Sandhaanu

Sandhaanu was a political news magazine in the Maldives. Its editors (Ibrahim Lutfy, Mohamed Zaki, Ahmed Didi were sentenced to life in prison while another editor (Fathimath Nisreen) to 10 years in prison in 2003 for their criticism of President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom and his government. One of their editors (Ibrahim Lutfy) managed to escape from prison and went under the protection of the Switzerland government. The others remained in prison and suffered torture and isolation constantly before being released due to the threat of economical sanctions by the European Union against the Maldivian Government. Hence, as a show of cooperation to the EU, the Maldives Government released the remaining editors one by one erasing all criminal charges brought against them.

At the end of 2006, they started an online version of their news article at which have gained popularity for Maldivians living abroad. By 2007 they had started the production of their own weekly magazine which mostly is seen as a magazine opposed to the current Government of the country.

[http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=4940 Editors of an electronic newsletter sentenced to life in prison]

[http://www.sandhaanu.net Sandhaanu Maldivian News Media]