MMC says 'defamation letters' are void but investigation may continue

The Maldives Media Council (MMC) has stated that the letters it sent to media outlets informing of cases filed against them and providing a seven-day window to respond, allegedly filed by the President’s Office, are void.

The MMC reportedly made this decision following the President’s Office refutation of having filed any claims against media outlets.

After reports of defamation allegations raised on behalf of First Lady Fathimath Ibrahim surfaced, spokesperson at the President’s Office Ibrahim Muaz Ali said that no such claims have been made and that the office has informed the MMC of this.

However, the MMC maintained that given the President’s Office decision to not pursue said allegations, the initial seven-day period is void, insisting that it would still investigate the matter.

The MMC said that the case has now been filed with an investigative committee, which would make its decision to whether or not to probe the allegations by Tuesday.

Six journalists at RaajjeTV were served with letters on Sunday naming reports they had written.

The letters individually make defamation allegations against the station’s journalists Ali Yoosuf, Ahmed Muhsin, Mohamed Fazeen, Azmoon Ahmed, Mohamed Wisam and Abdulla Naseer Ibrahim; with two cases filed against Azmoon and Fazeen.

Other media organization’s such as ‘Mihaaru’ and ‘VFP’ had received similar letters as well.

The MMC had faced criticism for its decision, with some journalists demanding the resignation of the council’s chair, Mueed Hassan, describing him a rubber-stamp of the government.