Wednesday
30th Oct 2024
Dhivehi Edition
President Solih. Photo: President's Office.
President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s administration turned four today and prostitution has become a common practice in the Maldives.
Foreigners working at the prostitution joints, often guised as massage parlors, have been publicly promoting their place of work and the services they provide on social media platforms such as Facebook and Tiktok.
Investigative journalism has found that some Maldivian women, in addition to the majority of female expats, have run prostitution rings via Telegram groups. Although the media has reported on the issue with incriminating evidence, the issue has not been properly investigated and prosecuted by law enforcement.
Minister Imran Abdulla was questioned on the lack of action on part of Maldives Police Service to stop the increasing number of prostitution joints within the Maldivian community. He stated, without explanation, that prostitution increased because the Maldivian borders remained open during the Covid-19 pandemic.
A number of businesses responsible for prostitution rings in Male’City were eliminated during the administration of President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Qayyoom due to multiple raids and arrests.
Imran spoke loudly and fiercely during former president, President Mohamed Nasheed’s administration when the number of prostitution rings and massage parlors gained in numbers. However, under Imran’s current ministership the number of such establishments has grown exponentially.