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Maumoon Abdul Gayoom
Incumbent
Assumed office 
11 November 1978
Preceded by Ibrahim Nasir
Born 29 December 1937 (1937-12-29) (age 70)
Nationality Maldivian
Political party Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party
Spouse Nasreena Ibrahim

Maumoon Abdul Gayoom (Dhivehi: މައުމޫނު އަބްދުލް ގައްޔޫމް) (born December 29, 1937) has been the President of the Republic of Maldives since November 11, 1978, succeeding Ibrahim Nasir. The President of the Maldives is the head of state and Head of government and first citizen of Maldives and the supreme commander of the Maldivian armed Events 308 - The Congress of Carnuntum: Attempting to keep peace within the Roman Empire, the leaders of the Tetrarchy declare Year 1978 ( MCMLXXVIII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1978 Gregorian calendar) Ibrahim Nasir Rannabandeyri Kilegefan KCMG NGIV (born 1926 is a Maldivian statesman who served as his country's Prime Minister under Sultan Muhammad Events 1170 - Thomas Becket: Thomas Becket Archbishop of Canterbury is assassinated inside Canterbury Cathedral by followers of King Henry II Year 1937 ( MCMXXXVII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP Maldivian Peoples Party is the current ruling Political party, from the Maldives. Nasreena Ibrahim is the First Lady of the Maldives, wife of President Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom. Dhivehi Writing Systems Dhivehi (or Divehi) is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by more than about 300000 people in the Republic of Maldives where it is the Events 1170 - Thomas Becket: Thomas Becket Archbishop of Canterbury is assassinated inside Canterbury Cathedral by followers of King Henry II Year 1937 ( MCMXXXVII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The Maldives ( or, or Maldive Islands) officially the Republic of Maldives, is an Island nation consisting of a group of atolls stretching Events 308 - The Congress of Carnuntum: Attempting to keep peace within the Roman Empire, the leaders of the Tetrarchy declare Year 1978 ( MCMLXXVIII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1978 Gregorian calendar) Ibrahim Nasir Rannabandeyri Kilegefan KCMG NGIV (born 1926 is a Maldivian statesman who served as his country's Prime Minister under Sultan Muhammad

Contents

Early life

Maumoon Abdul Moya is the son of Abdul Gayoom Moya (Maafaiygey Dhon Seedhi) and Khadheeja Moya. His father had 25 children by 8 different wives and Gayoom is the 10th in his family. His mother died when he was studying in Cairo, Egypt. Cairo () which means "the Vanquisher" or "the Triumphant" is the capital and largest city of Egypt. This article is about the country of Egypt For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Egypt topics. Gayoom's father, who died in 1982 at the age of 87, saw the first term of his son's presidency. His father was appointed the chief judge for some time.

Much of Gayoom's early life was spent in Egypt. He was among the 15 students selected at the direction of the then-president Mohamed Amin Didi for special education overseas. Al Ameer Mohamed Amin Dhoshimeynaa Kilegefaanu ( Dhivehi: އަލްއަމީރު މުހައްމަދު އަމީން ދޮށިމޭނާ ކިލެގެފާނު ( July 20 At the age of 10, he left for Egypt on September 15, 1947, with a stopover in Ceylon for a few days. Events 668 - Eastern Roman Emperor Constans II is assassinated in his bath at Syracuse Italy. Year 1947 ( MCMXLVII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1947 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka ( Sinhalese:, இலங்கை known as Ceylon before 1972 is an Island However, his departure from Ceylon was delayed for two and a half years because of the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, durring which he completed his secondary education at Royal College, Colombo. The Royal College of Colombo (commonly known as Royal College) was founded in January 1835 When the war ended, he left for Egypt in March 1950 along with other Maldivian students.

Gayoom attended Al-Azhar University in Egypt. Al-Azhar University (pronounced "az-HAR" الأزهر الشريف, "the Noble Azhar" in Egypt, founded in 975 is the chief centre of He spent six months learning Arabic so he could enroll in the Faculty of Sharia and Civil Law to study for a Diploma of Education. Arabic (ar الْعَرَبيّة (informally ar عَرَبيْ) in terms of the number of speakers is the largest living member of the Semitic language The Diploma of Education, often abbreviated to DipEd or GradDipEd, is a Postgraduate qualification offered in the United Kingdom and many In 1966, he obtained his Bachelor's degree in Islamic Sharia and Civil Law, with honors. A bachelor's degree is usually an Undergraduate Academic degree awarded for a course or major that generally lasts for three four or in some cases and Gayoom came out first in the Faculty of Islamic Law and Studies at Al-Azhar University and was awarded his graduation certificate by Gamal Abdel Nasser. Gamal Abdel Nasser (جمال عبد الناصر Gamāl ‘Abd an-Nāṣir; - January 15 1918 September 28 1970) was the second President He was later awarded Masters degree in Islamic Sharia. He completed English Language course from the American University in Cairo. The American University in Cairo (AUC is a private university located in Cairo, Egypt.

