Will continue to demand justice for Rilwan: CIVICUS

Global civil society alliance, CIVICUS, has said it will continue to demand justice for Ahmed Rilwan and other journalists who have faced threats and attacks for undertaking their crucial work.

In a press release on Thursday, CIVICUS expressed disappointment over the acquittal of two suspects who were allegedly behind the abduction of Rilwan, who has been missing since August 2014.

Alif Rauf and Mohamed Nooradeen were accused of forcing Rilwan into a car at knife-point outside his apartment building in hulhumale’ on 8 August 2014. Both were arrested shortly after his disappearance but remained free for the duration of the trial, noted CIVICUS.

Josef Benedict, CIVICUS Civic Space Research officer said: “This acquittal highlights the culture of impunity that exists in The Maldives today and sends a chilling message to Maldivian media workers seeking to hold government accountable.” “The weak police investigation into Rilwan’s case and concerns about the credibility of the trial has raised serious questions about the willingness of the state to bring the perpetrators to justice,” said Benedict.

In the press release, the civil society alliance also said that, since February 2018, media workers have been targeted as part of nationwide crackdown and that at least a dozen journalists have been injured while covering protests, with reporters being arrested and ill-treated, adding that there has been no independent investigation into the violations.

“The authorities must end all forms of harassment against journalists and protect the rights of all journalists and media houses by impartially investigating any allegation of harassment or attack with a view to bringing those responsible to justice.”

At the end, it said that CIVICUS Monitor, an online tool that tracks threats to civil society in all countries, has rated the space for civil society in Maldives as ‘Obstructed’.