Women of Mulaku island of Meemu atoll have contributed to the fund box opened by privately-run television station RaajjeTV following the exorbitant MVR two million fine imposed on it by the Maldives Broadcasting Commission (MBC) under the controversial Anti-Defamation bill passed in 2016.

A team of women from the island had arrived at the station’s office on Wednesday afternoon, with ceremonial food and had made the contribution to RaajjeTV’s “Aburufulhu fund” after having been fine the maximum amount allowed under the defamation law, for airing a speech by an opposition MP.

At a special ceremony held to welcome the team from Mulaku held in RaajjeTV’s office, the station’s Chief Operating Officer (COO) Hussain Fiyaz Moosa had expressed gratitude on behalf of the staff and management, to the immense support from Mulaku island, for the generous contribution and for the feast of ceremonial food.

Also speaking at the ceremony, Member of Parliament for Mulaku constituency, Ibrahim Naseer stated that this visit is a clear indication that women of Mulaku will always stand in solidarity with RaajjeTV.

Highlighting that RaajjeTV is the first 24-hour broadcaster in the Maldives, Naseer expressed his gratitude to the tireless work by staff of RaajjeTV to bring fresh news bulletins to the people.

COO Fiyaz had gone on to thanks all of the citizens from outlying atolls, as well as the ones living abroad for their generous contributions to the station in order to help pay off the hefty fine.

RaajjeTV was fined by an exorbitant MVR two million (USD 130,000) on 08th August, the maximum amount allowed under the defamation bill, for broadcasting a live interview which the government-controlled MBC alleged to contain content that defames incumbent President Abdulla Yameen.