When fourteen Maldivian students, under Gayoom's direction, sent a signed letter to Prime Minister (later President) Ibrahim Nasir to reconsider his decision to establish diplomatic ties with Israel, their government-awarded grants were stopped. This article is about the government position For other uses see Prime Minister (disambiguation. Ibrahim Nasir Rannabandeyri Kilegefan KCMG NGIV (born 1926 is a Maldivian statesman who served as his country's Prime Minister under Sultan Muhammad For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Israel topics. Grants are funds dispersed by one party (Grant Makers often a Government Department Corporation Foundation or Trust to a recipient, often (but not always The students were then financed by the Egyptian government. By the time Gayoom acquired his MA in 1966, the Egyptian government had stopped its funding. As a result, he was unable to complete his PhD. Later, with his marriage, he decided not to go further with his studies.

As a result of being "blacklisted" by the government for his letter, Gayoom decided not to go home. He spent almost 24 years outside the Maldives except for a brief period in 1964. In 1967, he began working for the American University in Cairo as a research assistant in Muslim History under Professor Marsden Jones for almost 2 years. The American University in Cairo (AUC is a private university located in Cairo, Egypt. Muslim history began in Arabia with the Muhammad 's first recitations of the Qur'an in the 7th century John Marsden Beaumont Jones ( 20 December 1920 &ndash 11 June 1992) known as Marsden Jones, was an emeritus professor and the

In 1965, Gayoom met Nasreena Ibrahim, a student who had just arrived in Cairo from the Maldives for her studies. Nasreena Ibrahim is the First Lady of the Maldives, wife of President Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom. Cairo () which means "the Vanquisher" or "the Triumphant" is the capital and largest city of Egypt. She was then 15 and Gayoom was 27. Four years later, they married in Cairo, on July 14, 1969. Events 1223 - Louis VIII becomes King of France upon the death of his father Philip II of France. Year 1969 ( MCMLXIX) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. A few weeks after his marriage, he joined Ahmadu Bello University in Kano, Nigeria as a lecturer in Islamic Studies and moved there with Nasreena. Ahmadu Bello University (ABU is the largest university in Nigeria and second largest in Africa, second only to Cairo University, Egypt Kano is the administrative center of the Kano State and the third largest City in Nigeria, in terms Nigeria, officially named the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal Constitutional republic comprising thirty-six states and one Federal This is a sub-article to Religious education, Academic discipline, and Islam. In March 20, 1970, at the age of 20, Nasreena gave birth to twins, Dhunya Maumoon and Yumna Maumoon. Events 1600 - The Linköping Bloodbath takes place on Maundy Thursday in Linköping, Sweden. Year 1970 ( MCMLXX) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link shows full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Dhunya Maumoon is the daughter of Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, the current President of the Maldives. When Nasreena got pregnant for the second time, it was arranged to send her to Malé. Pregnancy ( Latin graviditas) is the carrying of one or more offspring known as a Fetus or Embryo, inside the Uterus of a Female Overview Although Malé is geographically located in Male' Atoll Kaafu Atoll, administratively it is not considered part of it She gave birth to their first son, Farish, in Malé, on March 31, 1971. Events 307 - After divorcing his wife Minervina, Constantine marries Fausta, the daughter of the retired Roman Emperor Year 1971 ( MCMLXXI) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the 1971 Gregorian calendar. Nine years later, during Gayoom's presidency, Ghassan was born on June 12, 1980. Events 1381 - Peasants' Revolt: in England, rebels arrive at Blackheath. Year 1980 ( MCMLXXX) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1980 Gregorian calendar)

