruel leader and his followers.

I lost my father five years ago, when I was in Aminiyya. I had a sister and a brother who were younger than me. My mother worked hard by sewing clothes, baking cakes and helping other neighbourhood kids to learn Qur'an. It was an uphill struggle everyday. Whether it is to pay the exorbitant utility bills or to purchase much needed books. We never got birthday presents or new dresses for Eid (major Muslim holiday) or for any other holiday for that matter.

We were confined to our rooms and constantly reminded about the hardship my mother is undergoing, to make ends meet. We had no choice, but to study hard and hope to have a better life in the future.

2 years ago, our life changed when my mother wrote a letter to Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom, claiming that my Islam results at Aminiyya was not fair. I had all A's from grade 7 onwards, but my final result was a C. I was disappointed and I told my mother it was not right. She complained to Dr. Latheef who never even bothered to reply.

After few days my mom wrote a letter to Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom, after two days, she was picked up by the Police and taken to Ministry of Defense and National Security. She was questioned by one civilian staff and was told that her letter to the President contained "inappropriate Dhivehi language" and such words are not suitable for His Excellency the President. My mother insisted that she be told those particular words, so that she could withdraw them and apologize. They never told what those words, but instead kept her inside the NSS police headquarters overnight, while we three remained at home all alone wondering what happened to our mom. We had no one else to help us or to provide us anything. My mother had the keys of her drawer, so we had no access to any money or anything.

My mother was sent home after two days, and placed under house arrest. During this time she wrote again to Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom and told him how she was treated inside NSS. Next day my mother was again taken to the police station and sent to Dhoonidhoo and after a week sent to Maafushi jail.

She was sent home after 30 days at Maafushi. During her detention, the police interrogated her several times. My mother was desperate to get home, so she was upset and angry, why she was tortured and "fondled" by the interrogators. She was held with hardcore drug dealers and users and forced to smoke cigarettes by the Police. She was asked for sexual favours to get a telephone call across to us.

After she came home (she was released after 90 days under house arrest), we found her completely different. She started smoking and numerous police officers visit her and spend hours with her in the room. All we were told were to shut up and keep quiet. Today my mother is a drug user and forced to provide sex to Police officers. Her life has changed completely. We (my sister and myself) also receive calls from Police officers with suggestions of sexual nature. We have no choice today but to live under this government who had changed our lives forever.

Last week, I heard of DO website from a class mate and she told me to share this story with you at least for the record and bring some healing to many others who are undergoing these types of humiliation.

I feel responsible for my Mom's change of behaviour, as it was my Islam results, which initiated all these problems. My sister has tried to commit suicide and she is failing in her school and will end up, like my mother. My life is no better, but I am struggling to complete my A' levels, without offering "my body" to the Police.

I hope your hard work will bring some change to this country. How many innocent families must go through these humiliations, before we find another leader. I cannot provide you anything, nor I am able to vote for you (I am just 18), but all I could do is to pray for you and remember you and your family in my prayers.

Respectfully,
Juway

From the Editors
DO encourages other readers to tell their stories of how Gayyoom's policies has directly affected their lives. Let the world know of the Monster that claims to be "A Man for All Islands". We would also like to keep a file of these accounts, so we recommend you give your actual name and address and contact details which will only be held on our record. It will not be shared and we will use a different name unless the write requests to do otherwise. As it happens in many occasions, with these kinds of stories, the government can say that it was "simply not true!" despite in spite of the fact that many hundred of Maldivians have been subjected to such inhumane and degrading treatment.

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