Mohamed Jameel Ahmed, the Vice President of Maldives, is to teach Queen Elizabeth II how to properly pronounce Arabic and how to recite Quran. Jameel is at the moment in London.
Maldivian media has been speculating about the reasons for Jameel's abrupt visit to London but it has been confirmed by the VP's Office that he is in London as a personal tutor to the Queen.
"It is an privilege to spend this holy month of Ramadan in Buckingham Palace and teach Queen Elizabeth how to properly pronounce Arabic words and how to recite Quran," the Vice President said through a statement issued by his office.
"The knowledge of Tajweed is complicated and there are 17 Makhraj including Al-Khayshum or sounds which come from the nose and Al-Halq or sounds which come from the throat. Only an expert of Tajweed could properly coach a beginner in this knowledge," Jameel added.
Jameel had studied at Jamia Salafiyya in Faisalabad, Pakistan before completing a law degree at International Islamic University in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. He then went to the United Kingdom to complete his PhD. Jameel is as fluent as a native speaker in Urdu, Arabic and English.
Friday, July 3, 2015
Saturday, March 7, 2015
Villa College to offer free English language courses for PPM members
Villa College, the most prestigious educational institute in the Maldives, has announced that it will start offering English language courses for the members of Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM).
The college said it will offer the courses for free in an attempt to improve the English language standard of members of PPM, after a series of grammatically incorrect tweets and placards with misspellings used in protests caused embarrassment for the political party.
"After they complete our courses, PPM members' command of English will be equivalent to the Queen Elizabeth or any other native speaker of Great Britain. #PPMEnglish will be ranked in the same category as Shakespearean plays," a spokesperson for Villa College said.
Professor Qasim Ibrahim, the founder of Villa College, will teach in the English classes for PPM members.
The college said it will offer the courses for free in an attempt to improve the English language standard of members of PPM, after a series of grammatically incorrect tweets and placards with misspellings used in protests caused embarrassment for the political party.
"After they complete our courses, PPM members' command of English will be equivalent to the Queen Elizabeth or any other native speaker of Great Britain. #PPMEnglish will be ranked in the same category as Shakespearean plays," a spokesperson for Villa College said.
Professor Qasim Ibrahim, the founder of Villa College, will teach in the English classes for PPM members.
Tuesday, January 20, 2015
Niuma's resignation sends Maldives into deep political crisis
The Indian Ocean island nation Maldives is reeling from a deepening political crisis ignited by the sudden resignation of Niuma Mohamed, Vice Chairperson of Maldives Film Association. In the footsteps of Niuma comes the resignation of Adam Mohamed, the president of Judicial Services Commission (JSC) and the resignation of Fathimath Shafeeqa, the CEO of Capital Market Development Authority (CMDA).
The Maldives plunged further into crisis when masked police stormed the apartment of Colonel (Retd.) Ahmed Nazim, the Minister of Defence. The police produced a search warrant and searched the apartment for two hours before leaving with evidence allegedly for an investigation regarding terrorism.
Analysts believe President Yameen Abdul Gayoom is wary of Nazim, who is also the acting minister of health, after the recent presidential elections in Sri Lanka saw the incumbent Mahinda Rajapaksa defeated by his former health minister in a late bid for presidency.
It is not yet clear why Niuma, a famous actress, decided to resign, causing a shocking chain of events. Sources close to Niuma say she is heartbroken over the recent decision by Minister of Tourism Ahmed Adeeb to let her arch-rival Suneetha Ali join on stage with Priyanka Chopra when the Bollywood superstar and former Miss World visited the Maldives.
The Maldives plunged further into crisis when masked police stormed the apartment of Colonel (Retd.) Ahmed Nazim, the Minister of Defence. The police produced a search warrant and searched the apartment for two hours before leaving with evidence allegedly for an investigation regarding terrorism.
Analysts believe President Yameen Abdul Gayoom is wary of Nazim, who is also the acting minister of health, after the recent presidential elections in Sri Lanka saw the incumbent Mahinda Rajapaksa defeated by his former health minister in a late bid for presidency.
It is not yet clear why Niuma, a famous actress, decided to resign, causing a shocking chain of events. Sources close to Niuma say she is heartbroken over the recent decision by Minister of Tourism Ahmed Adeeb to let her arch-rival Suneetha Ali join on stage with Priyanka Chopra when the Bollywood superstar and former Miss World visited the Maldives.
Monday, March 3, 2014
IGMH transfuses HIV-positive blood to Saudi Crown Prince
The largest government-run hospital in Maldives, Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH), has transfused HIV-positive blood to Saudi Crown Prince Salman Bin Abdul Azeez Al Saud.
"This is the saddest incident in the history of IGMH," Deputy CEO Dr Habeeb told reporters at a press conference held at midnight.
