Recommended reading:
How You Make Me Feel
CONTENT WARNING: Self harm, suicide, abuse, homophobia
How You Make Me Feel | Digital | (2022)
There is a lot I want to say about this piece. I draw in an unplanned, organic way. When things appear in my imagination, I add them in.
I imagined hands coming down as spiders, throwing out hooks, manipulating my face, my emotions, how I appear to the outside world.
The hooks would pull and tear at my skin, as the lines pulled through bone and sinew.
Why illustrate such violence towards oneself? Well for one thing it is better than hurting my physical body.
Through the process of this illustration I realised I was expressing some deep traumas that I have not really addressed directly. When I look back at the body of my work, it is obvious where I have subconsciously explored these feelings. In deciding to make this piece with more focus, I found that it drained and took a lot out of me. I worked on it tirelessly until it all came into focus, and when it did, I felt a tidal wave of exhaustion but also relief.
I feel like the time is right to share these stories. They will provide context for this work.
How You Make Me Feel | Digital | (2022)
CONTENT WARNING: Self harm, suicide, abuse, homophobia
There is a lot I want to say about this piece. I draw in an unplanned, organic way. When things appear in my imagination, I add them in.
I imagined hands coming down as spiders, throwing out hooks, manipulating my face, my emotions, how I appear to the outside world.
The hooks would pull and tear at my skin, as the lines pulled through bone and sinew.
Why illustrate such violence towards oneself? Well for one thing it is better than hurting my physical body.
Through the process of this illustration I realised I was expressing some deep traumas that I have not really addressed directly. When I look back at the body of my work, it is obvious where I have subconsciously explored these feelings. In deciding to make this piece with more focus, I found that it drained and took a lot out of me. I worked on it tirelessly until it all came into focus, and when it did, I felt a tidal wave of exhaustion but also relief.
I feel like the time is right to share these stories. They will provide context for this work.
My first crush was a pretty blonde girl. We were in first grade, at a primary school in Sydney. She taught me how to tie my shoes.
My second big crush was one of my teammates on my swim team. Tall and beautiful, an adolescent boys dream. We were in grade six, going to one of the nicer public schools in Male’ City. It was around then when my troubles began.
While I had this crush, I was also experimenting with a classmate. Another boy. We would try things together, but he would never kiss me. No, that would be too gay.
A few months into this, it came time for the annual school play. The teachers were so shit that I had to write and direct it myself. It was about a satirical news channel called Crazy Lunatic News. I even managed to sneak in some nonsense making fun of Maumoon, who was still ruling as a dictator at the time (with a sketch about going to the moon, real original right?).
While hanging out with the kids in that group we would chat about the dumb things that kids that age would talk about. When the topic of sex came up, I boldly offered the proposition that guys had it way better because we could f*** but also get f***ed.
You see for me, I had never really thought of as being straight was a thing. I thought people just liked who they liked.
My schoolmates obviously did not think the same. Soon rumours swirled that I was gay. Super gay. Just absolutely bent. All while I had this hopeless crush on this girl.
To add to this tragedy, another girl, who apparently I guess might have had a crush on me, started claiming that she was my girlfriend. In retrospect its clear that she was trying to protect me. But at the time it really pissed me off because I thought it would hurt my chances with the girl that I liked. So I did the totally rational and understanding thing of yelling at her in front of a bunch of people about how she should stop telling lies.
All of a sudden I understood all the homophobia that I had been growing up with. The big insult then, and still now, for a gay male is firihen kulhi (lit. male play - the popular slur for lesbians being anhen kulhi or female play). The walls of the school, the tables, the toilet walls, would be littered with scribbles saying FK this FK that.
I should mention that by this point I had already been getting shit all my life for my name, Hani. It sounds too much like honey. Harmless enough most places, but in the Maldives, Honey was the name of an infamous cross dressing person (they may also possibly be trans, I am not sure). Honey was constantly getting arrested for wearing dresses, which most Maldivians found to be the absolute height of comedy. They got so much entertainment from his ostracisation and suffering that the fallout fell onto me. Hani. The boy with the name that sounds like Honey.
All of a sudden I became labeled as FK. And that made me scared that maybe I really was gay. If I was gay, then I would be FK, and then people really wouldn’t leave me alone. And not only the people, but god too. God would make sure I didn’t escape even if I died.
So when high school started, I buried everything and went and hid deep in the closet. I would not really think about my sexuality beyond straight or perhaps a tiny bit bicurious for years to come.
Instead, during the early days of high school, I would lie in bed and choke myself, hoping to die. Luckily this is almost impossible to do to yourself.
When the 2004 tsunami hit the Maldives, I was in grade 9. Fearing that we would all go to hell, the extremist preachers stepped up their game and started what would be a very successful radicalisation campaign. Fearing that their children would get lost at sea, parents all over got their kids mobile phones. Phones we would use in class to share dirty photos and porn.
Somehow at least two homophobes got my number and immediately began to send me hateful messages non-stop. At this point I was deeply in denial so it was incredibly distressing. Who would I even talk to about this? If I told anyone then I would really be like Honey.
In the meantime I began to express my self hatred upon my own body in increasingly more violent ways. It is kind of a blur so I am not entirely sure when or how it started. I think it might have been even before the tsunami and the texts.
I would steal away matches and light little fires on the back of my hand. Onto this same spot I would pour candle wax, and sometimes just push the candle and matches inside. The skin eventually would break and form a gross wound. Smack dab in the middle of the back of my right hand. Hardly a hidden spot. Yet nobody really noticed anything.
In a truly bizarre cry for help I would hide the shape made by the wound in the design of a birthday card I made to invite my schoolmates.
It was also around this time that I discovered that sniffing glue made you high. I am pretty sure I tried it immediately after hearing some PSA about the dangers of it. This led to experiments with various cough syrups, most of which had extremely not fun chemicals in them like DXM and Diphenhydramine. I also learned how to crush pills and extract codeine. None of it really helped. There is more beyond these anecdotes that I will share when the time is right.
In a way this piece is the mirror to my previous self portrait “My Hijab (In Bloom)”. If that work represents me in my current state, this one represents how I was.
Being torn apart and manipulated. Forced to hide my true self. Yet through the wounds you can see flowers blooming. Flowers that would protect me, guard me, nourish me. They represent my queer family who have always been there for me, even when I did not know it.
It is 2022, and the Maldives still does not recognise LGBTQIA+ people, and neither does it recognise freedom of conscience, the right to believe what you want to believe. Queer atheists and people from other religions are just as subjugated as queer Muslims. Even being an ally is dangerous.
In essence, the Maldives does not recognise the right of its citizens to have their own identity. There is much talk of mental health initiatives, but what of the mental health of people being bullied and ostracised by an entire nation for who they are? You really expect some kid to be able to tell a therapist or whatever their deep fears and traumas are, when they do not even have the comfort of asking the police for help? Calling the police is not something queer or non-Muslim Maldivians do. There is much to say about this but I will leave that there.
I once hid my scars, but the time for that is now long past. I feel like I have awoken from a long sleep.
31 Dhivehi Haikus for the month of August
In August during lockdown, I wrote a haiku in Dhivehi each day. It started off with simple Thaana text on black background, and slowly evolved to incorporate my photographs. It is nice to write haikus in Dhivehi as the structure lends itself nicely to counting the syllables.
The poems themselves seemed to take on a very self reflective nature, with common themes being the ocean, Maldivian life, and life in Male’ City.
I have included english translations for each of them. However do note that sometimes the meaning and syllable structure is lost somewhat in translation.
Originally posted on my instagram.
In August during lockdown, I wrote a haiku in Dhivehi (the Maldivian language) each day. It started off with simple Thaana text on black background, and slowly evolved to incorporate my photographs. It is nice to write haikus in Dhivehi as the structure lends itself nicely to counting the syllables.
The poems themselves seemed to take on a very self reflective nature, with common themes being the ocean, Maldivian life, and life in Male’ City.
I have included english translations for each of them. However do note that sometimes the meaning and syllable structure is lost somewhat in translation.
Originally posted on my instagram.
1st
Kalaayaa nulaa
Udun ohey tharithah
Bimuga jehey
Without you
The stars that cascade from the heavens
Crash into the earth
2nd
Kulagadha maa
Kalaa chischis kolleema
Hithi zuvaankan
Vivid flowers
Because you crushed
Bitter youth
3rd
Kandu omaan rey
Dhashu udhuhey mahéh
Huvafén gâs
Calm ocean night
A fish flying beneath
Dream tree
4th
ބޯއަޅާލާފަ
ރޫހު އެއްކޮށް ގުޅިފަ
މަޑިކިލަނބު
Boa alhaalaafa
Roohu éhkoh gulhifa
Madikilanbu
Lay your head
Souls link together
Milky Way (galaxy)
5th
ލޭބޯ ކަކުނި
ހަމަހިމޭން މަދިރި
ލޮލުގެ ނިޔާ
Leyboa kakuni
Hamahimeyn madhiri
Lolugé niyaa
Bloodsucking crab
Serene mosquito
A judgment of the eyes
6th
މޫތައް ދަށުގަ
ވަރުގަދަ ހިޔާލެއް
ދުނިޔެ ނިމުން
Moothah dhashuga
Varugadha hiyaaléh
Dhuniyé nimun
Beneath the roots
A powerful thought
The end of the world
7th
މާސިންގާ ކަނޑު
ތިމާ ބޮލަށް ވެއްޓުނަސް
ބިރަކާ ނުލާ
Maasingaa kandu
Thimaa bollah vettunas
Birakaa nulaa
Boundless ocean
Even if it were to fall on my head
Without fear
8th
This one is for @moyameehaa #findmoyameehaa
މޮޔަވީދޯދެން
ލޯބީގެ ދުޝްމަނުންތައް
ދިވެހި ރާއްޖެ
Moyaveedhoa dhen
Loabeegé dhushmanunthah
Dhivehi Raajjé
Guess we’ve gone mad
The enemies of love
Kingdom of the Islanders
Insta link
9th
މަގޭދަރިންތައް
ތިހާ ނުލަފާނަމަ
މުސީބާތެއްބާ
Magey dharinthah
Thihaa nulafaanama
Museebaathéhbaa
My children
If they were so cruel
A calamity(?)
10th
ހަނަފަސް އާބާދް
ހުވަފެންތައް ގެއްލިފަ
ފަނޑު ތަގްދީރު
Hanafas aabaadh
Huvafenthah gellifa
Fandu thagdheeru
An empty city
Lost dreams
Fortune faded
Insta link
11th
ވިހުރޭ ދިދަ
ދަށުގަ ހުސް ބަހަނާ
ގައުމީ ރޫހު
Vihurey dhidha
Dhashuga hus bahanaa
Gaumee roohu
Fluttering flag
Beneath, nothing but excuses
National spirit
12th
ހަމަހިމޭންކަން
ތިބާ ނޭވާލާ ހިނދު
ސުވަރުގޭގަ
Hamahimeynkan
Thibaa neyvaalaa hindhu
Suvarugeyga
Calm
As long as you’re breathing
In heaven
13th
ދުރު އުދަރެސް
ނާމާން ފަރުބަދަތައް
މުސްކުޅިވުން
Dhuru udhares
Naamaan farubadhathah
Muskulhivun
Distant horizon
Ominous mountains
Getting older
14th
ކަނޑު އަޑީގަ
ގާހަކައިގެ ސިއްރު
ވިއްސާރަދުނި
Kandu adeega
Gaahakaigé sirru
Vissaara dhuni
Under the sea
The giant clam’s secret
Rainbow
15th
އަނދިރި ޖައްވު
ދުރު ތަރިތަކެއްގެ
ހިޔަނި އެޅޭ
Andhiri javvu
Dhuru tharithakéh
Hiyani elhey
Dark space
Of distant stars
Shadows fall
16th
މާމެލާމެލި
ދަށުގަ ތާޖެއް
ނިކަގަސް ރާނީ
Maamelaameli
Dhashuga thaajjeh
Nikagas raanee
All the flowers
Beneath a crown
Banyan tree queen
Insta link
17th
ބިއްލޫރި ކަނޑު
ދުންތަރިތަކުގެ ލޭ
އިރު އޮށްސެނީ
Billoori kandu
Dhuntharithakugé ley
Iru ossennee
Glass ocean
Blood of comets
The sun is setting
Insta link
18th
ފިޔާތޮށި މާތައް
އަނދިރި އަނދިރި ރޭ
ވަގަށް ފޮޅިލާ
Fiyaathoshi maathah
Andhiri andhiri rey
Vaggah folhilaa
Pink flowers
On a dark night
Bloom coyly
19th
ހިތްހަމަޖެހޭ
ހަވީރުގެ ފިނިވައި
ހޫނު ސައިތައްޓެއް
Hihhamajehey
Haveerugé finivai
Hoonu saithahtteh
Contentment*
Cool evening breeze
A hot cup of tea
(*lit. Calm heart)
20th
ވަރުބަލިކަން
ގައިގަ ހަރުލައިފިއޭ
ފިނި އިހުސާސް
Varu balikan
Gaiga harulaifiey
Fini ihusaas
Exhaustion
Has taken over (my) body
Cold sensations
21st
ވިލުނޫ ހާރު
ރަން ރިހިވެލި ލިބާސް
ދިވެހިންގެ ލޭ
Vilunoo* haaru
Ran rihiveli libaas**
Dhivehingé*** ley
Turquoise necklace
Dress of gold and silver sands
The blood of islanders
*lit lagoon blue
**traditional Maldivian dress
***lit. Maldivian’s
Insta link
22nd
ފަތުރުވެރިން
އަޅުވެތިކަންމަތީ
ދަރިފަސްކޮޅު
Fathuruverin
Alhuvethikanmathee
Dharifaskolhu
Tourists
(Have) enslaved
Generations
23rd
ނުރައްކާތެރި
ބަސް ބަހުގެ މާނަތައް
ހަތިޔާރެކޭ
Nurakkaatheri
Bas bahugé maanathah
Hathiyaarekey
Dangerous
Intent of words
A weapon
Insta link
24th
ތޫނު ވިހަ ބޯ
މުއްސަނދި މުނާފިގުން
ނަންވާނީ މަދޯ
Thoonu vihaboa
Mussandhi munaafigun
Nanvaanee madhoa
Sip on sharp poison
Opulent hypocrites
Guess I’ll take the blame
25th
ބޯވަ ޖަންޖަލި
މުރަކަ މަހާނަގާ
ދުނިޔެ މަރާ
Boava jangali
Muraka mahaanagaa
Dhuniye maraa
Octopus garden
Coral tombstone
World killer
26th
މަށާ މިޔަރު
މާސިންގާ ކަނޑު ތެރޭ
މޫދުގެ ދަރިން
Mashaa miyaru
Maasingaa kandu therey
Moodhugé dharin
The shark and I
Within a vast ocean
Children of the sea
27th
އުޑު ބިންދާލާ
ގޮނގުރީޓު ފުރޭތަ
ނޭވާ ނުލެވޭ
Udu bindhaalaa
Gongureetu fureytha
Neyvaa nulevey
Break the sky
Concrete demon
Can’t breath
28th
ދުނިޔެ މަތީ
ބަލާބޮޑު މީހުންވެސް
ލޯބި ބޭނުންވޭ
Dhuniyé mathee
Balaabodu* meehunvés
Loabi beynunvey
In this world
Even troublesome people
Need love
29th
މަގޭ ހިޔަނި
ރަން ކުލައިގެ އަލިފާންް
ކަނު އަނދިރި
Magey hiyani
Ran kulaigé alifaan
Kanu andhiri
My shadow
Fires of gold
Pitch black
30th
ފޮރުވިފައިވާ
ކަނޑުގެ ހަޒާނާތައް
ވެލާގެ ސިއްރު
Foruvifaivaa
Kandugé hazaanaathah
Velaagé sirru
Hidden
Treasures of the ocean
The turtle’s secret
31st
ޒަމާނީ ފުލޯކް
ދިރުމެއްނެތް މޫނުތައް
ރޫހު މަރާލާ
Zamaanee fuloak
Dhirumehnei moonuthah
Roohu maraalaa
Modern forgeries
Lifeless faces
Kill the spirit
The Foreign Songs They Used to Play on TVM
This is an Apple Music playlist of the random songs that somehow ended up on Maumoon Abdul Gayoom’s propaganda channel, TVM (Television Maldives). The versions we saw were always heavily censored and often had terrible quality. Imagine something that’s been through several rounds of censoring via a VCR, then transmitted over the air to basic CRT TVs. Most of the songs were used as filler, while others aired during Siesta (hosted by “Inthi”) or on Spotlight (hosted by “Munko”). Sometimes they’d also show a heavily edited and censored version of “Top of the Pops” (UK).