During his time in Egypt, he had become particularly interested in Egyptian politics. He closely followed the revolutionary movement led by the Muslim Brotherhood and Free Officers Movement of Gamal Abdel Nasser. The Muslim Brothers ( Arabic: الإخوان المسلمون al-ikhwān al-muslimūn, full title The Society of the Muslim Brothers, often simply الإخوان In Egypt, the clandestine revolutionary Free Officers Movement (Arabic حركة الضباط الأحرار was composed of young junior army officers committed to unseating Gamal Abdel Nasser (جمال عبد الناصر Gamāl ‘Abd an-Nāṣir; - January 15 1918 September 28 1970) was the second President He attended several public meetings of Muslim Brotherhood where celebrated orators like Sayyid Qutb railed against Britain, imperialism and King Farouk's government. Sayyid Qutb (ˈsaɪjɪd ˈqʊtˁb (also Saïd Syed Seyyid Sayid or Sayed last name also Koteb (rather common Qutub Kotb or Kutb (سيد قطب October 9, 1906 The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located Imperialism has two meanings one describing an action and the other describing an attitude Farouk I of Egypt ( Arabic: فاروق الأول Fārūq al-Awwal) ‎ (February 11 1920 &ndash March 18 1965 was the tenth ruler from the Muhammad In July 1952, Gayoom was at the Muslim Brotherhood camp, on holiday, when Gamal Abdel Nasser took over in a bloodless military coup. Gamal Abdel Nasser (جمال عبد الناصر Gamāl ‘Abd an-Nāṣir; - January 15 1918 September 28 1970) was the second President In his book A Man for All Islands, biographer Royston Ellis wrote, "Maumoon regarded it as a privilege to be able to hear Sayyed Qutb". A Man for All Islands is a biography about the president of the Maldives Maumoon Abdul Gayoom by Biographer Royston Ellis. Royston Ellis (born 10 February 1941, Pinner, England is a British writer heavily influenced by the American Beat Generation. Sayyid Qutb (ˈsaɪjɪd ˈqʊtˁb (also Saïd Syed Seyyid Sayid or Sayed last name also Koteb (rather common Qutub Kotb or Kutb (سيد قطب October 9, 1906

Genealogy

 
 
 Ibrahim
 
 -------
 
 Moosa Didi
 
 Maryam Didi
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Abdul Gayoom Ibrahim
 
 
 
 
 
 Khadheeja Moosa
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Maumoon Abdul Gayoom
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom is the son of Khadheeja Didi (Khadheeja Moosa), daughter of Maryam Didi.


Career and politics

When his two year contract with Ahmadu Bello University ended, he returned to the Maldives in 1971?. Three weeks later, he joined Aminiyya School as a teacher of English, arithmetic and Islam. Aminiyya School is a girls' secondary school in Malé, the capital of the Maldives. English is a West Germanic language originating in England and is the First language for most people in the United Kingdom, the United States In 1972, he was appointed as the manager of the government shipping department.

On March 12, 1973, Gayoom was placed under house arrest for criticising President Ibrahim Nasir's policies. Events 538 - Witiges, king of the Ostrogoths ends his siege of Rome and retreats to Ravenna, leaving Year 1973 ( MCMLXXIII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar of the 1973 Gregorian calendar. He was tried in court and sentenced to banishment for four years on May 14, 1973. Events 1264 - Battle of Lewes: Henry III of England is captured in France making Simon de Montfort the Year 1973 ( MCMLXXIII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar of the 1973 Gregorian calendar. On May 21, he was taken to Makunudhoo Island of Haa Dhaalu Atoll. Southern Thiladhummathi Atoll, Thiladummathi South or Haa Dhaalu Atoll is the southern section of Thiladhummathi Atoll, a natural Atoll After serving five months of his sentence, Gayoom was released on October 13, 1973 as a result of Nasir's amnesty following his re-election for another five-year term. Events 54 - Nero ascends to the Roman throne 409 - Vandals and Alans crossed the Pyrenees Year 1973 ( MCMLXXIII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar of the 1973 Gregorian calendar. Amnesty (from the Greek amnestia, oblivion is a legislative or executive act by which a state restores those who may have been guilty of an offense against it to

In 1974, Gayoom was appointed as under-secretary in the Telecommunications Department. After ten weeks, he was promoted to director of the department. During this period, he worked as a part-time teacher in some private schools, teaching Islam, Arabic and English. Arabic (ar الْعَرَبيّة (informally ar عَرَبيْ) in terms of the number of speakers is the largest living member of the Semitic language