The Crown Prince was on a state visit to the Indian Ocean islands. He had planned to spend a holiday in a luxurious resort after meeting with the government officials.
A laboratory technician of Iranian nationality has been arrested, according to local press.
"We can confirm that a laboratory technician has been arrested under a criminal investigation," Commissioner of Police Hussain Waheed said. He declined to comment on the rumours that the technician had been earlier fired for negligence from a nuclear facility in Iran.
Health minister Mariyam Shakeela said she will not resign, downplaying what appears to be the biggest diplomatic row Maldives has faced since gaining independence in 1965.
"I have apologized to the Crown Prince and his family. I have also told him that the government of the Maldives will bear all expenses of any treatment the Crown Prince has to undergo from now on. This is a very sad and unfortunate incident but resignation is not a solution," Shakeela said.
The Crown Prince's press secretary Sheikh Masoud Al Imad Bin Al Shaheed Al Zuhair Al Mundhoodh has revealed more details about the incident.
"The Crown Prince did not visit IGMH to reccieve a blood transfusion. He went there to donate his blood. The Prince has been receiving numerous donation requests from the government of Maldives, including a request for a 300 million dollar loan. The prince is a generous philanthropist but he decided to donate his blood first, as a gesture of good will, and to connect the people of our brotherly two countries through the pure blood of the House of Saud," Al Mundhoodh clarified.
A serious mishap seems to have happened at IGMH when the Crown Prince was mistaken for another patient and given a blood transfusion which turned out to be HIV-positive.
Al Mundhoodh denied the rumours which are spreading in the Maldives that the Crown Prince has a special fondness for women of Eastern Europe and the Russian Federation.
"Blaming the victim is not a solution. As the heir to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and as a Prince groomed from the beginning to be the guardian of the two holy mosques, Prince Salman embodies the best virtues. We regret the rumours being spread in the Maldives to divert the focus from the terrible incident," an indignant Al Mundhoodh said.
The incident has eroded the confidence of Maldivian people on IGMH. Pregnant women say they would rather give birth at home than visit the largest public hospital. The demand for midwives and spiritual healers has increased overnight.
Moussa Nasim, a taxi driver, said he was apprehensive about going to IGMH for any type of treatment. He said, however, that he was more worried that Saudi Arabia might stop the donation of dates during the month of Ramadan.
"Without dates from Saudi Arabia, Ramadan will never be the same," he said as he charged me 50 rufiya, double the fare charged for a taxi ride in the 100% Muslim country.
"This is the saddest incident in the history of IGMH," Deputy CEO Dr Habeeb told reporters at a press conference held at midnight.
The Crown Prince was on a state visit to the Indian Ocean islands. He had planned to spend a holiday in a luxurious resort after meeting with the government officials.
A laboratory technician of Iranian nationality has been arrested, according to local press.
"We can confirm that a laboratory technician has been arrested under a criminal investigation," Commissioner of Police Hussain Waheed said. He declined to comment on the rumours that the technician had been earlier fired for negligence from a nuclear facility in Iran.
Health minister Mariyam Shakeela said she will not resign, downplaying what appears to be the biggest diplomatic row Maldives has faced since gaining independence in 1965.
"I have apologized to the Crown Prince and his family. I have also told him that the government of the Maldives will bear all expenses of any treatment the Crown Prince has to undergo from now on. This is a very sad and unfortunate incident but resignation is not a solution," Shakeela said.
The Crown Prince's press secretary Sheikh Masoud Al Imad Bin Al Shaheed Al Zuhair Al Mundhoodh has revealed more details about the incident.
"The Crown Prince did not visit IGMH to reccieve a blood transfusion. He went there to donate his blood. The Prince has been receiving numerous donation requests from the government of Maldives, including a request for a 300 million dollar loan. The prince is a generous philanthropist but he decided to donate his blood first, as a gesture of good will, and to connect the people of our brotherly two countries through the pure blood of the House of Saud," Al Mundhoodh clarified.
A serious mishap seems to have happened at IGMH when the Crown Prince was mistaken for another patient and given a blood transfusion which turned out to be HIV-positive.
Al Mundhoodh denied the rumours which are spreading in the Maldives that the Crown Prince has a special fondness for women of Eastern Europe and the Russian Federation.
"Blaming the victim is not a solution. As the heir to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and as a Prince groomed from the beginning to be the guardian of the two holy mosques, Prince Salman embodies the best virtues. We regret the rumours being spread in the Maldives to divert the focus from the terrible incident," an indignant Al Mundhoodh said.
The incident has eroded the confidence of Maldivian people on IGMH. Pregnant women say they would rather give birth at home than visit the largest public hospital. The demand for midwives and spiritual healers has increased overnight.