I am in the process of writing a more thorough write up about this, but for now here is some music.
The Dhivehi Art Drop vol. 1
Interesting and inspiring content by Dhivehi / Maldivian artists.
Interesting and inspiring content by Dhivehi / Maldivian artists.
Few of my favorite clicks from early morning stroll around Villingili. pic.twitter.com/zdRYxtx70b
— zayaahmed (@zayana_ahmed) July 4, 2019
Sharing a few illustrated portraits. pic.twitter.com/GIiQHD4VEw
— zayaahmed (@zayana_ahmed) July 2, 2019
So guys. My song Heavens and Sins just made it to the semi-finals in the International Unsigned Only Song Competition, chosen out of around 6000 songs submitted worldwide. Uhh... so ya I'm happy af pic.twitter.com/dY33hlKdcV
— Karam (@karamibrahimali) July 9, 2019
![The Dhivehi Film Industry - An analysis of Reeko Moosa's Dhanmalhi (1993) [PART ONE]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/525ead10e4b03a9509e1cbf7/1466571370761-IWUROJZ892XOYKFTJ0VB/Dhanmalhi+cast.png)
The Laadheenee Digest #2
The Laadheenee Digest is written by Laadheenee people for Laadheenee people.
For this issue we asked our readers, “What does the word laadheenee mean to you?”. Here are some of their responses. More in the magazine below.
Content warning: Someone sent in some pretty raunchy erotica this time. You’ve been warned.
Download the full magazine from the links below
The Laadheenee Digest #1
The Laadheenee Digest is written by Laadheenee people for Laadheenee people.
Download from the links below
Update: The mobi and epub versions have been removed for now because people reported some rendering issues.
Maldives Twitter VS Francesca Borri
Nothing brings Maldivians together like a good roast 🔥.
Imagine getting harrassed on twitter by a bunch of people you claimed didn’t know english or have smart phones 😂
— ބ̸̤̯̍̏ު̵̩͔̬͑͝ރ̴̢̝͓̅ަ̶̜̌͊ކ̴̱̮̚ަ̶̹̱̥̽ށ̸̘͒ި̵̻̘̍̆͗❓🎈 (@Burakashi) January 27, 2019
*smartphones 😫🔫
The Maldives is one of the most oppressive countries in the world. It has a constitution that makes the lives of non-Muslim and LGBT Maldivians illegal. This makes life incredibly difficult for any progressive Muslims that want to bring about reforms as well as saying anything against extremist sheikhs will get you labled an apostate. Progressive Muslims like @moyameehaa (Ahmed Rizwan / Rilwan) and @yaamyn (Yameen Rasheed) who have spoken out for Maldivian minorities, progressive Islam, and secularism have been taken away from us. Sheikhs are not safe either, as one of the only moderately progressive sheikhs, Afrasheem Ali, was also brutally murdered in 2012.
First they came for the bloggers, and I did not speak out
— Mohamed Shuraih (@MohamedShuraih) January 27, 2019
Because I was not a blogger.
Then they came for irreligious, and I did not speak out
Because I was not laadheenee.
Then they came for me
and there was no one left to speak for me.
The greatest battlefield in the war for the hearts and minds of Maldivians is the internet. Bloggers like Hilath Rasheed have been the targets of escalating campaigns of harassment and death threats. In 2012, Hilath himself barely survived his neck being slashed. This was after years of attacks against people deemed laadheenee.
Maldivian extremists have used the internet for their terror and propaganda activities. One of the earliest Maldivian extremist groups, of which Rilwan was an ex-member, called “dot” or “dotu” literally got it’s name from “dot com”. Right now there are dozens of terrorist recruitment facebook and twitter pages, telegram, whatsapp, and viber groups, and websites brainwashing Maldivians with extremist propaganda.
He made a list of “dhivehi kaafarun”. We reported his account and now he’s changed the name to “Dhivehi atheists”. But here is proof of the original name https://t.co/WvbfkKbMp1
— ބ̸̤̯̍̏ު̵̩͔̬͑͝ރ̴̢̝͓̅ަ̶̜̌͊ކ̴̱̮̚ަ̶̹̱̥̽ށ̸̘͒ި̵̻̘̍̆͗❓🎈 (@Burakashi) June 16, 2018
Their latest efforts including making a list of Dhivehi Kaafarun (Maldivian infidels) on twitter (which twitter support refused to remove, the account is still active), and a telegram group called “MV Murtad Watch” (Maldives apostate watch). This has also not been removed despite even making the local news.
Maldivian extremists are free to spread hate on the internet. Especially if they use Dhivehi, a language that cannot be automatically translated. This means that the support staff of these platforms often don’t even know how to recognise hate and fear speech when it is written in Dhivehi.
Murtad Watch MV is still active on @telegram. They claim to not be making death threats.But they state multiple times the verdict for apostasy is death. After which they list pictures, names & personal info of alleged apostates. Calling stoning cruel is enough to get labeled one. pic.twitter.com/hqcOXAI0fb
— ބ̸̤̯̍̏ު̵̩͔̬͑͝ރ̴̢̝͓̅ަ̶̜̌͊ކ̴̱̮̚ަ̶̹̱̥̽ށ̸̘͒ި̵̻̘̍̆͗❓🎈 (@Burakashi) January 27, 2019
murtad watch is like "these people are apostates & apostates should be killed. here are their personal info. BY THE WAY THIS IS NOT A THREAT"
— 🎈Thihen Vany (@basneyheemaa) January 27, 2019
that's a death threat. why would police do anything? when these groups commit murder police's job has always been to cover up the murder
The troubling news yesterday was this. That tweeps are being forced to abandon social platforms due to a concerted effort by those that fear expression.
— Hamid Shafeeu (@shafeeu) January 28, 2019
If we don't prevent such thuggery the vibrant internet circles that has positively influenced our society will be abandoned. https://t.co/S8DqwuETHT
I hope I have set the scene for you. An intolerant constitution that outright bans thinking and freedom of conscience. Extremists getting away with murder, and using technology as a means of oppression in a highly connected and tech literate society, while the multi-million dollar companies that run them turn a blind eye.
It’s so fucking insulting that Maldivians have to fear for their lives because of goddamn @telegram groups, but meanwhile there’s western experts writing books claiming we go gaga at the sight of an iPhone. I wish these terrorists didn’t use phones, would make our lives easier 🤬
— ބ̸̤̯̍̏ު̵̩͔̬͑͝ރ̴̢̝͓̅ަ̶̜̌͊ކ̴̱̮̚ަ̶̹̱̥̽ށ̸̘͒ި̵̻̘̍̆͗❓🎈 (@Burakashi) January 27, 2019
#NowReading Destination Paradise - Among the jihadists of the Maldives pic.twitter.com/6y4E5BYQf5
— Nash (@NashNasheed) January 21, 2019
Enter Francesca Borri with the radical insight that there is only one bookstore in Male’, all the while seeming to imply that most Maldivians don’t know English.
This book was published in 2017. It is factually incorrect. There’s only an Islamic bookstore? 🤦🏻♀️ This author is delusional. pic.twitter.com/ngPcG5yRhY
— Nash (@NashNasheed) January 26, 2019
And that there is no local cuisine.
Page 39. “I think that the Maldives are the only country in the world where there is no local cuisine”.
— Nash (@NashNasheed) January 26, 2019
Okay. Now this is going too far 😡
And that Maldivians are amazed by smartphones.
Page 53. “A text arrives and my phone lights up... there’s an ooh of general amazement because it’s an iphone and no one has ever seen an iphone here”. 🤦🏻♀️
— Nash (@NashNasheed) January 26, 2019
Seriously @francescaborri? Starting to doubt that you were even in Male’.
Btw. Tweet sent from my iphone.
“While the rest of the world watched the Olympics, in the Maldives most people watched the battle of Aleppo. And rooted for al-Qaeda”.
— Nash (@NashNasheed) January 21, 2019
What? Which channel on medianet was the battle of Aleppo broadcasted on? pic.twitter.com/wSaOPpQKRR
But perhaps most insulting is the fact that we’d give a damn about the Olympics when we could be watching football. Also how the heck do you reckon people cut up the “Battle of Aleppo” for broadcast television? Do you think they had an HBO style miniseries?
Hey @francescaborri what medieval technology do you think this Maldivian terrorist group used to post this to Facebook? A 🥥 ? Can you help decipher the strange language they’ve used to threaten my life? I’m sending this via economy pigeon. May it reach you safely. Pls send halp. pic.twitter.com/wNvYbd06kZ
— ބ̸̤̯̍̏ު̵̩͔̬͑͝ރ̴̢̝͓̅ަ̶̜̌͊ކ̴̱̮̚ަ̶̹̱̥̽ށ̸̘͒ި̵̻̘̍̆͗❓🎈 (@Burakashi) January 27, 2019
You get the picture. A hastily strung together piece of orientalist trash that makes the situation worse for people suffering because of Maldivian extremists. The last thing progressive Muslim, non-Muslim, and LGBT Maldivians need is more misinformation out there. Especially not from someone with a savior complex.
How can you trust anything written in this book when it features so many blatant fabrications? Fabrications deliberately worded to make Maldivians sound like backwards people rife with extremism who can’t read and are technology inept.
98% of our population had internet access five years ago. We have one of the highest tech proliferation and device per capita stats in the world. This isn't lazy research, this is outright malicious https://t.co/slgUtYcoYe
— Naailu🎈 (@kudanai) January 27, 2019
Well I’ll have you know us Maldivians are backwards people who are incredibly tech literate. And we can read too, to the shock of the author who is currently at the receiving end of the wrath of Maldives twitter.
Finally in bookstores. pic.twitter.com/ujRIg867gI
— francesca borri (@francescaborri) November 13, 2018
Here are some of the funniest and most insightful tweets directed at this latest savior who thought they could turn a profit on the suffering of the global south. These are the words of Maldivians speaking about their own country. Listen to them.
Dawn breaks in the civillized world..and @francescaborri wakes up to blinking of thousands of notifications on the declaration of war from the native barbarians of the Maldives..and is hit with despair on the realization 'damn the natives has i-phones' 😱
— Aishath Ibahath (@AishathIbahath) January 28, 2019
Lmao loving how conservatives and liberals are uniting against the mostly false portrayal of our country by @francescaborri . Nobody can trash-talk Maldivians except us amirite? 🇲🇻
— 🎈Nora Nazeer ✨ (@NoraNazeer) January 27, 2019
When western "journalists" parachute in to a South Asian country and assume they know everything and that they are always right.
— Junayd 🇲🇻 (@mjunayd) January 27, 2019
A Frenchman, who did the same, told me after visiting Maldives that Borri "took a lot of liberty" when writing her book. As in, she made up stories. https://t.co/wnBPUZgoi1
But you could see how it perpetuates an idea of Maldivians that’s quite patronizing, even to the extent of orientalism, right? I mean, I do agree that extremism is at a critical stage here, but surely that could have been said without this inaccurate depiction of the rest?
— Aryj (@Arrryj) January 27, 2019
So tell me, how did you come up with this shit? 👎🏻👎🏻👎🏻 I graduated in an IGSE Cambridge examination back in 2008...from my island. Got an A in English. Even starting primary school, I had access to books from authors like Enid Blyton, R.L Stein and Louis Cooper... 🤦🏼♀️
— ShinyShine (@ShinyShine18) January 27, 2019
Might want search Google Maps for "bookshop" next time. This book is a blatant lie at this point. Even given the benefits of the doubt, this book falls short of acceptable.
— A. A. Nawaz 🎈❓ (@aanawazu) January 27, 2019
Tldr: Riddled with lies for dramatic purposes. pic.twitter.com/TXycTvAzqC
When someone from the global north decides to do a book about one of the smallest countries in the global south without much research and one that won't easily be scrutinised for the factual inaccuracies, with sweeping generalisations, this happens. Awesome thread btw https://t.co/0TKA9KmHV4
— Ahmed Tholal🎈 (@Tholman_79) January 27, 2019
Feel bad for @francescaborri, having to learn the hard way that Maldivians are fiercely active on modern social media.
— ޖިންނި އަލީ 🎈❓ (@shaari) January 28, 2019
This is why reading is so important. You have to read to figure out rubbish. #foikiyun 📚
— Hussain Shameem (@HuShameem) January 27, 2019
Awesome thread. ☝ https://t.co/D3ZFq5tTlI
Sorry, my craving for batha garudhiya came while watching Al'Gaidha https://t.co/RKJEjTFm2x
— IsshRan (@IshranHavvi) January 27, 2019
Oh look, @francescaborri what do we have here:
— Hawwa Shakeela (@HawwaShakeela) January 28, 2019
Two books that were sold in bookshops in Maldives...
Written by Maldivian authors, in English language...
On Maldivian cuisine...
Edited by Maldivians too. @7StoriesPress Seems like you’ve been caught peddling drivel. https://t.co/hWaVwZkG3n
It’s funny as fuck bcz you all crying about misrepresentation and erasure in this book, while 90% of you are complicit and guilty in the erasure and subjugation of minorities, your own people ffs. Fuppaafa 💯 islaamey FK in maraashey kiyaane aneh neyvaiga. You trash as fuck
— ekoe (@ekoemikoe) January 27, 2019
(rough translation of the dhivehi sentence: “All puffed up, saying something about Islam and how we need to kill the gays with the other breath.” [FK stands for Firihen Kulhin - homosexual men, or Firihen Kulhi - gay sex. Both are often used as a slur by homophobes. It’s common sight growing up to see it scrawled across the walls of school toilets, usually followed by the name of the person. Like “FK Adam”. This is done to intimidate LGBT students and students suspected of being LGBT. ] )
What is internet? What is tech? What is proliferationalizationism?
