Maldives
-
23
Apr
2017
Yameen Rasheed
Yameen Rasheed, 29, was a prominent blogger and social media activist advocating for rule of law, human rights and social justice in the Maldives. He was found with multiple stab wounds in the stairway of his apartment building at 3am on Sunday, April 23, and was taken to hospital where he died soon after due to excessive bleeding. Reports indicate he had 16 stab wounds on his body, including 14 on the chest, one on the neck and one on the head. Rasheed was an outspoken critic of the government and religious intolerance in the Maldives, popularly known for his satirical English blog, “The Daily Panic”.
-
6
Apr
2017
Raajje TV
The Maldives Broadcasting Commission (MBC) slapped the opposition-aligned TV channel with a fine of MVR 1 m (US$ 64,850) for content that it deemed defamed President Abdulla Yameen. The content in question is a speech by a speaker at a rally held by Maldivian United Opposition on October 26, 2016 which the TV had broadcast live. The letter sent to the channel signed by the MBC said that Raajje TV had violated clause 10 subsection (a) (1) and (2) of the Anti-Defamation and Freedom of Expression Act, passed in August, 2016. The MBC said that due to the broadcast of the content, Raajje TV had created doubt amongst members of the public over the roles and responsibility of the President and damaged his reputation and dignity. The channel had been ordered to pay the fine within a period of 30-days. According to the controversial Anti-Defamation Act, the channel cannot even appeal the decision in court without paying the fine. If the fine is not paid, the MBC can suspend or cancel Raajje TV’s license.
-
2
Mar
2017
Raajje TV
Raajje Television reported death threats against its staff to the Maldives Police Service (MPS) on Thursday, March 2 after the station received phone calls threatening to kill journalists on the Faafu Atoll. The threat was received after the station dispatched a crew to Faafu atoll ahead of a state visit to the Maldives by the King of Saudi Arabia, who is expected to sign a controversial USD10 billion deal to develop the atoll. The opposition-aligned Raajje TV tweeted: “RaajjeTV journalists receive death threats – ‘Do not send your reporters to Faafu Atoll, we will kill them!’”