Maldives

The IFJ demands immediate withdrawal of the “Defamation and Freedom of Expression Act” and urges the Maldivian government to review it with all stakeholders to ensure it meets international standards.

The threatening calls against the Maldivian news website Addu Live, which the site alleges come from acquitted suspects from the criminal courts, often demand the outlet take down reports on corruption of judges and articles critical of the government.

The IFJ is critical of the Maldivian police for the delay in properly investigating the case and bringing those responsible to justice. Recent action taken by police against Rilwan’s family and colleagues is also concerning.

The Maldivian media have faced a number of challenges from the government in recent months and the Public Service Media Bill is another attempt by the Yameen government to control critics.

This statement was originally published on ifj.org on 20 February 2015. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and the Maldives Journalist Association (MJA) strongly criticize the death threats made to a senior journalist with Raajje TV of the Maldives. The IFJ and MJA said threats and intimidation against journalists are becoming tools to silence journalists […]

An independent investigation commissioned by the Maldives Democracy Network (MDN) implicated radicalised gangs in the disappearance of journalist Ahmed Rilwan Abdulla.

According to Minivan News, a machete knife was lodged into the door of their office in the Maldives, shortly after a notorious gangster removed a CCTV camera from outside the building.

“After putting together his last known movements and establishing clearly that this is a case of abduction, the trail has gone cold. No new evidence, no one claiming responsibility for his disappearance,” an editor told CPJ about missing Minivan News reporter Ahmed Rilwan Abdulla.

The IFJ and its affiliate the Maldives Journalists Association call on the Maldives government to speed up investigation to clarify whereabouts of journalist Ahmed Rilwan Adbulla, who is missing since 8 August 2014.

Against a backdrop of violence between rival criminal gangs, 15 Maldivian journalists received an anonymous text threatening them about their coverage of the gangs.

The Maldives’ Right to Information Act is aimed at enhancing the ability for the public and media to access information and will see the president appoint a Commissioner of Information to oversee information officers in every government office.

Opposition television station Raajje TV is continuing to face persecution in the Maldives; in the latest development, the Supreme Court has instructed police to investigate a supposedly “offensive” report about the judicial system that the station recently broadcast.

Authorities in the Maldives are urged to conduct a thorough and efficient investigation into an arson attack on the offices of pro-opposition news channel Raajje TV.

Authorities in the Maldives are urged to respect the right of the media to report freely and fairly on ongoing political developments in the country.

A new law empowers the Maldives Parliament to summon anyone to “give witness or to hand over any information” of interest; this could undermine the constitutional protection journalists currently enjoy.

Two journalists had corrosive industrial fluid thrown at them, while another journalist was hit on the head with an iron rod on 22 February. The attacks occurred during a particularly contentious political time for the Maldives.