— ޖިންނި އަލީ 🎈❓ (@shaari) January 27, 2019
Felt like having Italian tonight. pic.twitter.com/HEORfXTbrk
— iju. (@iujaz) January 27, 2019
Whats an iPhone? Im tweeting on my iCoconut https://t.co/RPYxQKUFDR
— Faafa🎈 (@psychofart) January 27, 2019
Actually it’s
— Simbro (@aachym) January 27, 2019
Dhonmeeha: *whips out iPhone 6S*
Mordis meeha : *whips out iPhone XS Max, iPad Pro, the New Mac book Air DJI Mavic pro, DJI Osmo and 2 GoPro Hero* https://t.co/nK3ux1I7VZ
(“Dhon meehaa” literally means “fair skinned person”. It is the word used by Maldivians for “white people”. And it’s true, turn a Maldivian upside down and shake them little. The contents of an Apple Store will fall out).
*Maldivians saying shit at Maldivians*
— ali. (@AliAHilmy) January 28, 2019
Maldivians: mehh
*some rihaakuru-hating faranjee says shit at Maldivians*
Maldivians: goaru hell
the "worst parts" in the book are absolute lies. are we as maldivians not entitled to be upset over them? ignore them and move along?
— ˗ˏˋ 𝑅𝒾𝒻𝑔𝒶 ˎˊ˗ (@MRifgaR) January 27, 2019
these are "facts" written by a "journalist" in a published book. https://t.co/2mFKGEw7hn
for the record i'm still a bit confused about your reviews @dbosley80 but ok. at least you made it clear that you don't recommend this book by @francescaborri pic.twitter.com/DUpatyXurX
— ˗ˏˋ 𝑅𝒾𝒻𝑔𝒶 ˎˊ˗ (@MRifgaR) January 27, 2019
We
— WTFazeelu (@Phasycxz) January 27, 2019
really
really
really
really
really
really
really
really
really
really
really
really
really
really
really
really
really
really
really
need a bookstore here in Maldives 😔
Love it when white people feel the need to exaggerate and look down on an entire country and reduce their entire culture and history to what they came across in a day or two lol. pic.twitter.com/olIe8jDGoj
— Alhaaves NulaaFA (@ShafaRameez) January 27, 2019
Okay. Why? WHY these details? Are you mocking the person you had interviewed? 😣 pic.twitter.com/RUabNqkcTx
— Musal (@FoniLunbo) January 28, 2019
I think the verdict of this would end up like, i condemn thee @francescaborri to 1 year of internship at Divehi Bahuge Academy 😅 so that by the time she's done there she can translate this godforsaken book to Divehi so us natives could actually learn about ourselves
— Aishath Ibahath (@AishathIbahath) January 27, 2019
Just had garudhiya, baiy, theluli faiy and theluli mas.
— Junayd 🇲🇻 (@mjunayd) January 27, 2019
The height of Italian cuisine!
In Maldives we have no local cuisine to the point that when we attempted to make that shit, we sucked so much that we left it to cook for days and that is how we had rihaakuru and now we just eat that
— thikujja stan account (@ahunafu) January 27, 2019
Hi @francescaborri Let's from up north shall we?
— Hussain Jinan (@profEuLOGist) January 28, 2019
This is called Haalu folhi from north Maldives & it is so thin that it can be considered among the famous Indian roomali roti but it's entirely different concept in making, texture and eating.
📸: https://t.co/XtmLamb0aS pic.twitter.com/GSq097EpPd
I would like add kubus, veshun and fuppi bah from Addu and huiy bondi from Huvadhoo. I am still trying to lose weight from all the huiy bondi I was fed during my tryst with Kolamaafushi & Villingilli. pic.twitter.com/4YWQWJSSAD
— Dhiyana 🎈 (@dhiyanasaid) January 28, 2019
If @francescaborri did her research properly she'd know about the dissent against extremists from Maldivians. Specially in our twitter community. I for one didn't applaud them as heroes. https://t.co/358lReKjMq
— 🎈Nora Nazeer ✨ (@NoraNazeer) January 27, 2019
At the end of the picture that sentence, is that saying the minority that speak English is rich and WHITE????
— Sharlight❓🎈 (@sjaufar) January 27, 2019
Shame these important interviews are in an a book with so many lies in it @francescaborri https://t.co/GeHpH5BU0m
— amani naseem 🎈 (@amaninaseem) January 27, 2019
Francesca Borri Vaguthu
— Threefish 🎈❓ (@three3fish) January 27, 2019
🤝
Jaanalizam
(vaguthu [“time” lol] is a Maldivian tabloid rag that primarily posts moral panic inducing “journalism” about Maldivian minorities).
Maldives has no local cuisine?!? I wasn't bothered when the author called us all extremists cause that's just typical white people racist fear mongering but NO LOCAL CUISINE??
— Faafa🎈 (@psychofart) January 27, 2019
Ive half a mind to make a thread about local cuisine & tag the author in it. https://t.co/QrpE3QPBcP
Guys I don’t know how to tell you this but,
— Alexander oKaashio-Kaattez (@sentient_kaashi) January 27, 2019
I think that book may have a factual error pic.twitter.com/cFwCZblrUp
just because I am so offended I am going to write my whole masters thesis on Maldivian food
— Malsa Maaz (@malsamaaz) January 27, 2019
Guys... This all because you people keep on making valhomas pasta and rehi pasta.
— iju. (@iujaz) January 27, 2019
So fiction writers, here's a heads up. @7StoriesPress are very fond of fiction, specially investigative parody works. Ask franny @francescaborri she had the easiest of rides with that "Maldives in a Parallel Universe" work she did.
— Naif Naeem (@nAAYf) January 27, 2019
People like @francescaborri is what is wrong in the literary world, creating fake news with half truths to earn a buck. And also publishers, bookstores etc who support to push this garbage onto mainstream. Shame. https://t.co/Vi53939fLG
— p3st (@p3st) January 27, 2019
I read what was available on google because I’m not going to give a racist money - and yes, @francescaborri you’re racist.
— くたばれ🎈 (@hoshiyoshii) January 27, 2019
.@francescaborri says in her book, that at @VelanaAirport "Three children stare at me the way children in Africa who have never seen foreigners stare at you"
— Maahil🌺❤️🍃 (@MaahilMohamed) January 28, 2019
😂 seriously! This book is offensive, very unethical and VERY unprofessional. Go throw your racist slurs elsewhere
I’m tweeting from my iphone while I’m eating ‘Rihaakuru ‘ u know.., local cuisine. 😎 After finishing my food, I’m going to the ‘book store’ next to my house with English Arabic n international language books. 🖕🏼that’s for u 😉
— Jen (@jennasym) January 27, 2019
Hello uncultured jihadi Maldivians without bookstores tweeting using rocks and smoke signals or whatever,
— insaan🎈❔ (@pikomonster) January 27, 2019
If you have a moment, please do send a messenger pigeon with your thoughts about @francescaborri’s book to google DOT com review
What’s what? Click https://t.co/822PDLTTgR https://t.co/uR1UpoAFkm
people are saying @francescaborri makes sense despite exaggerating some stuff. but i think her “exaggerations” demonstrate an extremely skewed, clearly orientalist perspective which entirely rescinds her entire narrative. she lacks any coherent context. what a silly woman
— xiena saeed 🎈 (@dorinbakedbeans) January 27, 2019
Thanks @francescaborri. The roasting you're receiving is really entertaining. The tweets coming from iPhones are especially tasty. Almost as tasty as our cuisine, and now I'm craving some rihaakuru dhiya. Ta Ta, gonna go have some while I keep up with this roasting.
— Nomura-sama has slain Nabith (@nabithahmed) January 27, 2019
What an ignorant writer @francescaborri is! Our school system is based on the English language since decades ago—almost every Maldivian can converse in English. Many physical+online bookstores in Male. I own an iPhone. Tweet at me and I will send you recipe for Rihaakuru Dhiya https://t.co/TA773n5PgQ
— Maahil🌺❤️🍃 (@MaahilMohamed) January 27, 2019
How long was the research period to write this book? 😂 #localtweetingfromiphone
— Azza Rushdy (@UGLY_Y) January 27, 2019
Its from a parallel dimension...on Earth 51, maldives is like that 🤪 tuna has run out of the oceans and no more rihaakuru and palms sold to dubai hence no coconut for mashuni...
— p3st (@p3st) January 27, 2019
Your portrayal of maldives as backwards and having little or no indentity of its own (except the one you try so hard to force on your readers) is proof that you wrote this on hearsay and some internet research done whilst sitting on your ass at home.
— Ahusan (aka.Jack / Pusheen) (@awhosun) January 27, 2019
Such a shame you have such false information in your book on #Maldives, @francescaborri. Speaking of cuisines, my Italian friends when in Maldives prefer roshi+mashuni to continental breakfast. And speaking of iPhones, we have higher per capita cellular subscriptions than Italy! https://t.co/pH09QoM6lL
— Professor Ugail (@ugail) January 28, 2019
Hi @francescaborri, there are about 4 main bookstores with multiple outlets in Malé and many independent ones that stock many titles in English.
— 🌞 (@izznzz) January 27, 2019
This tweet was kindly translated to English by a member of the minority and sent from my garudhiya baiythashi. https://t.co/iSloEziYl1
According to the author Maldives is the only country in the world with no local cuisine. So @francescaborri should I stop researching for my PhD on, guess what, LOCAL MALDIVIAN CUISINE? Shameful. https://t.co/7gntvUeCeV
— Mo S. (@moshen81) January 27, 2019
She thought Maldivians would never find out about her book since we don’t have any bookstores or internet here. https://t.co/82Zgh6P2P1
— SydSujuaan (@sydsujuaan) January 27, 2019
Did I really eat anbu maja and shit fire out of my asshole only to be told that Maldivians don’t have a cuisine I-
— scheherazade ✨ (@ayyshanada) January 28, 2019
My brunch, nothing Italian about it😎 Maldivian💯🌴🎣 pic.twitter.com/mupsBlopqx
— ⚫️⚪️TEDRY🎈❓ (@tedry) January 28, 2019
Maldivians don't need @francescaborri to write factually incorrect books to misrepresent us. We are perfectly capable of misrepresenting ourselves.
— ThatMaldivesBlog (@Raajje_Blog) January 28, 2019
We have many qualified people capable of producing an accurate assessment of radicalisation in Raajje that @francescaborri so spectacularly failed at. If one good thing comes of this, can it be that? Or is it only the dhon meehaa who can talk abt it w/out fearing for their lives?
— Azka (@Azka__Anees) January 27, 2019
Nothing brings Maldivians together like a good roast 🔥.
Thank you @francescaborri. It's really nice to see you get roasted by a whole country, everyone together.
— Emaz (@emaaaz) January 27, 2019
Update: Just to add to the absurdity
I met with her. Specifically told her I had no interest in being quoted in anything and only met her once she agreed we'll just have a chat off the record. Ended up having stuff I never said printed in my name in some article she wrote.
— EhJu (@EhJu) January 28, 2019
I was talking about a previous article. Didn't know I was mentioned in the book. Will take a look at the book and see if the words are mine. In any case, I didn't want to be named/published in anything.
— EhJu (@EhJu) January 29, 2019
👇🏻the statement of the person she “used” as a witness. pic.twitter.com/OFOFbZx8wy
— francesca mannocchi (@mannocchia) January 28, 2019
https://t.co/CtXr14uDys
— Ahusan (aka.Jack / Pusheen) (@awhosun) January 27, 2019
lol this has been nominated for a prize too 😂😂
Borri walks in to a souvenir shop to buy a palm-thatch hat. The Maldivian Shopkeeper tells her that it is not a traditional Maldivian hat, but, Borri— a white woman from Europe— knows better. She knows that the shopkeeper's ancestors wore palm-thatch hats.
— Junayd 🇲🇻 (@mjunayd) January 28, 2019
Is it Guatemala or Honduras? Later also referred to as Jamaican but who cares.
— Sara Naseem 🎈 (@sara_naseem) January 28, 2019
And of course it's not the local who would know 'the hat everyone wears here', but @francescaborri. She's frustrated about being corrected because we don't fit her version of the truth. pic.twitter.com/mHLZUXWE1k
Oh my god this is so much worse than I imagined. No local crafts? And harassing some guy in a shop about his grandfathers traditional hat?! Good grief. 😆 pic.twitter.com/llrfp4uNXj
— ބ̸̤̯̍̏ު̵̩͔̬͑͝ރ̴̢̝͓̅ަ̶̜̌͊ކ̴̱̮̚ަ̶̹̱̥̽ށ̸̘͒ި̵̻̘̍̆͗❓🎈 (@Burakashi) January 28, 2019
Guess who is to blame for someone wanting a "traditional Maldivian palm hat" and ending up writing a petty book about it - these two!@juxyn@Humadh_ pic.twitter.com/DDFnkTk6GG
— AhmShah Method (@heyshaha) January 28, 2019
Reading through @francescaborri’s previous works & unsurprised by the racist narratives about Muslim communities, but still astounded she continues to get published. White privilege 🤷🏽♀️
— Ish 🎈 (@IshAfeef) January 28, 2019
Her response to Maldivians in 2016 was equally apalling -https://t.co/3DDL0hnjmY
A website called valigiablu decided to fact check her article on CJR and spoiler: looks like she made shit up.
— 🐐🐐🐐 (@immimmii) January 28, 2019
Are you shocked cause I'm not. https://t.co/b2xCySULWf pic.twitter.com/17TQFwU9RJ
In a fun turn of events, Romana Rubeo, another Italy based journalist covering the Middle East, writes about the Hamas interview and calls Borri's writing "lacking in credibility" and a "typical orientalist intellectual". 🤭https://t.co/sa4PqL84e0 pic.twitter.com/1oL4pKfoAx
— 🐐🐐🐐 (@immimmii) January 28, 2019
@penguinrandom please explain to me why one of the biggest publishers in the world has no quality control and failed to fact check before distribution? pic.twitter.com/NPBZJtnRaA
— ahunafu stan account (@thikujjaa) January 28, 2019
This is an open letter to @7StoriesPress @francescaborri @AnneMilanoAppel
— くたばれ🎈 (@hoshiyoshii) January 28, 2019
An apology is needed from those who worked on Destination Paradise. This book is a misrepresentation of Maldives and perpetuates otherism and depicts an orientalist view of foreign cultures. pic.twitter.com/yHZiiWQHMB
Struggling to comprehend all this. An Italian lady writes a tone deaf, orientalist piece of trash that totally erases Maldivian indigenous cultural practices, has errors and fabrications, but is somehow recommended as “what SA is reading” to @Himalistan by some British expat! pic.twitter.com/J6s1ial0mg
— ބ̸̤̯̍̏ު̵̩͔̬͑͝ރ̴̢̝͓̅ަ̶̜̌͊ކ̴̱̮̚ަ̶̹̱̥̽ށ̸̘͒ި̵̻̘̍̆͗❓🎈 (@Burakashi) January 29, 2019
Even @ahmedshaheed recommended this book. This is how the voices of global minority countries like the Maldives are drowned out. This is how lazy ass orientalist European writers can make a quick buck and career out of who can most successfully execute a gimmick about our lives.
