Hope For Women Co-Founder Raashidha Yoosuf Says Single Motherhood Should Not Exist In Muslim Society

Co-founder of Hope for Women, Raashidha Yoosuf, has said that a 100 percent Muslim nation such as the Maldives should not have single mothers, adding that she believes the existence of single mothers in society is the result of what she described as irresponsible male guardians. Raashidha has also served in ministerial positions in the 90s and early 2000s.

In a post on Facebook, Raashidha argued that women and children are under the guardianship of male relatives who are religiously obliged to provide protection and basic support. She noted that courts carry out their responsibilities in matters of property distribution, where the courts identify receipients and ensure they receive their due. However, she said, there is no one that ensures that these men carry out their religious responsibilities towards their wards.

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She added that while state assistance for vulnerable mothers and children is a separate matter, greater attention should be placed on ensuring fathers fulfil their obligations.

Referring to Father’s Day, she noted that children without fathers, or those whose fathers are deceased or absent, may experience emotional difficulty during such occasions.

“As Fathers’ Day celebrations come to a close, it is certain that children who cannot see their fathers, children whose fathers have passed away, and children who do not receive a father’s care will also be feeling a lot of emotions,” she wrote.

“It was these irresponsible guardians who introduced single mothers to this society,” she added.

According to the National Social Protection Agency (NSPA), the government spent MVR 59.77 million last year under its single-parent welfare programme, supporting 5,010 parents and 2,048 children. This figure reflects spending prior to an increase in welfare allocations that came into effect in January 2026.

Eligible single parents registered in the programme previously received a monthly allowance of MVR 1,000 per child (under 18), up to a maximum of MVR 10,000. An amendment introduced in December 2025, effective from January 2026, raised the benefit to MVR 3,000 per child for up to four children, with the total capped at MVR 12,000.

Raashidha Yoosuf previously served in ministerial roles between 1993 and 2002, holding portfolios related to women’s development, youth, and social welfare, including positions as Minister of Youth, Women’s Affairs and Sports, Minister of Women’s Affairs and Social Welfare, and Minister of Women’s Affairs and Social Security.