On July 28, 1974, Gayoom was again arrested for criticising Nasir's policies. Events 1540 - Thomas Cromwell is executed at the order of Henry VIII of England on charges of Treason. Year 1974 ( MCMLXXIV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the 1974 Gregorian calendar. This time he was kept in solitary confinement in a prison in Malé nicknamed "China garden" (Chinese fishermen were once detained there). Solitary confinement, colloquially referred to in American English as "the hole" or "the pound" (or in British English "the block" is a Punishment Overview Although Malé is geographically located in Male' Atoll Kaafu Atoll, administratively it is not considered part of it This prison was later demolished in Gayoom's presidency and Islamic Centre was erected on the site. The Islamic Centre is an architectural landmark in Malé, Maldives opened in November 1984 by President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom. After 50 days in jail, he was set free in September 1974.

Six weeks later, he was appointed as special under-secretary in the office of then Prime Minister Ahmed Zaki. This article is about the government position For other uses see Prime Minister (disambiguation. The post of Prime Minister was abolished with the removal and banishment of Ahmed Zaki from office, in March 6, 1975. Exile means to be away from one's home (ie city state or country while either being explicitly refused permission to return and/or being threatened by prison or death upon return Events 1079 - Omar Khayyám completes the Iranian calendar. 1454 - Thirteen Years' War: Delegates of Year 1975 ( MCMLXXV) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. With this decision, Gayoom's position disappeared as well and he was notified of his dismissal when he was in Colombo. Colombo ( Sinhala:, ˈkoləmbə Tamil: கொழும்பு is the largest city and commercial capital of Sri Lanka. However, when he returned from Colombo, he was made the Deputy Ambassador of the Maldives in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka ( Sinhalese:, இலங்கை known as Ceylon before 1972 is an Island In 1975, he was sent to the United Nations for two months as a member of the Maldives delegation. The United Nations ( UN) is an International organization whose stated aims are to facilitate cooperation in International law, International security Delegation (also called deputation) is the assignment of authority and responsibility to another person (normally from a manager to a subordinate to carry out specific activities Upon his return, he was appointed under-secretary at the department of External Affairs. After nine weeks, he was appointed the Deputy Minister of Transport. One year later, he was tenured at the United Nations from September 1976 to January 1977, until Nasir summoned him back at the end of the UN session. In March 29, 1977, Gayoom was appointed as Minister of Transport, making him a member of Nasir's cabinet. Events 1461 - Wars of the Roses: Battle of Towton - Edward of York defeats Queen Margaret to become King Also 1977 (album by Ash. Year 1977 ( MCMLXXVII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays A cabinet is a body of high-ranking members of Government, typically representing the executive branch. He held the post until November 10, 1978. Events 1444 - Battle of Varna: The crusading forces of King Vladislaus III of Varna (aka Ulaszlo I of Hungary and Wladyslaw Year 1978 ( MCMLXXVIII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1978 Gregorian calendar)

Presidency

As Ibrahim Nasir's second term was coming to an end, he wanted someone else running for the presidency. In June 1978, the Citizen's Majlis was called upon to nominate a presidential candidate. The Majlis is the Main Legislature body of the Maldives The Majlis has the authority to enact amend and revise laws except the constitution of the Maldives 45 voted for Nasir, while the remaining 3 voted for Gayoom. There was another ballot on June 16, in which four people participated. A ballot is a device (originally a small ball—see blackball) used to record choices made by Voters Each voter uses one ballot and ballots are not Events 1487 - Battle of Stoke Field, the last dying breath of the Wars of the Roses. 27 voted for Gayoom, enough for him to be put forward as a candidate.

Five months later, he was elected with 92. 96% of the votes as the new President of the Maldives. The President of the Maldives is the head of state and Head of government and first citizen of Maldives and the supreme commander of the Maldivian armed The grand reception of his inauguration was held at Majeediyaa School on the night of November 10, 1978. School history Majeediyya school was founded on April 19, 1927, by Sultan Muhammad Shamsuddeen III on Events 1444 - Battle of Varna: The crusading forces of King Vladislaus III of Varna (aka Ulaszlo I of Hungary and Wladyslaw Year 1978 ( MCMLXXVIII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1978 Gregorian calendar) Since then, he has been re-elected and remains president. In a 1983 referendum, he was re-elected by 96. A referendum (plural referendums or referenda) ballot question, or plebiscite (from Latin plebiscita 62%, for a second term. He was last re-elected to a sixth five-year term in October 2003 with 90. 28% of the vote; he was the sole candidate, having been chosen by the Majlis.