— ބ̸̤̯̍̏ު̵̩͔̬͑͝ރ̴̢̝͓̅ަ̶̜̌͊ކ̴̱̮̚ަ̶̹̱̥̽ށ̸̘͒ި̵̻̘̍̆͗❓🎈 (@Burakashi) January 29, 2019
And we’ve read the whole thing now too. Yes us stupid outraged Maldivians who were gonna burn down the internet over nothing. Yeah we read the whole thing, and it makes us wonder how ignorant and arrogant you had to have been think this was worth recommending at all. pic.twitter.com/DO95E0DBZ4
— ބ̸̤̯̍̏ު̵̩͔̬͑͝ރ̴̢̝͓̅ަ̶̜̌͊ކ̴̱̮̚ަ̶̹̱̥̽ށ̸̘͒ި̵̻̘̍̆͗❓🎈 (@Burakashi) January 29, 2019
Guess I must have hallucinated seeing this local craftsman .
And this one as well.
I must be delirious from all the poisonous reef fish I’ve been eating.
For future reference pic.twitter.com/tyNzS1PErZ
— ބ̸̤̯̍̏ު̵̩͔̬͑͝ރ̴̢̝͓̅ަ̶̜̌͊ކ̴̱̮̚ަ̶̹̱̥̽ށ̸̘͒ި̵̻̘̍̆͗❓🎈 (@Burakashi) January 28, 2019
If & only we had the same energy to stand against the extremists here and call for rights of minorities. 😭😭😭 #Maldives #ReligiousFreedom
— Ahmed Naeem 🎈 (@naiim888) January 29, 2019
Doorways to the Sea
Chapter 02 of my work in progress book "Sinking Streets".
Our lives are framed by doorways. These portals that open onto the street. In Male’ City, there is no such thing as a front yard. There are more cemeteries than parks – a good thing as a lot of the trees that have not been felled exist within their walls. A lot can happen in these doorways. Lovers flirt, children play, the old watch a rapidly changing world pass them by. If you are lucky the doorway will open to a path instead of straight inside your home.
Machangoalhi
Vivitar Ultrawide & Slim with Kodak BW400 CN
(2008)
Chapter 02 of my work in progress book "Sinking Streets".
Chapter 01 - The Male’ City Swimming Track
Chapter 02 - Doorways to the Sea
Chapter 03 - The Laadheenee Among Us
Our lives are framed by doorways. These portals that open onto the street. In Male’ City, there is no such thing as a front yard. There are more cemeteries than parks – a good thing as a lot of the trees that have not been felled exist within their walls. A lot can happen in these doorways. Lovers flirt, children play, the old watch a rapidly changing world pass them by. If you are lucky the doorway will open to a path instead of straight inside your home.
Machangoalhi
Vivitar Ultrawide & Slim with expired 35mm film.
(2008)
I was one of the lucky ones.
Machangoalhi
Sony Erickson W810i
(2008)
So lucky that I even had a room to call my own. This is the view from its window. Just enough sky to sometimes see the moon.
Machangoalhi
Nikon D70s
(2007)
It is easy to feel trapped when you’re in Male’ City. Encircled by the ocean, there is no escape. There is no country side to escape to. Many people I’ve spoken to don’t seem to understand just how small Male’ City is. Five square kilometers is not much room. Yet more than half of the population of the Maldives live here.
Galolhu
Nikon D70s
(2008)
You’re trapped on this tiny island with nowhere to go. You’d tell someone, anyone, how you feel. But you can’t. Not when the national economy is fueled by gossip.
Maafannu.
Nikon D70s.
(2007)
You learn to play with the concrete. It smells familiar. It smells comfortable.
Machangoalhi ward
Nikon D70s
(2008)
You get used to overloaded lorries speeding past. You learn to hear them through the growl of the city. Just as they’re about to hit you, you step to the side, off onto that little ledge that is apparently the pavement. Guess you’ll live long enough to see what comes next.
Machangoalhi
Vivitar Ultrawide & Slim with expired and cross processed Kodak Elite Chrome 100
(2008)
I wonder what the older generations must think of the concrete monstrosity that Male’ has become. My father says that when they used to play football, they played without shoes on the unpaved streets. This apparently made their feet tough like leather.
Machangoalhi
Vivitar Ultrawide & Slim with Kodak BW400 CN
(2008)
People seem happier when it rains. I don’t know what it is. Perhaps I am imagining it. But to me, they have always seemed happier. Maybe because it provides a welcome escape from the heat. Maybe it is the hypnotic sound of rain hitting hundreds upon hundreds of tin roofs. Maybe it is how satisfyingly huge the droplets are; for when it rains, it pours.
Galolhu
Vivitar Ultrawide & Slim with Kodak BW400 CN
(2008)
When I was a child the streets weren’t paved and there were no gutters. This meant that the whole island would flood. At night we would hear frogs croaking. I cannot remember the last time I heard a frog in Male’. With the ground covered in bricks they have nowhere left to go. Despite the gutters, the roads still flood, and paradoxically the floods seem to be even dirtier than before. All sorts of grime are lifted out as many people use the gutter as a handy spot to dump their trash. Cigarette butts, supari packets, used condoms, and all manner of debris float around, mixed with the scarlet spit of people who chew various betel nut preparations.
Machangoalhi
Nikon D70s.
(2007)
The rich escape to their rooftops. Yet even they are not immune to the allures of gravity.
Machangoalhi
Nikon D70s
(2007)
From the tops of these towers you can survey your domain. You can even see a bit of the horizon. But that is always a temporary thing. New buildings are constantly being built higher and higher. This photograph was taken in 2007. The change since then has been immeasurable. Look at all the construction sites and let your mind fill in the gaps.
Maafannu
Nikon D70s.
(2007)
This seems like a good moment to mention that the Maldives has not been built by Maldivians. Instead, it has been built by migrant workers, mostly from other South Asian countries such as Bangladesh. For this they get no thanks and their slave like working conditions are the least of any Maldivians worries. For these migrants’ escape is sometimes literally impossible, as it is common practice for their “employers” to confiscate their passports. To get it back they must rid themselves of the “debt” they have incurred upon arrival in this supposed paradise.
Raalhugandu
Henveiru
Pentax Optio M30
(2008)
You’re trapped on this tiny island with nowhere to go. You run to the edge and you’re greeted by the seawall that surrounds the island. Not a beach. Just more concrete. But people don’t go to the edge to see the wall. They go to see the horizon.
Raalhugandu.
Henveiru
Pentax Optio M30.
(2008)
When you’re in the thick of it the horizon is a rare sight. The afternoons and early evenings are full of people making their rounds around the island. In Dhivehi we call it “buru jehun”. Couples on motorbikes are a common sight. No surprise since driving aimlessly around Male’ is one of the first romantic activities people engage in. It’s much harder for families to spy on a moving target.
Galolhu
Nikon D70s.
(2008)
People take a lot of pride in their motorbikes. Many dream of the day they will buy one for themselves, and many go into debt in the process of chasing that dream. Do you find it strange that the ultimate desire of a people of a nation that consists of far more ocean than land is to have more motor vehicles? I certainly do. Although I understand why. I’ve done my fair share of aimless driving. Who needs a boat when you’ve got a motorbike you’ll never push over third gear?
Raalhugandu.
Henveiru
Vivitar Ultrawide & Slim with Kodak BW400 CN
(2008)
Even if you had a boat, where would you keep it? Space in the harbor is limited and the fees aren’t cheap. So people make do with the horizon. One of the best places to experience it used to be Raalhugandu.
The seawall blends into the ocean.
Raalhugandu.
Henveiru
Vivitar Ultrawide & Slim with Kodak BW400 CN
(2008)
Here you could see far into the distance. Being on the side of Male’ away from Thilafushi, the air is always fresh. The sound of waves constantly crashing against the miniscule stretch of “beach” provides enough white noise to drown the howling of the city.
Raalhugandu
Henveiru
Nikon D70s
(2007)
Local surfers and boarders make their way to the short strip of reef where the waves break, floating over armies of spiky sea urchins.
Raalhugandu.
Henveiru
Canon G10
(2008)
Once you’re past their treacherous spines you are met with the full force of crashing waves. You must duck underneath to get past them. If you go deep enough you can slip past with ease. Time it wrong and you end up in the “washing machine”. Thrown about by the waves, short of breath, blood rushing into my head, sometimes I’ve wondered whether I should have just let go. Let the ocean carry me out and decide my fate. Fortunately for me I’m very good at holding my breath, so I’ve always managed to surface. Always managed to survive to see what comes next.
Local legends Fuku and Kuda Ayya.
Raalhugandu
Henveiru
Canon G10
(2009)
Here, past the urchins, corals, and crushing waves, surfers and body boarders perfect their craft in the early mornings and afternoons. Many have persevered through incredible odds and have gone on to win international competitions. I could not be prouder.
Raalhugandu.
Henveiru
Nikon FM2 with Kodak Tri-X 400
(2009)
At the hut by the side of Raalhugandu they stack their boards and enjoy the ocean breeze. While society called them useless they carved out their own space and made the most of it.
Raalhugandu
Henveiru
Canon A630
(2008)
On sunny days it can be glorious. The air is crisp. The sky is blue. Carried by the waves, the rays of the sun warm your heart, body, and soul.
Raalhugandu.
Henveiru
Canon G10
(2009)
Even here the specter of the city is inescapable. But as the waves roll in, they push up high, high above the buildings. There amongst the waves at the end of the reef you feel safer than you ever did in that labyrinth. You’re so far away that the din of the city becomes a muffled hum.
Raalhugandu.
Henveiru
Canon G10
(2009)
As the wave rolls on down the city rises, looming over you once again.
So, you’re trapped on this tiny island with nowhere to go.
Visualising the votes that sold the Maldives
Here is question for Maldivians: Can you name your constituency and your elected official without having to check it somewhere?
These are some visualisations of the public voting records of the people's Majlis session in 2015 that amended the constitution to allow for foreign ownership of land or freeholds. Land is an incredibly scarce resource in the Maldives, with the majority of Moldavians living in cramped quarters, never getting to access most of their own country.
Here is a question for Maldivians: Can you name your constituency and your elected official without having to check it somewhere?
Here is a question for Maldivians: Can you name your constituency and your elected official without having to check it somewhere?
— Burakashi 🎈❓ (@Burakashi) August 4, 2018
These are some visualisations of the public voting records of the people's Majlis session in 2015 that amended the constitution to allow for foreign ownership of land or freeholds. Land is an incredibly scarce resource in the Maldives, with the majority of Maldivians living in cramped quarters, never getting to access most of their own country.
For more context here is a clipping from a Maldives Independent article:
"The parliament has amended the constitution to authorise foreign ownership of land or freeholds in the Maldives with overwhelming support of 70 votes in favour, a day after the amendments were introduced to the People’s Majlis.
Ten MPs of the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and nine MPs of the Jumhooree Party (JP) also voted in favour of the unprecedented changes. Some 14 MPs voted No.
MPs opposed to the move expressed concern over possible Chinese military expansion in the Maldives, and the lack of time to review the amendments. The bill was submitted on Monday, debated and sent to committee for review at an extraordinary sitting last night, and put to a vote today.
The opposition MPs’ backing was necessary as a three-quarters majority or 64 votes was required to amend the constitution. The ruling Progressive Party of the Maldives (PPM) and coalition partner Maldives Development Alliance (MDA) controls 48 seats in the 85-member house.
Shortly before the vote was called, former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, leader of the PPM and half-brother of President Abdulla Yameen, urged the president to seek public opinion before ratifying the amendments. This is the first time Gayoom has publicly opposed president Yameen’s actions.
The amendments will allow foreigners who invest more than US$1 billion to purchase land within the project site. At least 70 percent of the area when the project is completed must also be reclaimed land. The constitution previously prohibited foreign ownership of any part of Maldivian territory, but allowed leasing of land for up to 99 years."
And yes this is the same country that cannot allow for freedom of conscience because that would mean changing the sacred constitution. All it took was a day! They didn't even need time to consult their constituents whom they apparently represent. I guess there must be some equation where money plays a part in these sacred games.
Anyways, here are some visuals. They were created in excel after creating a data set with the voting records. I'm not trying to win any graphic design awards here, so they are just the default built in ones. If you want to double check the data, see more details, or use it for any other purpose, you can download the excel file as well as my sources + notes from the links below:
Votes by Party
From a total of 84 votes, 70 voted yes while only 14 voted no.
This means that 83% voted yes while 17% voted no.
The parties with the most votes for Yes were PPM and MDP. These are also the two largest parties in Majlis. It is worth noting that the member composition at election, voting, and currently are not the same. Many members have changed their party; with both the MDP and JP losing members to PPM. Several MPs who were independent also joined PPM. 12 people who were MPs at the time of voting have also been unseated due to the anti-defection laws that were introduced this year.
This chart shows an overview of how the parties voted by showing the percentage of yes/no votes within each party.
The MDP (Maldivian Democratic Party) had a total of 21 votes. 11 members voted yes while 10 voted no.
The 11 members that voted yes for MDP are:
- Abdul Gafoor Moosa [Haa Dhaalu - Kulhudhuffushi Uthuru]
- Mohamed Nazim [Haa Dhaalu - Vaikaradhoo]
- Abdul Bari Abdulla [Lhaviyani - Kurendhoo]
- Mohamed Abdul Kareem [Male' City - Henveiru Dhekunu]
- Abdulla Shahid [Male' City - Henveiru Uthuru]
- Moosa Manik [Male' City - Hulhuhenveiru] (now in PPM)
- Ali Azim [Male' City - Henveiru Medhu]
- Ibrahim Naseer [Meemu - Mulaku]
- Ali Nizar [Seenu - Hithadhoo Dhekunu]
- Ibrahim Shareef [Seenu - Maradhoo]
- Ahmed Marzoog [Vaavu - Felidhoo]
The 10 members that voted no for MDP are:
- Fayyaz Ismail [Laamu - Gan]
- Ibrahim Mohamed Solih [Lhaviyani - Hinnavaru]
- Mariyam Ahmed Didi [Male' City - Machangoalhi Uthuru]
- Eva Abdulla [Male' City - Galolhu Uthuru]
- Mohamed Falah [Male' City - Maafannu Hulhangu]
- Imthiyaz Fahmy [Male' City - Maafannu Uthuru]
- Mohamed Rasheed Hussain [Raa - Alifushi]
- Mohamed Aslam [Seenu - Hithadhoo Uthuru]
- Ahmed Nashid [Shaviyani - Komandhoo]
- Rozaina Adam [Seenu - Meedhoo]
PPM (Progressive Party of Maldives] had a total of 44 votes, with all members voting yes. This must be what a homogenous society looks like. 12 MPs were in different parties at the time of election but were in PPM at the time of voting.
