Mohamed Latheef
Mohamed Latheef | |
|---|---|
މުޙައްމަދު ލަތީފް | |
Mohamed Latheef in Colombo, c. 2021 | |
| Born | 1951 |
| Died | 3 July 2022 (aged 70) |
| Alma mater | Trinity College, Kandy; Royal College, Colombo; American University of Beirut (political science studies) |
| Occupations | Democracy campaigner; politician; human rights advocate; hotelier |
| Years active | 1970s–2022 |
| Known for | Co-founding the Maldivian Democratic Party; founding Secretary-General of Maldives Association of Tourism Industry (MATI) (1982); civil-society leadership (Human Rights Ambassador; co-chair, South Asians for Human Rights (SAHR); chair, Raajje Foundation) |
| Office | Member of the People's Majlis (elected 1989), Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll |
| Political party | Maldivian Democratic Party |
| Spouse | Wafiyya Najeeb |
| Children | Jennifer Latheef; Ahmed Latheef; Marnie Latheef |
Mohamed Latheef (Dhivehi: މުޙައްމަދު ލަތީފް; 1951 – 3 July 2022), also known as "Gogo" Latheef, was a Maldivian democracy campaigner, politician, and human rights advocate, widely regarded as one of the principal architects of modern democracy in the Maldives. He co-founded the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) in exile in 2003 and led the process of drafting its founding manifesto and the Colombo Declaration. He served as a member of the People's Majlis for Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll (elected 1989) and later as the Maldives’ Human Rights Ambassador in President Mohamed Nasheed’s administration. Beyond politics, he spearheaded the establishment of the Maldives Association of Tourism Industry (MATI) and served as its first Secretary-General (1982), and later as vice-president of the Maldives National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MNCCI) in 2002.