Sandhaanu Ahammaidi dies aged 72

Ahmed Ibrahim Didi (Sandhaanu Ahammaidi), who worked to bring out democratic reform in the Maldives, has passed away.

Ahammaidi worked as a pioneer of the Sandhaanu magazine which was published via the Internet in the early 2000s. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison in 2002 for conspiring and working against the state and was pardoned by President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom in 2006.

Ahammaidi served as the Human Rights Ambassador in the President’s Office during Dr Mohamed Waheed Hassam Manik’s Presidential term. He resigned from that position to found and work in the civil organisation Democracy Lab.

Before he assumed any political positions, he was part of the National Party. He then signed up for the National Alliance Party. Ahammaidi faced torture in prison during Maumoon’s term. Ahammaidii even attracted international attention in a series of movements undertaken to change Maumoon’s regime. He was declared a “Prisoner of Conscience” by Amnesty International.

He stepped away from politics after declaring that the nation can only be reformed with civil organisations and movements. He has said that he founded the Democracy Lab in 2013 with lawyer Abdulla Saeed in order to raise awareness of human rights and democracy and reform the judicial system in the Maldives. He also urged the public to stand against Yameen’s policies in order to protect the Constitution. After that, Ahammaidi’s name faded from the political landscape.

Sandhaanu Ahammaidi was 72 when he passed away. The funeral will be held in Hulhumale after Asr prayer today.