The members that voted yes for PPM are:
- Ahmed Thariq [Alif Dhaal - Mahibadhoo] (Independent at time of election)
- Abdulla Khaleel [Faafu - Nilandhoo] (Independent at time of election)
- Muaz Mohamed Rasheed [Gaafu Dhaalu - Madaveli] (Independent at time of election)
- Abul Latheef Mohamed [Haa Alif - Dhidhoo] (Independent at time of election - unseated)
- Ahmed Shiyam [Lhaviyani - Naifaru] (Independent at time of election)
- Mohamed Abdulla [Haa Alif - Ihavandhoo] (JP at time of election)
- Mohamed Hussain [Shaviyani - Kanditheemu] (JP at time of election)
- Hassan Mufeed Abdul Gadir [Shaviyani - Milandhoo] (JP at time of election)
- Nazim Rashaad [Baa - Thulhaadhoo] (MDP at time of election)
- Ali Mohamed [Noonu - Holhudhoo] (MDP at time of election)
- Abdulla Yamin [Noonu - Velidhoo] (MDP at time of election)
- Mohamed Musthafa [Thaa - Thimarafushi] (MDP at time of election - unseated)
- Ahmed Saleem [Baa - Eydhafushi]
- Ahmed Asad [Gaafu Alif - Dhaandhoo]
- Jameel Usman [Gaafu Alif - Gemanafushi]
- Saud Hussain (unseated) [Gaafu Alif - Villingili]
- Hussain Mohamed Latheef [Gaafu Dhaalu - Fares-maathoda]
- Ahmed Rasheed [Gaafu Dhaalu - Gaddhoo]
- Saudulla Hilmy [Gaafu Dhaalu - Thinadhoo Uthuru] (unseated)
- Abdulla Maseeh Mohamed [Gnaviyani - Fuvahmulah Dhekunu]
- Ali Fazad [Gnaviyani - Fuvahmulah Medhu]
- Ali Shah (unseated) [Gnaviyani - Fuvahmulah Uthuru]
- Ibrahim Shujau [Haa Alif - Baarah]
- Ali Arif [Haa Alif - Kelaa]
- Mohamed Nasheed [Haa dhaalu - Kulhudhuffushi Dhekunu]
- Ibrahim Riza [Kaafu - Guraidhoo]
- Mohamed Waheed Ibrahim [Kaafu - Thulusdhoo] (unseated)
- Abdul Raheem Abdulla [Laamu - Fonadhoo]
- Ahmed Rasheed Ibrahim [Laamu - Isdhoo]
- Ahmed Azhan Fahmy [Laamu - Maavah]
- Asma Rasheed [Male' City - Maafannu Medhu]
- Ahmed Nihan Hussain Manik [Male' City - Maafannu Dhekunu]
- Abdulla Rifau [Male' City - Maafannu Dhekunu]
- Abdulla Sinan [Male' City - Machangoalhi Dhekunu] (unseated)
- Ahmed Faaris Maumoon [Meemu - Dhiggaru]
- Mohamed Ali [Raa - Dhuvaafaru]
- Ibrahim Falah [Raa - Inguraidhoo]
- Mohamed Ameeth Ahmed Manik [Raa - Madduvari] (unseated)
- Jaufar Dawood [Raa - Ungoofaaru]
- Ibrahim Didi [Seenu - Feydhoo]
- Mohamed Shahid [Seenu - Hulhudhoo]
- Ali Saleem [Shaviyani - Funadhoo]
- Hussain Manik Don Manik [Thaa - Guraidhoo]
- Riyaz Rasheed [Thaa - Vilufushi]
The JP (Jumhooree / Republican Party) had a total of 11 votes. 9 members voted yes, and 2 members voted no.
The members that voted yes for JP are:
- Hussain Mohamed [Alif Alif - Mathiveri]
- Ibrahim Hassan [Alif Alif - Thoddoo]
- Qasim Ibrahim [Alif Dhaal - Maamigili]
- Ilham Ahmed [Alif Dhaal - Dhagethi] (unseated)
- Ahmed Mubeen [Faafu - Bileddhoo] (now in PPM)
- Abdulla Ahmed [Gaafu Dhaalu - Thinadhoo Dhekunu] (unseated)
- Hussain Shahudhee [Haa Dhaalu - Hanimaadhoo] (unseated)
- Faisal Naseem [Kaafu - Kaashidhoo]
- Moosa Nizar Ibrahim [Vaavu - Keyodho]
The members that voted no for JP are:
- Ali Hussain [Baa - Kendhoo]
- Abdulla Riyaz [Thaa - Kinbidhoo]
The MDA (Maldives Development Alliance) had a total of 5 votes, with all members voting yes.
The members that voted yes for MDA are:
- Ahmed Amir [Dhaalu - Kudahuvadhoo]
- Ahmed Siyam Mohamed [Dhaalu - Meedhoo]
- Mohamed Ismail [Haa Alif - Hoarafushi]
- Ali Mauroof [Noonu - Kendhikulhudhoo]
- Umar Hussain [Noonu - Manadhoo]
At the time of voting there were two independent members. One of the voted yes, and the other voted no.
The independent member that voted yes:
- Hussain Areef [Haa Dhaalu - Nolhivaram] (JP at time of election)
The independent member that voted no:
- Ahmed Mahloof [Male' City - Galolhu Dhekunu] (PPM at time of election)
The AP (Adhaalath / Justice Party) had a total of one vote from member Anara Naeem [Haa Dhaalu - Makunudhoo]. Considering that their sole member in parliament is a woman, It's pretty ironic that the AP disapproves of female running mates in the current election. I wonder how Anara feels about that.
Votes by Region
There are a total of 21 regions represented in the Majlis. I have included Male' City as a separate region from Kaafu atoll despite Male' City being located within in. This is because Male' City has 13 members while the rest of Kaafu atoll only has 3.
This graph shows how each region voted by showing the percentage of yes/no votes for each region. Maybe this beautiful pattern can be our new flag.
Male' City had the greatest total amount of votes for a single region with 13. Of this, 8 members voted yes while 5 voted no.
Votes by Gender
Of the 84 members present at the time of voting, 79 were men while 5 were women.
This means that only 6% of the people supposed to represent all Maldivians are women. 94% of the people making our laws are men.
When we look at the percentages, 80% of women voted no while almost 90% of men voted yes. So much for the conspiracy theories about more female politicians being bad news for the future of the Maldives. It's not like the endless stream of Alis, Abduls, Abdullahs, Ahmeds, Ismails, Ibrahims, Hassans, Mohameds, Rasheeds, and Adams have been of much use anyways.
I also didn't feel the need to include religious demographics as non-Muslims participating in Maldivian politics is illegal as per the Maldivian constitution. So much for those damn atheists selling out the Maldives to the gay zionists amirite?
I hope you've found these visuals interesting. They are just the tip of the iceberg as far as the insight that could be drawn from just the data set for this voting session. A whole thesis could be written about just the changes of allegiances and their associated events.
Another thing that stands out is the hypocrisy of Maldivian politics. The unchangeable constitution that is used to oppress Maldivian minorities is like tissue paper when it comes to satisfying business interests. Contrast the hateful rhetoric against foreign workers with the reality of how they've allowed the sale of Maldivian land to the most powerful of foreign elites. Marvel at the misogyny and exclusionary policies of Adhaalath Party when their only representation in parliament is a woman. Consider all the members who were voted in by their constituencies to represent a certain political party who change their allegiances whenever it benefits them.
If nothing else I hope this gets you thinking more about how little we think of our elected officials as being representatives for their respective regions. Do their votes reflect the views of their constituencies? I somehow doubt it.
Three Classic Maldivian Music Videos That Totally Don't Normalise Street Harassment
Street harassment is a huge issue in the Maldives. Many women share stories about how they get harassed almost every single day while just walking to work. This has led to many social movements, such as #Nufoshey (don't harass).
The Maldivian entertainment industry has historically led the charge against harassment, responding to this atmosphere of fear by creating some groundbreaking music videos that both shocked and enlightened, dramatically reducing the incidence of street harassment in their wake. Here are three shining examples.
Street harassment is a huge issue in the Maldives. Many women share stories about how they get harassed almost every single day while just walking to work. This has led to many social movements, such as #Nufoshey (don't harass).
Street Harassment impacts the lives of harassed persons & cause various disruptions to their daily routine. Majority of the respondents took a different route to avoid harassment (76.6%), avoided going out alone (66.8%), or avoided areas where they felt unsafe (67.3%) #nufoshey pic.twitter.com/ivQOctFPRf
— Nufoshey (@nufoshey) February 11, 2018
The Maldivian entertainment industry has historically led the charge against harassment, responding to this atmosphere of fear by creating some groundbreaking music videos that both shocked and enlightened, dramatically reducing the incidence of street harassment in their wake. Here are three shining examples. This was initially meant to be a list of ten but my poor brain can only handle so much.
1. Farivefa Fonivefa (Dolled up and prideful)
This timeless classic of Maldivian media stars Reeko Moosa and Mariyam Nisha. The cheery chorus goes "Farifeva fonivefa dhaathee govaa hivvey, ekeega hingaa hivvey" (I want to call out to you as you pass by all dolled up and prideful, I want to walk with you), "Nuruhifa hure' mi dhimaa thibalaalee hey? Varrah aillaa hivvey" (Did you glance in my direction disapprovingly? I really want to touch you).
Reeko plays a pilot who takes work place harassment very seriously.
So seriously that he works multiple jobs just to keep up his daily quota.
Reeko demonstrates how people used to slide into DMs before twitter.
Observe how the alpha male clings to his target like a great cologne.
I wonder how Nisha keeps recognising this master of disguise. Maybe its the hair.
Reeko finally corners his prey on a dhoni. As they head off into the blue yonder, he can rest easy knowing that for her the only escape would be to jump overboard.
2. Jaaney Dhoove' Jaan
The chorus of this gem is pretty hard to translate. It goes something like "jaaney dhoove' jaan, heeleemaa vaa gurubaan", which roughly translates to something like "I might loose my soul, a sacrifice/devotion (for thee) when you smile". The reason for this might be because the song, like most Dhivehi songs pumped out by the industry, is a "copy song" where Dhivehi lyrics are made to fit into an existing song, which in this case is the classic "Jaanu meri jaan". Even the video tries to copy the plot of the original. Just think of this as the dollar store version made by the high class yokels of the Indian Ocean.
The story begins with the wholesome premise of women running away from men.
In an interview with Variety, esteemed director Christopher Nolan said that this scene was the inspiration for Dunkirk (2017).
Who is this guy? Why is he in this video? We may never know. Perhaps there is a creepy old background perv quota that the industry has to maintain. Political correctness gone mad amirite.
Meanwhile, the battle continues along the shoreline.
As hostilities rage on into the night, a kind of Stockholm syndrome appears to set in.
Totally brainwashed by their relentless charm, the women now begin courting the men; all while Pervatron spies lustfully from a nearby ship. The guys of course play it cool, as if they hadn't spent most of the day hurling these women around like rag dolls.
Alls well that ends well, as our heroes dance away into the night with their new partners.
3. Jaadhoogar (Magician/Sorcerer)
This time the whole crew is in on the action, frolicking along with our hero as he makes his dream girl wonder why she ever bothers leaving the house in the first place.
The chorus goes "Gasthugaa dhaanamey geydhoshun jaadhoogar" (The magician will purposely go by your house). Well at least this shit isn't happening by accident!
This video isn't all bad though. Observe one of our heroes as he saves a poor lady who wandered into the middle of the road, after her harassment addled brain made her think she was a motor vehicle.
You've gotta wonder what it would be like to watch one of these things being directed. "No! You don't look annoyed enough! Now again, with more venom!". Could this be the manifestation of some kind of fetish?
The safe word is "Zuleyhaa".
Our mage must have levelled up his charisma, because his love spell suddenly seems to start working. See guys, persistence does pay off!
The song ends with Mr. Big Wheels not getting lucky like the rest of his posse. Guess he should have harassed her just a little bit more.
#MenAreTrash hashtag sparks widespread debate and outrage on Maldivian twitter
The polarising hashtag caused an uproar and week long drama across the Maldivian twitterverse and tweeps debated the controversial topic. Are men trash? Are men trash, but is the wording wrong? Have people who say men are trash actually not met enough men who are not trash? Are women responsible for the men in their life being trash? Can they simply just filter them out? All this and more below. This is of course just a taste. I also did not include some of the nastier stuff from obvious troll accounts.
The polarising hashtag caused an uproar and week long drama across the Maldivian twitterverse as tweeps debated the controversial topic. Are men trash? Are men trash, but is the wording wrong? Have people who say men are trash actually not met enough men who are not trash? Are women responsible for the men in their life being trash? Can they simply just filter them out? All this and more below. This is of course just a taste. I also did not include some of the nastier stuff from obvious troll accounts.
May 25th - Day One
It all started with this tweet:
(most) Men are trash.
— mishya. 🥀宓实 (@Meeshyeah) May 25, 2018
That’s it. That’s the tweet.
Which instantly started backlash from the (Most) Men (You Know) Are Trash camp.
This group seemed to imply that most men were in fact not trash, and that it was more of an issue of who you knew.
(most) men (you know) are trash
— Haicko (@haesham) May 25, 2018
That's it. I corrected your tweet. https://t.co/Kmdzva56Gi
Today on mvtwitter
— Haicko (@haesham) May 25, 2018
It has been decided that about 51% of the world's population (roughly 3.6 billion people) are trash based on I don't know what exactly.
The worst “injustice” that men in Dhivehi society face turns out to be mean comments on Twitter. Let’s all have a moment of silence for our brave hero here. https://t.co/v220Gaw0T0
— Kanbaafaanu ❓🎈 (@Kanbaafaanu) May 25, 2018
A woman also takes the opportunity to defend the men in their life
This causes debate and drama to occur over multiple days, some of which is detailed below
I cease to understand this whole concept of “equality and feminism” that some girls talk about. Everything guys do become things they have to criticise and get butt hurt about. And the whole girl power thing from women talk shit about other women is a joke 🙄🤦♀️ pic.twitter.com/wXnHny0qhB
— SanoO (@SanooSanu) May 25, 2018
Could you elaborate on what you’d like to know about equality and feminism and the things guys do that women get butthurt over, please? Maybe I and a few of the feminists on twitter could provide some input that might clear up any misunderstandings.
— Aryj (@Arrryj) May 26, 2018
57 likes.... all the women who liked this tweet can join the “not all men are trash” party. Y’all belong in the trash with the rest of them https://t.co/3uSE1I06dF
— nukki. (@auxiliarity) May 26, 2018
That is a little harsh and offensive. I don’t see the need to be so defensive about one simple truth. Which is that not every woman understands feminism. Or what it stands for.
— SanoO (@SanooSanu) May 26, 2018
I think you’re the one who doesn’t understand feminism https://t.co/0NEPt8HKRI
— nukki. (@auxiliarity) May 26, 2018
I really think you don’t understand what feminism is. It is equal opportunity, gender equality. Not hating on men or not separating a whole gender based on the policy makers and some men who don’t support women. It is not fair on the men who have been fighting for women’s rights. https://t.co/hceUzGpL4g
— SanoO (@SanooSanu) May 26, 2018
Why do you care so much about men? Please... men have abused and murdered women for rejecting them. If you call yourself a feminist, and if you think that feminism = hating men, you’re not a feminist at all. Don’t you fucking tell me I don’t understand. https://t.co/0XCnnJNLQr
— nukki. (@auxiliarity) May 26, 2018
Wow, so much for feminism and empowering women. Looks more like you have taken an oath to trash talk men for the rest of your life. @SanooSanu Please don’t waste your time and energy on this, she surely has no clue of what she is talking about.
