Jailed Member of Parliament for Dhiggaru constituency Ahmed Faris Maumoon has donated to the fund opened by privately run news channel Raajje Television following the hefty fine slapped on the station by Maldives Broadcasting Commission (MBC).

The MP’s lawyer, Moosa Siraj had arrived at the station’s head office to drop in the donation on his client’s behalf as the MP currently remains behind bars under identity fraud charges.

Siraj, speaking to RaajjeTV said that his client believes one of the vital principles of a democracy is the freedom of expression and that where there is no freedom of expression, there will not be room for democracy.

“MP Faris believes that the biggest pillar of democracy is the freedom of expression. He has donated to the station because he refuses to bow down to the government’s oppression of the freedom of expression” said Siraj.

Broadcom issued a MVR two million fine on RaajjeTV on Wednesday, the maximum fine allowed under the defamation act, following which the station had re-opened it’s ‘Aburufulhu fund’ on Friday. The fund box was opened by opposition coalition’s Presidential candidate Ibrahim Mohamed Solih outside the station.

The station has been receiving numerous contributions by supporters since Friday.