Sumuvvul Ameer Mohamed Amin Dhoshimeynaa Kilegefaanu (Dhivehi: ސުމުއްވުލް އަމީރު މުހައްމަދު އަމީން ދޮށިމޭނާ ކިލެގެފާނު; July 20, 1910 – January 19, 1954), popularly known as Mohamed Amin Didi, was a Maldivian politician who served as the first president of the Maldives and as the head of government between January 1, 1953, and August 21, 1953. Amin Didi was also the principal of Majeedhiyya School from 1946 to 1953.[1]
Mohamed Amin Didi | |
|---|---|
 Formal portrait, 1950 | |
| 1st President of the Maldives | |
| In office January 1, 1953 – August 21, 1953 | |
| Vice President | Ibrahim Muhammad Didi |
| Preceded by | Office established |
| Succeeded by | Ibrahim Muhammad Didi (Acting) Office Abolished Sultanate of Maldives (Muhammad Fareed Didi) |
| Minister of Interior | |
| In office 7 April 1943 – 21 August 1953 | |
| Monarchs | Hassan Nooraddeen II Abdul Majeed Didi |
| Preceded by | Hassan Fareed Didi |
| Succeeded by | Ibrahim Nasir |
| Minister of Foreign Affairs | |
| In office 29 October 1944 – 21 August 1953 | |
| Monarch | Abdul Majeed Didi |
| Preceded by | Hassan Farid Didi |
| Succeeded by | Ibrahim Ali Didi |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 20 July 1910 Athireege |
| Died | 19 January 1954 (aged 43) Vihamanaafushi Island |
| Nationality | Maldivian |
| Political party | Peoples' Progressive Party |
| Spouse | Fathimath Saeed |
| Children | Annabeela Ameena Mohamed Amin |
| Signature |  |
Amin Didi was the leader of the first political party in the Maldives, Rayyithunge Muthagaddim Party.[1][2] His political program included efforts to modernize the country, including the advancement of women, education in the Maldives,[3] nationalising the fish export industry and an unpopular ban on tobacco smoking.[4]
Amin Didi took office during post World War II period, a time when the country was in widespread famine and exhausted resources.
Early life
editAmin was the son of Athireegey Ahmed Dhoshimeynaa kilegefaan and Roanugey Aishath Didi. He was a descendant of the Huraa Dynasty, from his father's side.[1] In 1920, he went abroad to Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) and studied in Saint Joseph's College, Colombo.[1] In 1928, he went to India for further studies in Aligarh Muslim University,[5] returning to the Maldives one year later. His wife was Fathimath Saeed, and his only child was Annabeela Ameena Mohamed Amin
Premiership
editHe was appointed as the Prime Minister on 1 January 1947 and left on 2 September 1953. During his time as Prime Minister, he wrote a promotional booklet titled ‘Ladies and Gentlemen: The Maldive Islands’, which provided foreigners information about the life, culture and economy about the Maldives.[6]
Politics
editIn 1931, Amin was appointed to the Constituent Assembly convened by Sultan Muhammad Shamsuddeen III to draft the country's first written constitution.[7] He subsequently held various posts in the government, such as the Chief Officer of Customs, head of the Maldivian Post Office, and Minister of Trade, Minister of Finance (1942–1952),[8] Mahkamat Al-Kharijiyya (Ministry of Foreign Affairs; 1944-1953),[9] and was also a member of the First Maldivian Parliament.[1]
Revolution
editIn a report by Mihaaru, it was revealed that Ibrahim Zaki, Mohamed Zaki and Ibrahim Nasir was the one staging the revolution and invited VP Ibrahim Muhammad Didi who then agreed to joined.[10][11] Ibrahim Didi joined due to his distaste of Amin's handling of state funds.[10] On the day of the revolution, he locked the door of the wireless office, announced the people they wanted to arrest, all of them being close associates of Amin.[10] A special assembly was called and a no confidence vote was brought up against Amin Didi, which temporarily handed all powers to Ibrahim Didi.[10] Amin, in Sri Lanka receiving medical treatment at the time didn't know what happened until he received a letter from Ibrahim Didi informing him about what happened but didn't tell him about his removal of power and Amin arrived by flight to RAF Gan and headed to Malé where Ibrahim Didi and Faamludheyri Kilegefaanu took him to Dhoonidhoo where he ordered the Army to beat Amin.[11] He later was taken to Vihamanaafushi where he died from health complications.[10]
Investigation on Amin's death
editThe Office of Ombudsperson for Transitional Justice accepted a case lodged with the office seeking justice for the death of Mohamed Amin Didi, which was submitted by the then Central Maafannu MP, Ibrahim Rasheed, in September 2021.[12][13]