— Sadhs (@SadhFahym) May 26, 2018
That is exactly what i am trying to say. Feminism isn’t supposed to be hating on men. But having the right to do the things men do. Having the same opportunities they do. Gender Equality. Please read up on feminism. I don’t think you understand the term very well
— SanoO (@SanooSanu) May 26, 2018
Again, there is no need for you to be rude. Because my father was an amazing man. My brothers, my friends they are all empowering women.Yes men have done that. And i dislike the men as much as anyone. But that is like saying all muslims are murderers. Or all Germans are Nazis. https://t.co/AClROhDimI
— SanoO (@SanooSanu) May 26, 2018
Generalizations lead you down a slippery path and empowers the same stereotypes we are trying to break out of. 👆 https://t.co/s9W79lPy2B
— kaaku (@Nazaaaaal) May 27, 2018
Here’s your obligatory #NotAllMen tweet but avoiding the words “NOT ALL MEN” https://t.co/OTn0wDPAEa
— Zara Fayaz 🎈❓ (@Zara_Fayaz) May 27, 2018
Excuse you? I don't deal in absolutes. Again, as I've said there is a slippery path.
— kaaku (@Nazaaaaal) May 27, 2018
All men = trash
All white people = rascist
All addu people = foni
Etc etc.
All fallacies.
It’s okay for women to throw shade at men as long as it fits their victim card. Give me a break, just cause a mother hits a child doesn’t mean all mothers hit their children. Your generalisations doesn’t help anyone, in fact it makes things worse for everyone!
— Ahmed Jameel (@AhmedJa09712412) May 27, 2018
30 to 50 women a month getting beaten up isn't enough for Maldivians to wonder what the fuck is going on? During Ramadan even? Are you insane? These statistics go back an entire year, it is NOT normal for a ratio of 24 abused women to 1 man every month.
— Athoof (@AthoofRiyaz) May 27, 2018
Here's the obligatory enraged social justice warrior tweet that creates more polarization without contributing meaningfully to the discussion. https://t.co/QRW6dLu1dk
— kaaku (@Nazaaaaal) May 27, 2018
#NotAllMen has kind of become a cornerstone argument tactic that we've seen become popular and very much a moot point like the post suggests. This defensive tactic is used whether all men, some men, or one man is brought up. we're not talking about men who wouldn't hurt us. https://t.co/hu6zYl5s5t
— fine (@fainanfaseeh) May 27, 2018
"Generalizations lead you down a slippery slope"? You can't equate discussing how men oppress women to the mistreatment or muslims or jews. Males in general (although they can belong to minorities) are not an oppressed minority, no matter how big your victim complex is
— fine (@fainanfaseeh) May 27, 2018
The same goes to all women in Maldives. It’s snowflakes like you who need someone to blame everything for cause it’s never your own fault. Majority of the women in Maldives aren’t oppressed nor are they denied equality!
— Ahmed Jameel (@AhmedJa09712412) May 27, 2018
May 26th - Day Two
One tweep found the backlash amusing
It's cute how butthurt men are when someone says 'men are trash'
— D (@dheee_13) May 25, 2018
Another thought the whole thing was an issue of filtering out the trash
So many women saying “men are trash” on my timeline.. Maybe it’s time to rethink the men you have in your life?
— Rysh🎈 (@ryyyshh) May 26, 2018
On that note, cheers to the incredible men I have in mine. 🥂🤗
This caused people to respond with some obvious truths
The men in your life who are kind and wonderful may not be kind and wonderful to women they meet or see on the streets. Every street harasser, rapist , or even a murderer is nice and kind and wonderful to someone.
— Pointillist (@mom_hattan) May 26, 2018
And sometimes you don't get to choose who comes into your life. There are exceptions to every circumstance. Sometimes it's not the stranger we should worry about. It could even be a family member. That being said, it's great that you've got wonderful men in your life. Cheers.
— Nashwa Saeed (@nutwa) May 26, 2018
Cause we can pick and choose the men in our lives right? Like some girls just choose to have sexist family members or get rid of them as we please. It’s not just about men that play a role in our lives man...just... https://t.co/q1zGMbfk7K
— Marin Hussain (@Kambaidhi) May 26, 2018
We don’t always get to choose the men that come into our life. I don’t choose to get harassed on a daily basis. https://t.co/qYwxtv90hK
— Zara Fayaz 🎈❓ (@Zara_Fayaz) May 26, 2018
One woman shared their experience of how they learned about feminism
From a very small age, I have always said to myself ‘if I were I boy, I’d be allowed to do this and that’ ‘I’d be able to have this and that’. Because from a very small age the society has set certain rules for us girls. We all know this part right?
— Afa Rameez (@Afarameez) May 26, 2018
I have always considered myself as someone who supports gender equality and for the longest period I have thought feminists were man haters. My sister (a very proud feminist) would sometimes try to explain that equality and feminism is basically the same thing.
— Afa Rameez (@Afarameez) May 26, 2018
But all I heard was ‘label yourself’ (which wasn’t what she was saying) which I saw as a huge commitment because I can’t side with this if there are people who hate men and do other shit in the name of feminism, duh.
— Afa Rameez (@Afarameez) May 26, 2018
Also for some reason the whole ‘feminist’ movement seemed super aggressive.
— Afa Rameez (@Afarameez) May 26, 2018
I was curious yet stubborn.
‘Why call it ‘feminism’ if it’s asking for equality. Why is everything an issue? Why are you hating the men?’ These questions always came up.
— Afa Rameez (@Afarameez) May 26, 2018
Then something happened and I figured it’s time for serious research/homework.
1. Why is it called ‘feminism’ when it’s about equality?
— Afa Rameez (@Afarameez) May 26, 2018
Because women are the underprivileged gender here and feminism is about advocating for the rights of the women so that we can have equal rights as men
We want equality. But in order to get equality we must first admit that women are subjected to discrimination basically every single day for centuries. How can we achieve equality and move forward if we ignore this vital fact and act as if it’s nothing?
— Afa Rameez (@Afarameez) May 26, 2018
2.Why’s everything an issue?(why does everything turn into a debate about equality?)
— Afa Rameez (@Afarameez) May 26, 2018
Everything is and everything’s not an issue. Inequality is a major misstep in our societal structure.A very deep rooted one which has been going on for centuries. So why avoid talking about it?
2.Why’s everything an issue?(why does everything turn into a debate about equality?)
— Afa Rameez (@Afarameez) May 26, 2018
Everything is and everything’s not an issue. Inequality is a major misstep in our societal structure.A very deep rooted one which has been going on for centuries. So why avoid talking about it?
3. Why are you hating men?
— Afa Rameez (@Afarameez) May 26, 2018
Let’s talk about ‘all men are trash’ here. They are not.
But hey, there are times that shit makes us say ‘I hate everyone’ ‘I hate people’. We know that they’ve met a couple of bad people, but they don’t really mean it as an insult to genuinely nice people out there. Maybe they just havnt met them yet I guess.
— Afa Rameez (@Afarameez) May 26, 2018
So do feminists hate men? No, we don’t. Why should we? We don’t see us as a superior gender. We just want to shine bright with the men. We want the same recognition as the men.
— Afa Rameez (@Afarameez) May 26, 2018
Anyway, this is why I call myself a feminist. And I feel like this is pretty much the essence of feminism, if not egh
— Afa Rameez (@Afarameez) May 26, 2018
Another explained what feminism means to them
It is so hard for some to understand just how marginalized some groups of people are in the society. Fighting for equality might mean fighting for these specific groups of people more than the others, and acknowledging it MORE. (1/6)
— Suma Moosa Latheef (@ssumaa_) May 26, 2018
It DOES NOT mean they are treating this group as inferior and superior amongst others, it DOES NOT mean they are invalidating the issues faced by the other groups. It means that they have to do MORE & fight for these groups MORE, simply in order to create an equality ground (2/6)
— Suma Moosa Latheef (@ssumaa_) May 26, 2018
The basic idea of feminism is gender equality; believing that men & women should be equal. However, it is usually based on the grounds of advocating women’s rights, cause even if YOU might have not faced it; the truth is that women are and have been the marginalized group (3/6)
— Suma Moosa Latheef (@ssumaa_) May 26, 2018
It’s not women dominating over men, or being superior. It’s fighting for the same rights as them. ‘Women have suffered with social & political oppressions for centuries & although we have come a very long way, there are still so many injustices which still need addressing’ (4/6)
— Suma Moosa Latheef (@ssumaa_) May 26, 2018
‘Male supremacy, women & the vote, gender pay gap, child/forced marriage, prohibited from driving, barred from getting an education, clothing requirements’ - just some issues faced by women till today. (5/6)
— Suma Moosa Latheef (@ssumaa_) May 26, 2018
Please don’t be misinformed about this. This is an important issue, an important movement, and today we are truly seeing the difference that these movements have made on the lives of so many and hopefully will continue doing so. (6/6) pic.twitter.com/6UMTh0uB7P
— Suma Moosa Latheef (@ssumaa_) May 26, 2018
May 27th - Day Three
One tweep asked men to listen
Ok #MenAreTrash
— Zilvo (@Zilvow) May 27, 2018
I, as a maldivian male acknowledge why this is a thing. If your first reaction is your ego and yourself, fix it. Think WHY. ASK WHY.
Ask your MOTHER, your SISTER, your female relatives, your female friends. The constant harassment and oppression. And LISTEN.
This prompted a man to ask if the hashtag was creating more division
I, as a Maldivian male acknowledge why this is a thing. But how are we solving the underlying problem though?
— Kazimir (@cpt_kalashnikov) May 28, 2018
From what I have seen, #MenAreTrash movement caused a lot of division and enmity. You see, counter-degradation does not solve the problem, it creates problems.
It hasn't created any divisions, it has exposed the ones that have been there all along. What this tag has done is not escalation, because nothing has changed , it's only made complacent and ignorant men uncomfortable enough to care for once.
— Athoof (@AthoofRiyaz) May 28, 2018
Pretty sure I've seen enough arguments between men and women, men and men and women and women. In my dictionary, that is called division.
— Kazimir (@cpt_kalashnikov) May 28, 2018
A lot has changed over the years and we keep on making change. Decades ago, women were treated like property, made child brides and a lot -
Another reflected on gender roles during Ramadan (or Roadha mas in Dhivehi)
Ramadan is when we women come home from work and cook while the men come home and take a rest till breakfast. We have to get up while breaking fast because these men cant pour water by themselves :)) or cant get a spoon from the kitchen. the list goes on really. https://t.co/Jah3jVBJ6F
— D (@dheee_13) May 27, 2018
Some tweeps reflected on the fragility of the male ego
Fragility of the male ego and centrist argument all over twitter today regarding this instead of understanding where the phrase #MenAreTrash comes from. It is a justified reaction to oppression. We don’t need to throw in a #NotAllMen in there too. Please educate yourself Nazaal.
— Zara Fayaz 🎈❓ (@Zara_Fayaz) May 27, 2018
Pictured here is one of the most fragile things in existence: a snowflake
— insaan🎈❔ (@pikomonster) May 27, 2018
You touch it, you destroy it.
You blow on it, it melts.
It touches the ground, it ceases to be.
However, even snowflakes have been found to be stronger than THE MOST fragile thing ever found:
The male ego pic.twitter.com/w7ky1mhu5p
One man took it upon himself to sort the trash
Different types of Maldivian men. A thread:
— ûšęfül.ïdîōt🎈 (@useful0idiot) May 27, 2018
1. Household trash: your generic man. Does nothing special. Hangs around the house all day. Lazy. Judging.
2. Hazardous trash: the nasty toxic men. Taints everything they touch. Emotional & physical abusers, and world class assholes.
3. Recyclable trash: neither here nor there. Goes from one argument to the next.
— ûšęfül.ïdîōt🎈 (@useful0idiot) May 27, 2018
4. Biodegradable trash: fragile ego. DO. NOT. OFFEND.
5. Construction and demolition trash: the muscle heads. Testosterone levels are off the charts! The epitome of everything masculine.
A man shared an account of an incident that he witnessed
Last night was having a coffee, suddenly heard a loud crashing sound. Went to balcony of first floor and saw a guy and GN on the ground. Then heard a girl crying. She was sitting on the road about 20ft from the cycle. She was crying holding her leg. Many people gathered. None
— ℹ🅱🅱📧 (@the_ibbe) May 27, 2018
helped her. All were just looking at her. One of the man entered a nearby house and 2 women came. They helped her to her feet. Girl still crying, supporting her hands around the women walked into the house. There were more than 10 men. None helped the girl. Yes #MenAreTrash
— ℹ🅱🅱📧 (@the_ibbe) May 27, 2018
Another man wondered if the whole thing was a ploy for attention
Or they could just add that missing word just for the sake of accuracy.. Now how hard is that? Or is their real intention just to get more attention and not to really make anything right?
— އިޔާދު (@mega_iyad) May 27, 2018
Good men need not defend themselves saying not all men, because they have nothing to prove and they understand where women are coming from and don't mean all. To make it right men need to acknowledge the problems women face and not be offended by a missed word
— Isha 🎈❓ (@ish_aa) May 27, 2018
Yet another man insisted that there was no gender based discrimination in the Maldives, this time using the First Lady Madam Faathun simply existing as an example
....this forreal? https://t.co/3Wvw6seVij
— bhatakthi hui 👻 (@ayyshanada) May 27, 2018
Inside a long thread full of drama, one man decides that inequality doesn't exist in the Maldives
In the Maldives, all women have the same level of access to health care, education. All women can vote, work in the parliament, drive, eat where they want. So where is the inequality ??
— Ahmed Jameel (@AhmedJa09712412) May 27, 2018
This sparks off even more debate, and many women and men share their experiences.
"All women have same level of access to education"? Did you look at how many women have to stay at home once they get a kid cox there is nobody to look after them and not enough daycare available? Did you look into the fact that some parents refuse to educate their
— Aishath Iyadh (@Aishath_Iyadh) May 27, 2018
Daughters beyond secondary school because "meehakaa ineema onnan jeheynee hama geyga. Dhen keehkuran beykaaru haradhu thakeh kohgen mathee faas thakeh nagaakah"? Yup. It still happens here. Get your facts straight.
— Aishath Iyadh (@Aishath_Iyadh) May 27, 2018
Rough translation of the text in quotes "When you marry someone you should just stay at home. Why should you frivolously spend on getting higher qualifications?"
Also in Maldives. Little girls as young as 7 are obligated to do housework and tend to lag behind on school work because "priorities". In workplaces, women's voices are not heard or taken seriously. Jobs are prioritized for men, and if he can't do it. A woman must for half pay.
— Yumna Waheed 🎈❓ (@YuAeKito) May 28, 2018
the half pay thing actually happened to someone I know. Based on her gender, was offered only HALF the pay for the same job. https://t.co/RtCCV7zC7V
— Zara Fayaz 🎈❓ (@Zara_Fayaz) May 28, 2018
This one's a serious and persistent struggle in the islands especially, and it's hard to fight the parents' reasoning because the schools there often don't go beyond secondary anyways.. the system is failing women of all ages.
