RaajjeTV asked to respond over live MDP rally broadcast during Ramadan

The Maldives Broadcasting Commission (Broadcom) has instructed privately owned television station RaajjeTV to respond over its live broadcast of a sudden gathering organized by the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) during this year’s Ramadan month. The commission stated that the broadcast is believed to contain content potentially in violation of the Broadcasting Code of Practice.

In a letter addressed to RaajjeTV's Deputy CEO Naazmee Saeed on 12 May 2025, Broadcom stated that upon reviewing the content of MDP’s abrupt gathering broadcast by RaajjeTV at 10pm on 9 March 2025, it is believed to contain some content that violates the Broadcasting Code of Practice, and the commission on April 22 decided to investigate the submitted case.

The letter went on to read that the content is believed to violate the Broadcasting Code of Practice's Second Principle (1) "Maintaining standards of public decency generally accepted by society," Second Principle (2) "Refraining from using language and gestures that do not conform to social standards," and when disclosing information about an event, basing it on a source deemed reliable, Third Principle (1) "Not broadcasting words, images, and sounds that may violate a person's or group's dignity, honor, or respect, or cause humiliation."

In addition to this, Broadcom has included a transcript of the content in the letter.

The Broadcom letter reads that since the content broadcast by RaajjeTV is believed to violate the Broadcasting Code of Practice's Second Principle (1), Second Principle (2), and Third Principle (1), as per Article 8 of the "Complaint Submission and Acceptance System," the station has been given the opportunity to respond in writing by 2pm on May 20.

Further, Broadcom highlighted that if unable to respond within the given period, a reason must be provided to request an extension for the response deadline, and if no written response is submitted to the commission within the referenced period or if no written request for an extension is submitted with a reason, the case will be reviewed and concluded based on the available documents.

Since the current administration came to power, Broadcom has been investigating numerous cases related to RaajjeTV. On May 8, RaajjeTV was summoned to share Broadcom's concerns regarding the live broadcasting of protests as well. While Broadcom has launched an investigation into RaajjeTV for allegedly broadcasting content that compromises the dignity of the First Couple’s child, they are also reviewing the case of the song "Fudhijje, Fundijje".

Broadcom earlier investigated several cases linked to RaajjeTV, on multiple occasions. During former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom’s administration, RaajjeTV was also fined millions.