Human rights defenders in the Maldives face tremendous threats to their lives, says Shahindha Ismail, managing director of the Maldives Democracy Network (MDN).

Shahindha, who was a panelist at a discussion held in capital city Malé over writer and activist Yameen Rasheed’s murder, said that most of said threats are public.

Shahindha highlighted the threats that both Yameen and abducted journalist Ahmed Rilwan had received and called on authorities to take such matters more seriously.

The MDN executive, who had also served as chair of the now defunct Police Integrity Commission, further described such open threats to encourage violence in society.

As such, Shahindha strongly noted how if such public threats are not dealt with as serious crimes, the likelihood of them recurring increases.