Former President Mohamed Nasheed has said that press freedom must be guaranteed, after RaajjeTV stopped its regular broadcast following continued threats to the station and its staff.
In a tweet, Nasheed said President Abdulla Yameen has gone after the opposition, judiciary, parliament, and now the media, under the guise of an emergency.
Nasheed noted that RaajjeTV was forced to stop its broadcast following multiple threats and intimidation from security services.
Under the guise of an emergency, Pres Yameen has gone after the opposition, judiciary, parliament, and now the media. @Raajje_tv stops broadcast following multiple threats, & intimidation from the security services. Press freedom must be guaranteed for all.
— Mohamed Nasheed (@MohamedNasheed) February 8, 2018
In a statement published on Thursday, the opposition-aligned TV station said it has received threats, including calls for violence against its staff and to burn down the station by a mob gathered in front of RaajjeTV.
This was backed up by public appeals to the broadcast regulator, police, and military by ruling party lawmakers and senior government officials to shut down RaajjeTV, the most viewed TV channel in the country.
In spite of serious threats and intimidation, which escalated after the government’s declaration of a state of emergency, the police service has stopped protecting RaajjeTV.
