Wave of Violence against Journalists in the Maldives

July 16, 2012

Wave of Violence against Journalists in the Maldives

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) is informed by affiliates and partners of an alarming rise in incidents of violence against journalists in the Maldives.

The Maldives Journalists’ Association, an IFJ-affiliate, has strongly condemned the tendency for police and party activists to target journalists as political agitations escalate in the Indian Ocean republic.

On June 9, two reporters of the Raajje TV channel were taken into custody while covering a demonstration by the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP). Police claim that the arrests were made because the newsmen were obstructing them in their duty. But Raajje TV management has said that the journalists were arrested while filming the police physically assaulting a demonstrator.

The MJA also reports that three journalists were attacked on July 11 while covering an MDP protest calling for early elections in the country. Murshid Abdul Hakeem, a reporter with the Sun Online news service received head injuries after being hit by a battery thrown by the MDP protesters.
During the course of the same demonstration, Raajje TV cameraman Mohamed Shanoon and Minivan Daily reporter Ahmed Haisan were attacked by riot police.

“We join the MJA in calling for more respect for media persons doing their duty, from both the police authorities and political party activists”, said the IFJ Asia-Pacific.

“The media cannot serve the public good while they are in fear of being the target of violence or intimidation”.

The IFJ represents more than 600,000 journalists in 131 countries

Find the IFJ on Twitter: @ifjasiapacific

Find the IFJ on Facebook: www.facebook.com/IFJAsiaPacific

ENDS

© Scoop Media