A letter the broadcasting commission sent to the security forces, requesting them to shutdown RaajjeTV during the state of emergency in February, has been leaked.

The letter, sent on February 7, was signed by commission member Ahmed Sofwan and addressed to defense minister Adam Shareef Umar.

It requested the defense ministry to stop the private TV station’s live coverage of the state of emergency, as it allegedly undermined public peace and threatened national security by instilling fear in viewers.

The letter was sent via the Government E-Letter Management System (GEMS).

After receiving repeated warnings from the broadcasting commission and the government during the state of emergency, RaajjeTV temporarily halted its broadcast from February 8 to 11.

Mohamed Aslam, who was then deputy commissioner, reportedly walked out of the commission meeting held regarding the letter after disagreeing with the decision. Mohamed Shaheeb, the commission leader, was absent from the meeting and the decision to send the letter was approved with member Sofwan presiding.

It is noteworthy that the defense force did not act upon the request.

The broadcasting commission has also repeatedly fined the TV station, the total amounting to millions of Rufiyaa. It had also fined RaajjeTV for temporarily halting its broadcast.