— Athoof (@AthoofRiyaz) May 27, 2018
Not having someone to look after their offspring has nothing to do with equality. It’s their own choice to get a child before competing their desired level of education. Later difficulties came as a consequence of their own life choices. Inconvenience doesn’t mean inequality
— Ahmed Jameel (@AhmedJa09712412) May 27, 2018
Societal pressure is a thing. If a man can continue his studies after getting a child, with no shit thrown his way about how he is “abandoning his family” and “neglecting his child in need” - then a woman should be able to do so as well.
— Papu (@shafrashafeeq) May 27, 2018
Do you know of a single man who got asked
— Shal❓🎈 (@ShalJaufar) May 28, 2018
will u be getting married soon?
How can we be sure u wont quit after you marry?
Will your husband "let you" travel?
Will u be taking a lot of time off work to take care of the baby?
at a job interview? These were asked of women I know.
In case my point wasnt clear these show pre existent bias against capability of women, regardless of their qualifications. Because it is assumed before they get a chance to prove themselves that they will slack off to do home responsibilities. Does that exist for men?
— Shal❓🎈 (@ShalJaufar) May 28, 2018
This is how we women are denied in the work force, so don't get your balls in a twist when we women call out for equality in the workforce
— Fathimath Shafa (@kaidha_a) May 28, 2018
If I were a guy, I would have been congratulated and asked to sign, but since I was a women who was pregnant I was seen as a liability 🤷
U must be living in a bubble. I know a guy who went to pursue his masters abroad leaving behind his wife and kid. He came back, got a top notch job. When the wife wanted to pursue her degree, he divorced her. She completed her masters alone. The challenges are many.
— Aisha🎈 (@mysticaish) May 28, 2018
Meanwhile a woman shared her very real story of discrimiation
Since apparently some people are under the illusion that women don’t need empowering anymore I wanna talk about some things that happened.
— bhatakthi hui 👻 (@ayyshanada) May 27, 2018
When I first told my dad that I wanted to become a civil engineer he said that it was a man’s job and I wouldn’t be able to do it. My mom hated the idea then and isn’t too keen about it even now
— bhatakthi hui 👻 (@ayyshanada) May 27, 2018
I persisted. I started my degree in 2011 and thus started a wild four year ride where i had several reality checks.
— bhatakthi hui 👻 (@ayyshanada) May 27, 2018
In my first sem my lecturer ( a woman) told our class about a company she knew where all applications by female engineers were put aside and torn up. Talk about equal opportunities. She also forced the girls in the concrete lab class from not doing any mixing work because REASONS
— bhatakthi hui 👻 (@ayyshanada) May 27, 2018
Jk it’s because we were women and women don’t do dirty grimy work like mixing cement 🙄
— bhatakthi hui 👻 (@ayyshanada) May 27, 2018
In 2014, during my final year project ( not thesis ) I was leading a group of five guys. Because 1. There were very few women in the class and 2. None of them volunteered to be the leader.
— bhatakthi hui 👻 (@ayyshanada) May 27, 2018
My original lecturer was very supportive and helpful but we had a second lecturer who checked our work and the first time he talked to our group he asked who was the leader- I stepped up- and he asked the guys why the woman was the leader in a group full of men :)
— bhatakthi hui 👻 (@ayyshanada) May 27, 2018
I asked him what the problem was and he immediately said that he hadn’t meant it like that and he meant that the guys should also take responsibility but please - I had lived long enough to know that he DID MEAN IT LIKE THAT.
— bhatakthi hui 👻 (@ayyshanada) May 27, 2018
During the end of 2014 I was doing my research for my thesis - it was on soil compaction and I had to go dig up 10 kgs from a hill with my very pregnant supervisor. I’d lug the soil into my lab and spent weeks doing manual standard proctor tests there.
— bhatakthi hui 👻 (@ayyshanada) May 27, 2018
Was exhausted and drained but if I quit, they they won. And they, the men, were on the sidelines. Waiting for me to quit. Laughing at me. This is not a metaphor this actually happened in the lab.
— bhatakthi hui 👻 (@ayyshanada) May 27, 2018
I graduated and came to this shithole and my first job interview was grand - I was interviewing for an assistant engineer and I was asked if I could do this job because it was “tough for women to do these things “
— bhatakthi hui 👻 (@ayyshanada) May 27, 2018
I said yes and they asked if I could travel, I said yes then they asked if I could spend hours at work and not rush home and I said yes. There was more sexism that followed. At one point one guy asked the only other woman in the panel if she thought a woman could do the job
— bhatakthi hui 👻 (@ayyshanada) May 27, 2018
I want to say that I found satisfaction in her discomfort but the only thing I left with that day is an intense disappointment - not only was I subject to this blatant sexism, the only other woman in the room had been complacent until she was asked a question
— bhatakthi hui 👻 (@ayyshanada) May 27, 2018
I started working in August of 2015 and when I first joined the engineering division i was one out of four women in a division of about 50+ people ( just in the office not including the ones at site). Talk about being represented
— bhatakthi hui 👻 (@ayyshanada) May 27, 2018
Thus began a series of standoffs with men. I’ve shouted on behalf of my coworkers, I’ve shouted over their voices in meetings when they would drown out mine, I fought to not be that one girl who writes the minutes,defended my work infront of people who didn’t care abt my opinion
— bhatakthi hui 👻 (@ayyshanada) May 27, 2018
I learnt to talk to contractors who wouldn’t even talk to me when they first attended meetings - they’d just talk to my boss. I made a place for myself and for that I ended up earning the reputation of the bitch of the office
— bhatakthi hui 👻 (@ayyshanada) May 27, 2018
For “ruining the other women” for “talking back” for standing my own ground. They picked at my weight, they told me my skin, my looks and my feminism would guarantee me a life of single hood but I didn’t care. I persevered. Two years later here I am, and not much had changed
— bhatakthi hui 👻 (@ayyshanada) May 27, 2018
We have more women in our department now and that’s been great. The sexism is still apparent, our work goes unappreciated as the men go ahead in their fields, they’re getting promoted getting raises while the longest working woman in my dept. waited seven years to get promoted
— bhatakthi hui 👻 (@ayyshanada) May 27, 2018
To head of division level even though she did all the work from the beginning. THIS is the reality. THIS is what happens. You talk of opportunities being available for women and ignore how we’re shot down from a young age, discouraged from a young age, told that we’re basically
— bhatakthi hui 👻 (@ayyshanada) May 27, 2018
Only good for one thing. And that’s having babies. Getting married. Taking care of the house. Any idea how many times I’ve been told to get married after I started working? No? Well same bro because I’ve lost fucking count as well.
— bhatakthi hui 👻 (@ayyshanada) May 27, 2018
Educate your daughters and send them to work for a few years only to force them to get married so they can have a”fulfilling life” because a man is ALWAYS necessary for a fulfilling life. Give me a break.
— bhatakthi hui 👻 (@ayyshanada) May 27, 2018
So don’t come up in here and tell me women don’t have to work extra hard for the same jobs. Don’t tell me women don’t have to struggle anymore. Don’t Invalidate my struggle because it was easier for YOU because it hasn’t been easy for a lot of women. Ask around.Educate yourselves
— bhatakthi hui 👻 (@ayyshanada) May 27, 2018
One woman laid on the snark
“Why can’t you just bow down to the patriarchy and cook food for the men, bend down silently and do all unpaid domestic work, raise the children but also go to ‘appropriate’ jobs and earn less than men and don’t bitch about getting sexually assaulted because it’s your fault.”
— Aryj (@Arrryj) May 27, 2018
Another flipped the script
My only two cents about the #NotAllMen thing is that men have the privilege of saying that but women don’t cos #YesAllWomen have faced harassment and systematic oppression. 😥
— Shaha 🎈❓ (@heyshaha) May 27, 2018
Another woman reflected on Maldivian culture and toxic masculinity
There's literally nothing stopping us from equity between the sexes other than toxic masculinity, societal norms and our culture. like sure hold onto the culture but not the outdated parts that was somewhat valid once upon a time where
— Dysfunc5 (@dyspanini) May 27, 2018
work was only physical labour. The whole Not All Men crap is ridiculous. All our presidents and most of our political members are men. Do egotistical men really feel attacked when women say "I want to be able to contribute to this too"?
— Dysfunc5 (@dyspanini) May 27, 2018
Feminism is the belief that women should have equal opportunity. Okay "men have gone through this and that too" but correct me if I'm wrong but women rank way higher in statistics for being catcalled, raped, abused, assaulted, harrassed, seen as inferior etc. so why not look at
— Dysfunc5 (@dyspanini) May 27, 2018
the bigger issue at hand first — and this isn't me saying men who suffer similarly are not worth it — no, this is me saying women have it worse and we need to fix it so we needn't walk streets in mortal fear because our mom's told us we might get attacked, raped or worse
— Dysfunc5 (@dyspanini) May 27, 2018
Maldivian men are raised objectifying women, looking down at them. A child isn't born like this, they're taught this. And for those who think that a father should only work for the kids education and future while the mother raises the child all by herself, that's ridiculous.
— Dysfunc5 (@dyspanini) May 27, 2018
Children deserve more than having to wonder "When is dad is coming back from work in Male" etc. They exist because of their parents and their parents both have equal roles to play in their kids' life, not the lopsided gender roles we've handed down for generations in Maldives.
— Dysfunc5 (@dyspanini) May 27, 2018
Feminism is important because women I know don't even realize they're in toxic relationships and that's a problem. It's important because of the voices unheard. It's important due to rape victims manipulated into thinking it was their fault and the ones that never got justice.
— Dysfunc5 (@dyspanini) May 27, 2018
It's important because men in their 20s - 30s harass teenagers in high school. It's important because I didn't fear monsters in the trees at night but people who may jump out and do anything. It's important because mother's are stripped of their independence upon marriage.
— Dysfunc5 (@dyspanini) May 27, 2018
It's important because of the abusive marriages that exist and the number of single mothers raising their kids by themselves because their father walked out whilst blaming the mother. Feminism is important because most women aren't taught to be independent.
— Dysfunc5 (@dyspanini) May 27, 2018
A man who respects you "rare gem of a gentleman" because that's the basics of manners. I believe feminism is of great importance because a woman doesn't NEED a man in their life to live. We are just taught this.
— Dysfunc5 (@dyspanini) May 27, 2018
Gender roles are a societal norm that needn't exist as it is one created by the patriarchy. Emphasizing and trying to see something from the perspectives of millions isn't going to emasculate or lay a scratch on you.
— Dysfunc5 (@dyspanini) May 27, 2018
Another expressed her frustrations
I am so frustrated by some of y’all up in here, just completely refusing to believe that women are disrespected, robbed of opportunity, demeaned and quieted on the daily. Even when we, women keep insisting on this being OUR reality, you refuse to accept it bc YOU don’t face it.
— Papu (@shafrashafeeq) May 27, 2018
A man pointed out the irony of some of the backlash
The men who get offended at being called trash... and then launch into angry tweetstorms, just cementing the point further... well, good job. You really showed them, huh! 😂
— WolfMyst (@AzMyst) May 27, 2018
Reflections on the previous backlash faced by anti-harrasment campaign Nufoshey
Still remember how @nufoshey put up a map of Male and women stuck pins on the locations where they were harrassed but then some men barged in and broke it.
— glob🎈❔🏴 (@Mordisian) May 27, 2018
https://t.co/ocs5iaO4Eb pic.twitter.com/tv8xdjANXK
— Alice in Mordis 🎈 (@ciceline) May 27, 2018
May 28th - Day Four
Women: we face a problem
— tranquilpotato (@tranquilpotato) May 28, 2018
Men: How dare you accuse me of something I personally have never done but am complicit in!
Women: But listen...
Other women - I have never experienced it, therefore it never happened.
Women: *suffers*
Everyone: OMG WHY DIDNT YOU SAY SO???
Granted. Trash is offensive and hateful.
— Pointillist (@mom_hattan) May 28, 2018
Bitches, son of a bitch, whore, slut and numerous other insults flung daily at women are just business as usual.
It’s like these guys just realized generalizations are hurtful just this week.
Riiiiiiiight!
One tweep reflected on how they viewed the hashtag as a success
I'd say the #MenAreTrash run was quite successful. 😄
— glob🎈❔🏴 (@Mordisian) May 28, 2018
It made a whole lot of men uncomfortable, which means either they are misogynists or they somehow take pride in being a man.
And with all the things men do to women around the world, I am not sure what's there to be proud of
All such movements started by oppressed groups will get a lot of criticism. The #metoo movement: women are just trying to get attention or money or destroy good men. The #BLM movement: they are saying black lives matter more than white lives.
— glob🎈❔🏴 (@Mordisian) May 28, 2018
#menaretrash and #metoo were both started by women and feminists and you can always see people who are at the receiving end trying to control its direction. I can only see it exposing them more.
— glob🎈❔🏴 (@Mordisian) May 28, 2018
A woman shared their thoughts on the word "feminazi"
Feminazi is a term that originated from conservative right wing people to discredit feminism. It's derogatary term used by fragile egos to demonise feminists. Only shows your own ignorance if you use idiotic terms made up by Rush Limbaugh (of all the people 😅😅😅)
— 🍞🌹 (@kopitaaaa) May 28, 2018
Whenever there is a public contestation over a social issue there are all these seemingly open minded peacemakers who rush to tell people how to talk and what to say. The usual class monitors 👀 forever stuck observing other people's tone and behaviour.
— 🍞🌹 (@kopitaaaa) May 28, 2018
Why should we talk & behave only within existing social paradigms established by the very people & systems who we want to challenge? We don't owe you niceties and comfort. For once how about ask yourself why you feel so uncomfortable & fragile when certain issues are brought up.
— 🍞🌹 (@kopitaaaa) May 28, 2018
Another woman reflected on the messages taught to men in Maldivian media
I just realized that so many Maldivian movies and songs include innocent women going about in their everyday lives until a man comes and harrases them on the street like it's a normal/acceptable thing to do.
— Luha (@LuhaIbrahim) May 27, 2018
What's even more sad is that people don't even know what's happening. Just because it is in a movie/ song it becomes OK to harrase the girl. I just saw one song on TV where two men chase after one girl i the means to win her over for 4 whole minutes.
— Luha (@LuhaIbrahim) May 27, 2018
This should not have to be the way women are represented. We are not just a prize to be won over. Women deserve respect and no it does not mean going after every girl you see on the street. Chasing her till she is sick of all men.
— Luha (@LuhaIbrahim) May 27, 2018
This should not have to be the way women are represented. We are not just a prize to be won over. Women deserve respect and no it does not mean going after every girl you see on the street. Chasing her till she is sick of all men.
— Luha (@LuhaIbrahim) May 27, 2018
I don't think that the entertainment industry of the Maldives has done this on purpose, but i do believe that a change must happen. Films and songs doesn't have to give the already pathetic and retarded men of the Maldives any ideas about it. (not that thy don't already do shit.)
— Luha (@LuhaIbrahim) May 27, 2018
A man showed his support for the movement
How long will it take for men to realize that when we say menaretrash we don’t mean every single man out there, or the men people choose to keep around themselves.
— سيف سعيد (@SaifSaeedh) May 27, 2018
Men are trash. No I cannot type down every single name on this list just because you feel attacked.