The President of the Maldives is both the Head of Government and Head of State, with very little distinction between the two roles, therefore President Gayoom is also the Commander-in-Chief of the Maldivian armed forces, the Maldives National Defence Force. The Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF is a combined security force responsible for defending the security and sovereignty of the Maldives, having the primary task of In a 2007 referendum, voters approved a presidential system with direct election of the president, the option favored by Gayoom, rather than a parliamentary system. A referendum was held in the Maldives on 18 August 2007 to decide on whether the country should have a Presidential system or a Parliamentary

Assassination attempt

On January 8, 2008, Maumoon Abdul Gayoom escaped unharmed from an assassination attempt at Hoarafushi by Mohamed Murshid, a twenty-year-old man from the island. Events 871 - Battle of Ashdown - Ethelred of Wessex defeats a Danish invasion army 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Hoarafushi ( Dhivehi: ހޯރަފުށި is one of the inhabited islands of Haa Alif Atoll in the Maldives. Murshid attempted to stab Gayoom with a knife concealed in a Maldives flag. The attempt was foiled when Mohamed Jaisham Ibrahim, a fifteen-year-old Boy Scout from the island, blocked the attack with his bare hands. Maldives has 5072 Scouts served by The Scout Association of Maldives ( Divehi ދިވެހިރާއްޖޭގެ ސްކައުޓް އެސޯސިއޭޝަން which was Jaisham sustained minor injuries during the intervention and was subsequently treated. [1][2][3]

Notable visits and participations

Criticism

Gayoom has been harshly criticized by many for his autocratic rule, and he is widely considered to be a dictator. A dictatorship is usually defined as an autocratic Form of government in which the Government is ruled by a Dictator. He has been accused of nepotism, because several family members, in-laws and close relatives of him held high posts in his government and cabinet. Nepotism is the showing of favoritism toward relatives and friends based upon that relationship rather than on an objective evaluation of ability Meritocracy or suitability According to Amnesty International, in the year 2003, "there were severe restrictions on freedom of the press, and political parties were unable to function. Amnesty International (commonly known as Amnesty or AI) is a Western based international Non-governmental organization which defines its mission as "to " Anti-government riots broke out in the country in September 2003 following a prison shooting incident. On Saturday September 20, 2003 Civil unrest broke out in Malé, the capital city of the Maldives. September 2003: January - February - March - April - May - June - July - August - September Opposition to the president has come in the form of the Maldivian Democratic Party. The Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP is a Political party of the Maldives. Political prisoners are often banished to remote atolls. Gayoom was also the defense minister and finance minister of the Maldives for a long time, but gave up these positions on September 1, 2004, following international pressure, and media and public ridicule. A defence minister (or defense minister) is a Cabinet position which regulates the Armed forces in some sovereign nations The finance minister is a Cabinet position in a Government. A minister of Finance (also called financial affairs the treasury the economy or economic Events 462 - Possible start of first Byzantine indiction cycle. "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again "

See also

Notes

  1. ^ afp.google.com, Boy Scout saves Maldives president from assassination
  2. ^ cnn.com, Boy Scout foils attack on Maldives president
  3. ^ President's Office, Republic of Maldives, news release

References

External links

Political offices
Preceded by
Ibrahim Nasir		 President of the Maldives
1978 – present		 Incumbent
Preceded by
Unknown		 Minister of Transport of the Maldives
1977 – 1978		 Succeeded by
Unknown
Black Friday ( Dhivehi: ކަޅު ހުކުރު August 13 A Man for All Islands is a biography about the president of the Maldives Maumoon Abdul Gayoom by Biographer Royston Ellis. Royston Ellis (born 10 February 1941, Pinner, England is a British writer heavily influenced by the American Beat Generation. Ibrahim Nasir Rannabandeyri Kilegefan KCMG NGIV (born 1926 is a Maldivian statesman who served as his country's Prime Minister under Sultan Muhammad The President of the Maldives is the head of state and Head of government and first citizen of Maldives and the supreme commander of the Maldivian armed Year 1978 ( MCMLXXVIII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1978 Gregorian calendar) Also 1977 (album by Ash. Year 1977 ( MCMLXXVII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays Year 1978 ( MCMLXXVIII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1978 Gregorian calendar)
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