Following Reporters Without Borders (RSF)'s call to Maldives' presidential candidates, Joint Opposition's candidate Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has pledged to repeal the Anti-defamation Act, and open investigations into the disappearance of journalist Ahmed Rilwan and the murder of blogger Yameen Rasheed.

RSF had, earlier this week, called on presidential candidates incumbent President Abdulla Yameen and Solih to 'give three pledges: repeal the Anti-Defamation Act, prosecute those responsible for violence against journalists, revive the investigations about Ahmed Rilwan and Yameen Rasheed'.

In a tweet sent out via his official account on Saturday, Solih said that he pledges to open investigations into journalist Ahmed Rilwan’s disappearance, Yameen Rasheed’s murder, repeal the anti-defamation act and ensure press freedom'.

The opposition parties' candidate had previously expressed concern over Rilwan's disappearance, saying that 'a transparent investigation into Rilwan's disappearance must be conducted', and has always been vocal against the authorities' various restrictions on journalists.

While President Yameen is yet to make any such pledges, he currently has a case at the Maldives Broadcasting Commission (MBC) and Civil Court, seeking to raise charges against independent broadcaster RaajjeTV for airing a press conference by the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP). In addition, while RaajjeTV has been fined a total of MVR 3.7 million under the Anti-Defamation Act, MVR 3.5 million was allegedly for defaming Yameen.

RSF had, in the statement issued on Wednesday, also asked the candidates to give a formal pledge to respect press freedom.

Maldives is ranked 120th out of 180 countries in RSF's 2018 World Press Freedom Index.