A woman responded to people dismissing everything as useless drama
Amusing when people are all condescending about important discussions “oh look so much drama on twitter, women fighting over men, way to go you brilliant feminists” like it’s funny. Congratulations, you live in your own ignorant bubble and are part of the problem! *slow clap*
— Zara Fayaz 🎈❓ (@Zara_Fayaz) May 27, 2018
To which a man asked what the big deal was in the first place
Aslu kobaatha thibunaa hurihaa firihenunge massala akee? Eyrunthaa ran’galhu kuran nuvatha ekamah eheevaan in’geynee. Firihenehgge haisiyyathun hama ahaalee. Hiy hama nujehey kameh othiyyaa hiyaalu faalhu kuran jeheyne, madun huregen nuvaane 😊
— Mohamed Aiman 🇲🇻🎈 (@mohamed_aiman) May 27, 2018
Rough translation : "So what's the real problem with all the men anyways? (only then) can we attempt to solve the problem or try to help out with the situation. Just asking as a man. If there's something that's bothering you you should speak out, you shouldn't stay quiet."
Don't shift the burden of educating yourself onto others. Men should not expect women to educate them on gender based inequality and oppression. Oppressors should not ask the oppressed to teach them. https://t.co/R3SquMuZCm
— nabeeh❓🎈 (@dolordelano) May 27, 2018
An opressed man says he is scared to make eye contact with women because he might get labelled a harasser
Scared to make eye contact with a girl now in case I might be accused of harrassing them😳
— iaN (@iiyanx7) May 28, 2018
It is harassment when the explicit or implicit action, comment or gesture is unwanted and/or without consent and directed at a person, which results in creating a intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment for them.
— Aryj (@Arrryj) May 29, 2018
Captain out. pic.twitter.com/o7J8offJ9M
Your failure to state so qualifies the original offense into the definition. Or is this like one of those #NotAllEyeContact situations? THE MAN IS AFRAID, captain. FOR DEAR LIFE.
— Naail 🎈 (@kudanai) May 29, 2018
Yes. And afraid to tweet anything these days too! Afraid it might be taken out of context and I might be crucified!
— iaN (@iiyanx7) May 29, 2018
Concluding drama
Alright I've embedded so many tweets that my browser is starting to slow down, so here are some concluding remarks
Twitter has become a toxic place now. Gone are the days where conversations and ideas could be discussed without offending some idiot on a high horse. It’s not a specific gender that’s trash. But people in general.
— Azmeel (@Ishvaras) May 28, 2018
What has one of the men who sparked the initial backlash learnt from days of women sharing their experiences of discrimination?
If you all think you've fixed something or raised awareness using the hashtag #MenAreTrash then you're so so wrong. You've only managed to make things worse.
— Haicko (@haesham) May 28, 2018
Regardless of how bad a situation is, a wrong approach will never fix it.
I have and always will support women empowerment and gender equality. But will never defend an ineffective stupid hashtag that makes you become what you're trying to abolish. Fight me. Quote me. Screenshot me. I don't care.
— Haicko (@haesham) May 28, 2018
Also aggressive responses will also fail to work to convince someone regardless of how educated you are. I understand the frustration, I really do. But personally attacking anyone who disagrees or finds it difficult to understand is also not the way now is it?
— Haicko (@haesham) May 28, 2018
And we all know the hashtag and movement was heavily misinterpreted. I was too and I apologize for it. But still, there's no fucking way I'm gonna agree with it. It's just wrong. And two wrongs will never make a right.
— Haicko (@haesham) May 28, 2018
That will be all. Slaughter me now.
Apparently not much
You’re tweeting about it aren’t you? The hashtag scratched the surface to start the conversation about inequality, and the behaviour of men. Just because the conversation sparked a debate, doesn’t make it any less relevant nor did it make things worse. Silence makes it worse. https://t.co/pWXtnG4xGB
— くたぱれ🎈 (@hoshiyoshii) May 29, 2018
Mansplaining a woman’s tweet to her was where he went wrong and he is still doing it. Nothing wrong in saying men are trash in a society where men took the decision to not recognise marital rape. What r hashtags compared to this violation of our human rights? https://t.co/U6oMVjb3x5
— Kanbaafaanu ❓🎈 (@Kanbaafaanu) May 29, 2018
If you want my opinion, I'd say hell yes, Maldivian men are trash. The country's appalling record on women's rights should speak for itself. No politician even mentions the need for abortions, which are still illegal and cause untold misery and stress for women who need to access this basic reproductive health service. Not to mention the Maldives has incredibly high rates of domestic violence, and a Guinness World Record for the highest number of divorces per capita. Many Maldivians still believe that women shouldn't be allowed to rule their country. Street harassment and abuse is widespread. This is without even getting into the extremely taboo topic of the rights of lesbian, bisexual or other non-cis women.
I think it says a lot that some men chose to police the people using the hashtag than confront the realities of what it's like being a woman in the Maldives. I think the following two tweets below sum up my feelings quite well.
my favourite type of people are those who are more bothered by people fighting over oppressions rather than the oppression itself.
— 🍞🌹 (@kopitaaaa) May 27, 2018
you think of any of us here like having these fights? NO but it seems quite necessary to me.
If you are not a woman, have never identified as one and have no lived experience as a woman then shut up, step back, sit down and listen when real women speak.
— Kanbaafaanu ❓🎈 (@Kanbaafaanu) May 30, 2018
Maldives twitter last week #3
Here are some interesting things Maldivians talked about on twitter last week.
Here are some interesting things Maldivians talked about on twitter last week.
1. Former First Lady Nasreena Ibrahim wowed the nation by speaking out about her husbands arrest
Former First Lady’s speaks with media https://t.co/meqjMUKLt7
— Raees Maumoon Office 🇲🇻 (@RMAG_Office) March 20, 2018
It is rare to hear her talk, even back during when her husband Maumoon was ruling the Maldives for 30 years straight.
2. Naturally this prompted someone to attack her for not wearing the hijab (among other things)
Burugaa Naalhaa Buma Hadhaagen Isthashi Gandu Kalhukohgen Nuvithaakah 2 Anhen Dharinah Ves Migothah Vaagidheegen Siraathu Magun Baa??
— Soodher💖 (@sootie44) March 23, 2018
A rough translation: "Are you truly on the righteous path when you and your two daughters do your eye brows, dye your hair black, and don't even wear the hijab?"
Woman criticises women for not covering their heads with a headscarf, for having dyed hair & perfectly plucked eyebrows, while she does wear a headscarf,she herself cakes on makeup, does her eyebrows etc. What is this stupidity?#DoubleStandards #GenderBasedDiscrimination #mordis https://t.co/yvUOsPiRhT
— ⚍ #FreeThePad (@guraafehi) March 24, 2018
3. Before and after image showed extreme deforestation on Maldivian islands
Wonder how @Simad & Shaiq from @CDEconsulting feels after witnessing such destruction? Hw do they sleep at night as they clearly know what they have done for greed & money is wrong by all means most evidently from Environemntal angles of which experts they claim to be. pic.twitter.com/XfBXt6kcmK
— AW (@bikkz) March 19, 2018
4. President Yameen lifted the State of Emergency
President Yameen lifts the SoE because he now has no need for it. He has overrun the judiciary and legislature, arrested hundreds unlawfully and introduced a “new normal” in the #Maldives - full dictatorship. We will not give up, we will fight and we will overcome.
— Mohamed Nasheed (@MohamedNasheed) March 22, 2018
5. Symbolic records released Oyaa by Pest
Always thought Maldivian raps were abysmal, but man @SymbolicRecords did a really good job with Oyaa ft. Pest. Can't stop listening to it. 🤯👊 https://t.co/8vHMPTdgV2
— | ᴍᴏᴛɪᴏɴɪsᴛ | (@mfayax) March 22, 2018
6. Goidhoo School from Baa Atoll held a bicycle rally
B. Goidhoo School held a bicycle rally to mark #EarthHour 2018.#Connect2eatrh@aishathshiham@goidhooschool pic.twitter.com/HtTrsrR7FY
— Ministry of Education (@EducationMV) March 22, 2018
7. A trash thread
This is a trash thread. These are the trash I found this morning within 700m of Male'. Trash Police, do your job.
— marmalade 🎈❓ (@amrizlyn) March 21, 2018
1. Boduthakurufaanu Magu behind Stelco pic.twitter.com/1JGRZHOTzj
8. Opposition activist Bardrudeen was released from police custody
Thank you everyone. I am free now. @PoliceMv officers tried to twist my wrist and fingers. When I screamed in pain they said they would pepper spray in to my mouth if I scream again. @hrcmv @hrw @UNHumanRights @MEAIndia @USAmbKeshap @USEmbSL #huttuvaa #MaldivesInCrisis pic.twitter.com/xOzqriemES
— Badruddeen 🎈 (@Badruddeen) March 22, 2018
9. High praise continues for "Master Plumber" Muizzu, the Minister of Housing & Infrastructure
Asthaqfirullah. So much tharaqqee and physics. Muizzu the master plumber. pic.twitter.com/emQzHG6tIl
— Hamid Shafeeu (@shafeeu) March 22, 2018
Mi dhen kihaa dhera kameh. Muizzu ah pavement aky koche kamaa pavement ge beynun kiyaa dhey claaheh nagan vejje 🤦🏻♀️#holhitharaggee#weneedourpavementsback pic.twitter.com/CJHNkPKouC
— Lyne 💛❓🎈 (@LeyneMcqueen) March 23, 2018
The famous Pipe Dream Fountain of Male'. A very popular tourist attraction. Often confused with MP Nihan but distinctly different. https://t.co/kuPm89HeSq
— A'Zmyst (@AzMyst) March 24, 2018
Hello @MMuizzu . pic.twitter.com/pgDcQfJzkM
— Huzam (@Huzam) March 24, 2018
10. The yo mama scam
7671109 called me claimed 2b from @bankofmaldives. Said 2 cards of same number issues & checking. Asked for my card details.
— ibu jaleel 4MN #KKBK (@ibujalyl) March 22, 2018
Told him bml don’t ask such details & I will report this number. Then he said kaley amaa —- ! @PoliceMv @Dhiraagu
"Kaley amaa" is a popular insult meaning "Your mother". It is usually followed by another expletive. A particular nasty variant being "Kaley amaa fui!" which roughly translates to "Your mother's c*nt!". Interestingly enough, this isn't even the worst that insult gets; with the most complete version being "Kaley amaa fui fada boey!" (Drink your mothers c*nt juices!). The more you know!
11. Maldives is home to some of the worlds most beautiful (and most threatened) mangroves
Exploring the #mangroves of Sh.Milandhoo today. Haven’t felt this serene in ages 😍 Did you know, Milandhoo has S I X different mangrove areas on the island! pic.twitter.com/vYVYSuysl0
— insaan🎈❔ (@pikomonster) March 23, 2018
12. @Zara_Fayaz draws legendary local politician Eva Abdulla
So I decided to draw @Evattey for #WomensHistoryMonth! #AnhenVerin#illustration #digital #art #InspiringWomen #IWD2018 #sketchdaily pic.twitter.com/MUoWnSLuWo
— Zara Fayaz (@Zara_Fayaz) March 23, 2018
13. Another tree is felled
saw this on my way home this morning. This breaks my heart. Just why? 😣 pic.twitter.com/XGRCNeup31
— Reemie (@reemadamibrahim) March 23, 2018
14. A snow dome replaced a historic mosque
Just a reminder that the "magey qaum, magey dheen" folk literally made a historic mosque disappear in order to put an expensive and unnecessary "snow park" in it's place because apparently that's #tharaggee. You can't make this shit up.
— imy (@notaklepto) March 24, 2018
15. People mourn the sudden death of Abdulla Naail
He lived a 100 years in his short life of 22 years. Took everyone's grief away and made everyone smile. He left us too soon. But he left us as a martyr.
— Ismail Naail Nasheed (@IxmaealNaail) March 26, 2018
Forever in our hearts. Forever in our prayers.
I will always love you brother.
07.12.1995 - 24.04.2018 pic.twitter.com/EMQeXTPiJs
Raajje TV ge noosveriyaa @IxmaealNaail ge kokko Abdulla Naail, 21 kulli gothakah niyaavumaa gulhin Raajje TV ge management aai Staffun ge faraathun, e aailaa ah thauziyaa fonuvameve.
— RaajjeTVPR (@Raajje_tvPR) March 24, 2018
Local surfer dies from drowning https://t.co/dwTP3yDeVx pic.twitter.com/gvTPs6SOoJ
— avas (@avasmv) March 24, 2018
Rest in peace Naail. He sent me this poem he wrote a while back. I can barely bring myself to read it but its definitely worth sharing. pic.twitter.com/YMnodMm2gb
— fine (@fainanfaseeh) March 24, 2018
What a tragic day.
— Ismail Aruham Adam (@aruuham) March 24, 2018
Rest In Peace Naail. 😞
I’ve met Naail a couple of times when he worked with MISC. Truly gutted that he is gone. I’ll keep him in my prayers.
— Led (@__L3d) March 24, 2018
إِنَّا لِلّهِ وَإِنَّـا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعونَ
— Maimoon (@Mrsays_) March 24, 2018
Marhoom ge furaanayah suvarugeyge dhaaimee niumaiy dhehvvai Aailaa ah kehtherikan minvaru kurahvaashi. Aameen pic.twitter.com/jIm4Xu4e21
Rest In Peace, Naail. You were taken from us too early. May your soul find eternal peace.
— Malsaa Mohamed (@mxlsaaa) March 25, 2018
Gutted to hear this devastating news. My heart has sunk!!! This is so so sad!
— Safaath Ahmed (@safaathahmed) March 24, 2018
My deepest condolences to Naail's family and friends.
Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un. https://t.co/0DwTI4RhQy
16. A hypothetical question about a female Maldivian President attracted religious conservatives like flies
I wonder what will happen if we elected a lady president 😊🤔
— Zainab (@Shuibug) March 24, 2018
I guess women will have it at least a bit better than it is now.
This may sound offensive but in Islam there can be no l"ady leader" and elections aren't taken to choose a leader in a islamic land! Please refer back to the basics of the religion and see how a leader must be chosen! And btw democracy is shirk and kufr!
— Stranger (@huwaatha88) March 24, 2018
17. A Salafi preacher got all worked up about the growing movement to eliminate the tax on feminine hygiene products
“I wonder what the hell these women are doing at offices”
— Mohamed Shuraih (@MohamedShuraih) March 27, 2018
They’re there to work, just like us, to make a living so that they can survive in this country where most of us can hardly get by from one month to the next.
Religion should not be used as a tool to oppress women. pic.twitter.com/YuTtEKQ7z1
In August during lockdown, I wrote a haiku in Dhivehi each day. It started off with simple Thaana text on black background, and slowly evolved to incorporate my photographs. It is nice to write haikus in Dhivehi as the structure lends itself nicely to counting the syllables.
The poems themselves seemed to take on a very self reflective nature, with common themes being the ocean, Maldivian life, and life in Male’ City.
I have included english translations for each of them. However do note that sometimes the meaning and syllable structure is lost somewhat in translation.
Originally posted on my instagram.