HRCM to investigate attacks on journalists

Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (HRCM) said they will investigate the attacks on journalists detained from the event held in Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) headquarters on July 26th.

The Commission passed the decision to review the case, after RaajjeTV filed case with the agency, following the detention and attacks on journalists and equipment by the Police.

The case was sent in by RaajjeTV COO Hussain Fiyaz Moosa on 30th July. The request sent in by the Commission said that they had passed to review the case where journalists from the station and other stations were arrested on 26th July, in spite of journalists wearing the passes given by Maldives Broadcasting Commission. It also noted that journalists had been abused while under Police custody and equipment belonging to stations were damaged.

The case will be reviewed under the ‘Anti-Torture Law 2013’.

After their detention, Police had informed the journalists that they were detained for obstruction.

However, Police had arrested journalist Murshidh Abdul Hakeem while on camera. Images show that Police had accosted Murshid while he was inside of MDP headquarters, ordered him to cease the live coverage and pushed him back. Videos of an officer hitting Murshid had surfaced. He had sought treatment in Sri Lanka for the injuries.

In addition to Murshid, journalist Mohamed Wisam and cameraman Ahmed Mamdhooh were arrested as well. A total of seven journalists were detained that night but released later on.

RaajjeTV had condemned the actions of Police that night.