RaajjeTV challenges Broadcom on decision to penalize press over interviews of convicts

Privately-run news station Raajje Television Pvt Ltd (RaajjeTV) has on Wednesday said that they are working to have the Maldives Broadcasting Commission’s decision to penalize media organizations that broadcast interviews of convicts revoked.

RaajjeTV said that it has attempted to clarify more on the circular and has presented its conviction that such content can be broadcast according to local laws, to not avail. Instead, the station said that they were faced with more threats and the officials of the commission claimed that they are well within their rights to penalize such a person.

The station responded to the decision in a statement which said it seems to be a deliberate move to infringe on the freedom to acquire and distribute information and on the freedom of the press, adding that it is aimed at reaping benefits for certain individuals in powerful positions.

The commission’s circular refers to article 62 of the Prisons and Parole Act which states that convicts serving criminal sentences are barred from exercising their political rights and do not have the right to carry out any responsibilities related to their profession.

RaajjeTV said while the circular cites article 62, the details provided in the commission’s document described article 63 of the law. The station said it was shameful that the commission would be negligent enough to make such a mistake, adding that deciding on the matter does not fall within the mandate of the commission.

RaajjeTV further said that such a matter has not even been filed at the commission and that local broadcasting laws allow content described in the commission’s circular to be aired. The station said that the decision further regresses the current withering situation of the Maldivian press.