Court says "no basis" to nullify 2018 Broadcom order, against ‘promoting convicts’

Civil Court has said that there is no basis to nullify a 2018 circular issued by the Maldives Broadcasting Commission (Broadcom), warning against broadcasting interviews and statements of convicts.

The court issued its verdict in the case filed by private broadcaster RaajjeTV on Sunday, challenging Broadcom’s decision to penalize media organizations that air interviews of convicts.

It said that there is no basis to nullify the circular issued during President Abdulla Yameen’s administration.

RaajjeTV’s case against Broadcom noted the absence of any law that criminalizes broadcasting interviews or statements from inmates, and accused the seven-member commission of misusing its powers and undermining press freedom to do the government’s bidding

RaajjeTV’s then chief operating officer Hussain Fiyaz Moosa had described the circular as “the worst attack on media in recent history.”

In addition to the circular, officers of the Maldives Police Service in plainclothes had gone to the station’s main office and issued a verbal warning against broadcasting interviews and statements of convicts, prior to Broadcom issuing the circular.

During the Yameen administration, MBC had fined RaajjeTV under the controversial 2016 anti-defamation law four times; a total of MVR 3.7 million.