:: Dhivehi Observer :: Peoples Press ::

Ilyas Hussain Ibrahim; a hero for freedom of speech and political reform in Maldives

Maldives Culture Special Report published on 27th November 2003

Ilyas Hussein

Ilyas Hussain Ibrahim has been a keen writer about Maldivian politics since his student days. 'The necessity of free speech, rights of expression and a multi-party democracy in the republic of Maldives' was one noted article among many published in college magazines. He was popular among his colleagues for his courage to speak out, regardless of the political environment.

After graduating from the University of Medina in Saudi Arabia, he returned to Maldives where he was reluctantly offered a government position. The articles he wrote as a student continued to cast a long shadow on his career and became an impediment to promotion.

Listening device placed on Ilyas Hussein's phone line

For two decades, Ilyas Hussein was constantly harassed and subjected to brutal and unjust treatment because he tried to write about government scandals. Despite this torment, he remains determined to argue for political change.

Ilyas Hussein has been arrested many times. In 1984 he was taken from home at night and after being kept waiting at the police station for hours, he was interrogated by Anbaree Abdul Sattar Adam (now Minister of State for Defence and National security) and Isthafa Ibrahim Manik about an article, 'The strengthening of democracy under a leader', which he had written for a magazine published by the Maldives Student Association of Pakistan.

In 1990, the regime allowed a brief period of free speech and numerous political magazines were published and freely available. Many younger people also wanted true democracy with a multi-party system.

'Sangu', 'Hukuru' and 'Al-mimbar' were popular magazines, but the fervor was short-lived because the government soon began to systematically smother active journalism. Ilyas Hussein contributed to most of these magazines and local newspapers like Haveeru and Aafathis.

Manthiri cover

One by one, the independent magazines were banned from circulation. After 'Sangu' was buried along with its editor under a mountain of legal charges, Ilyas Hussein registered his own magazine 'Manthiri' (Minister). Soon many writers revealed misdeeds and corruption in the government. Due to its content, and pressure from the regime, Maldivian printing presses refused to print Manthiri.

Ilyas Hussein continued working on Manthiri, ignoring warnings to stop. Arrangements were made to publish overseas but when the first issue arrived, it was confiscated by Maldives Customs and never reached the Malé bookstores.

This first issue covered the attempted coup in Malé on 3 November 1988. Editor Ilyas Hussein was arrested and held in jail without trial for 45 days before being convicted and sentenced to six months imprisonment. Other people who contributed and helped import the magazine were also arrested and convicted. Adam Rasheed Ahmed from Thalvaaruge house in Galolhu ward and a co-editor of Manthiri, suffered a similar fate to Ilyas Hussein. Manthiri was only distributed abroad.

In 1990, Sattar, a senior official from the government fish exporters FPID (now known as MIFCO) was arrested for fraud. While in custody, Sattar telephoned the then Defense Minister Ilyas Ibrahim (brother of Nasreena Ibrahim, president Gayyoom's wife) who was also CEO of FPID. Someone recorded this conversation and the tape spread all over Maldives and among high-ranking officials. When Manthiri published a transcript of the conversation, Ilyas Hussein was arrested and jailed for six months. Manthiri's investigative report into this infamous fish exporting racket was never published. The people involved in the scandal eventually went free, but fearless writers and talkers like Ilyas Hussein were arrested and penalised.

ilyas hussein, november 2003, after his release from 45 days detention in Dhoonidhoo prison in Maldives

Ilyas after his release from Dhoonidhoo prison, November 2003

While being held in gruesome conditions in Dhoonidhoo prison just north of Malé, he was charged with withholding information after a group of frustrated people had designed a homemade explosive from firecrackers with an added timer. The small device was placed in an empty park behind NSS headquarters.

The possibility that Ilyas Hussein was involved was remote, but this did not deter the NSS. He was tortured and finally sentenced on circumstantial evidence to six years imprisonment.

After a few years, the regime pardoned most of the prisoners involved in political activities. The government was confident that people were scared and suppressed to the point of helplessness. Many political activists either fled the country or were put back in jail.

A subdued stalemate turned to turmoil when Ilyas Hussein, along with two friends Kalhuhuraa Mohamed Latheef and Mohamed Nasheed (Anni), began registering a political party.

In 2001, forty-two people signed and forwarded a proposal to the government to form the Maldives Democratic Party or MDP. The NSS placed Ilyas Hussein under full surveillance. His phone was tapped and he was followed and photographed constantly, disrupting his private life.

In mid-June 2001, Ilyas Hussein found a small listening device attached to his phone line and he laid a complaint with the NSS. They promised to investigate the matter.

With wife Rukshana, and children Thanha and Ramha

On Saturday the 20th September 2003, the regime killed unarmed demonstrating prisoners at Maafushi jail. Ilyas Hussein was suspected of being involved in the consequent uprising in Malé. He was innocent but for 45 days the NSS kept him in small concrete cell with minimal facilities. Perhaps the main aim was to keep him locked up until the presidential elections were over.

Ilyas Hussein has two children, Thanha aged 3, and Ramha aged 1, and his personal finances are strained. He is currently employed as a deputy director in the Ministry of Atolls Development, but has not been assigned any work except to mark his own attendance and stay on the premises. All his responsibilities have been removed and his university degree rendered useless. He lives a life of constant torment and repression because of his unceasing efforts to reform the political structure of Maldives.