Moussa Nasim, a taxi driver, said he was apprehensive about going to IGMH for any type of treatment. He said, however, that he was more worried that Saudi Arabia might stop the donation of dates during the month of Ramadan.
"Without dates from Saudi Arabia, Ramadan will never be the same," he said as he charged me 50 rufiya, double the fare charged for a taxi ride in the 100% Muslim country.
Thursday, February 27, 2014
Yameen secretly tears up report card after receiving F
Yameen Abdul Gayoom has secretly torn the report card after he received an F for the first 100 days of his government.
"He did not bring a report card home. He said he got an A report. It was only later when I read Haveeru that I realised that he received an F. This is a big disappointment after everything I did to bring him to power" wrote his elder brother Maumoon Abdul Gayoom in a tweet.
This tweet is longer than normal tweets because of special privileges Twitter has to give to former heads of states under the Law of Special Privileges for Former Presidents of Maldives.
"He did not bring a report card home. He said he got an A report. It was only later when I read Haveeru that I realised that he received an F. This is a big disappointment after everything I did to bring him to power" wrote his elder brother Maumoon Abdul Gayoom in a tweet.
This tweet is longer than normal tweets because of special privileges Twitter has to give to former heads of states under the Law of Special Privileges for Former Presidents of Maldives.
Saturday, November 16, 2013
Gayoom urges Maldives to quit European Union
Former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom has urged Maldives to withdraw its membership of European Union. Gayoom said this at the last rally held to garner support for his half-brother Yameen Abdul Gayoom.
"Maldives joined EU during my rule. At that time there were many benefits Maldives received from membership of European Union. Maldivian seamen were able to get employment in Greek ships. There was only a nominal duty levied on Maldivian fish exports to Europe. But now EU is interfering with our domestic affairs. After Nasheed gave a laadheenee and laaqaumee speech in Denmark, the EU has decided to charge higher import duty on our tuna unless we demolish Theemuge and build a church there," Gayoom said.
"We can't compromise our sovereignty. Our forefathers defeated European invaders once and we will do so again. I will ask the next President to terminate membership of Maldives in the European Union," Gayoom said as thousands of supporters cheered. "We will then join ASEAN as we are getting more tourists from the Far East than from Europe now."
"Maldives joined EU during my rule. At that time there were many benefits Maldives received from membership of European Union. Maldivian seamen were able to get employment in Greek ships. There was only a nominal duty levied on Maldivian fish exports to Europe. But now EU is interfering with our domestic affairs. After Nasheed gave a laadheenee and laaqaumee speech in Denmark, the EU has decided to charge higher import duty on our tuna unless we demolish Theemuge and build a church there," Gayoom said.
"We can't compromise our sovereignty. Our forefathers defeated European invaders once and we will do so again. I will ask the next President to terminate membership of Maldives in the European Union," Gayoom said as thousands of supporters cheered. "We will then join ASEAN as we are getting more tourists from the Far East than from Europe now."
Thursday, November 14, 2013
Dhiraagu sponsors Waheed's overseas trip
President of Maldives Dr Waheed Hassan is leaving Maldives on a short trip sponsored by Dhiraagu. Waheed said he is leaving to Singapore for a medcial treatment of his wife First Lady Ilham Hussain. Waheed said there is nothing he can do now in Maldives which he can't do through a phone call while abroad.
Dhiraagu is the number one telecom company in Maldives. They charge a very high fee for telecom services such as overseas calls and internet. Sometimes they hold promotions such as reduced rates for pilgrims visiting Mecca. But they did not provide low rates for overseas calls when President Waheed and former President Nasheed went for an Umra in Mecca earlier this year. Many people disbelieved President Nasheed when he said he went for an Umra. They disbelieved him because he is accused of being 'laadheenee'. But recently leaked photos taken from a NASA satellite shows President Nasheed inside a vehicle wearing a pilgrim's white 'ihram' dress and speeding across the desert. Still the disbelievers said this was a fake photo taken in the land area President Nasheed reclaimed in Hinnavaru.
Dhiraagu is providing a special rate for President Waheed to make phone calls from Singapore.
Dhiraagu is the number one telecom company in Maldives. They charge a very high fee for telecom services such as overseas calls and internet. Sometimes they hold promotions such as reduced rates for pilgrims visiting Mecca. But they did not provide low rates for overseas calls when President Waheed and former President Nasheed went for an Umra in Mecca earlier this year. Many people disbelieved President Nasheed when he said he went for an Umra. They disbelieved him because he is accused of being 'laadheenee'. But recently leaked photos taken from a NASA satellite shows President Nasheed inside a vehicle wearing a pilgrim's white 'ihram' dress and speeding across the desert. Still the disbelievers said this was a fake photo taken in the land area President Nasheed reclaimed in Hinnavaru.
Dhiraagu is providing a special rate for President Waheed to make phone calls from Singapore.
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