Rasheed said the case involves loss of fundamental human rights due to systemic abuse by state institutions. He said it needs to be made clearer how the state treated Amin.[13] He has also requested to overturn Amin's conviction as a traitor.[13]
Ameen served as President of Maldives for eight months – between January 1953 and August 1953. He was removed from power and banished to Vihamanaafushi Island – now Kurumba Island Resort – where he died in January 1954.[14]
The Office of Ombudsperson for Transitional Justice was mandated with identifying and investigating systemic human rights violations by state institutions.[14] However, the office has since expired in 19 November 2023 and faced multiple allegations of investigations not being investigated properly.[15][16]
Family
editAmin Didi had one daughter, Annabeela Ameena Mohamed Amin.[17] His grandson Ameen Faisal was the Minister of Defence and National Security of Maldives. His other grandchildren are Ibrahim Faisal, Farahanaz Faisal and Aishath Shuweykar.[17] His mother's name was Aishath Didi his father's name was Ahmed Dhoshimeynaa Kileygefaanu.
Genealogy
edit| Ibrahim Dhoshimeynaa Kilege Faan | Mariyam Didi | Roanuge' Ibrahim Didi | Galolhugey Amina Didi | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ahmed Dhoshimeynaa Kilege Faan | Roanuge' Aishaa Didi | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mohamed Amin Didi | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
References
edit- ^ a b c d e "Al Ameer Mohamed Amin - The President's Office". The President's Office. Archived from the original on 10 November 2023. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
- ^ "Political Parties - Beginning of political parties in the Maldives". Archive - Elections Commission. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
- ^ Xavier Romero-Frias, The Maldive Islanders, A Study of the Popular Culture of an Ancient Ocean Kingdom. Barcelona 1999, ISBN 84-7254-801-5
- ^ Masters, Tom (2009). Maldives. Lonely Planet. p. 21. ISBN 978-1741790139. Retrieved May 9, 2015.
- ^ "Prominent Alumni Aligarh Muslim University" (PDF). Aligarh Muslim University. Archived (PDF) from the original on 10 November 2023. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
- ^ Bosley, Daniel. "Ladies and Gentlemen…". Two Thousand Isles. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
- ^ Zahir, Azim (2018). Reformist Islam and the Rise of a Political Third Model in the Maldives: Elite Discourses and Societal Viewpoints (PDF) (PhD thesis). University of Western Australia.
- ^ "Ministry of Finance". Ministry of Finance. Archived from the original on 10 November 2023. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
- ^ "Former Ministers". Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
- ^ a b c d e Hamdhoon, Mohamed (16 October 2020). "އިބްރާހިމް ދީދީ: ބާރުވެރިކަން، އިންގިލާބު އަދި އަރުވާލުން!" [Ibrahim Didi: Power, Revolution and Exile!]. Mihaaru. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
- ^ a b "Killed, exiled or deposed". Maldives Independent. 15 November 2015. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
- ^ "Transitional Justice Office to probe President Ameen's death". Sun. 19 June 2022. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
- ^ a b c "MP seeks justice for President Ameen's death through Transitional Justice Office". Sun. 12 September 2021. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
- ^ a b Ibrahim, Nafaahath (19 June 2022). "Chief Ombudsperson: Investigation into former President Ameen Didi's death ongoing". Sun. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
- ^ Rehan, Mohamed (14 November 2023). "Transitional Justice Ombudsperson resigns, posing multiple allegations". The Edition. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
- ^ Rehan, Mohamed (18 November 2023). "Ombudsperson's Office ordered document handover to Finance Ministry". The Edition. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
The Ombudsperson's Office of Transitional Justice has been ordered to handover its documents to Ministry of Finance following expiry of the office's legal duration.
- ^ a b Zalif, Zunana (6 May 2020). "Late president Amin Didi's only daughter and last surviving child passes away at 85". Raajje TV. Retrieved 10 May 2024.