Mohamed Munavvar
Dr. Mohamed Munavvar (Dhivehi: ޑރ. މުޙައްމަދު މުނައްވަރު) was born in the island of Meedhoo in the Maldives. He was former Attorney General of Maldives. Munavvar was succeeded by Dr.Mohamed Zahir Hussain (who was at the position temporarily) and was preceded by Dr. Hassan Saeed. Dr Munawwar is widely criticized by the general public for being involved in corrupt business deals. His popularity in his own atoll declined due to the fact that he was unable to develop tourism in Addu Atoll during his tenure in public. He has also pressure from MDP to resign from the post of Presidency. There is a rumor that he is awaiting for an instruction from Gasim Ibrahim, former Minister of Finance and Treasury and head of Villa Group of Companies.
Early and personal life
Born in 20 December 1961, Munavvar spent early days of his life at his native island Meedhoo. In 1971 he came to Malé for education. Munavvar is married and has 2 daughters.
Educational background
Munavvar completed his secondary education in Majeedhiyya School.
Doctor in the Science of Law, 1993, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, Sept. 1990 – Sept. 1993 (full-time) Master of Laws (LL.M.), 1989, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, Sept. 1988 – Sept. 1989 (full-time) (to be verified);
Legislative Drafting Course, 1986, Bureau of Parliamentary Studies and Training, Lok Sabha Secretariat, New Delhi, India, 4 November 1985 – 31 January 1986 (full-time);
Master of Laws with Honours (LL.M.), with specialization in International Law, 1985, Patrice Lumumba People’s Friendship University, Moscow, Russia, September 1979 – June 1985, (full-time)
Political career
Dr.Munavvar served as the attorney general of the Maldives for 10 years. He also served as the MP of Addu constituency for a number of years. After leaving the attorney general post, Munavvar aligned himself with the opposition movement of the country. He was jailed in 13th August 2004, allegedly for participating in the pro democracy uprising, also known as Black Friday (Maldives).
On 5th December 2004 he was charged under the article 29 of the Maldives Penal Code “Acts against the State”. The charge carries a sentence of imprisonment for life or exile for life or imprisonment or exile for a period between 10 years and 15 years. The opposition and the international community alleged that the charges were politically motivated and subsequently the charges were dropped by the government on 10th December 2004. Political parties were not allowed to operate in the Maldives those days, but political dissidents of the Gayoom’s government formed MDP and Munavvar worked closely with them. On 2nd June 2007 Dr.Munavvar was elected as the president of MDP, the largest opposition party in the Maldives. However, due to poor popularity, he recently lost the election held to nominate a Presidential Candidate of MDP. It is widely beleived that this was due to his poor popularity in his own island and atoll.
External links
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