Maldives Media Council (MMC) has launched an investigation into claims that police officers had obstructed journalists.
MMC announced this via a statement on Saturday, noting that it has received a complaint that officers had obstructed journalists that were on the scene while former Vice President Ahmed Adeeb was presented to a Supreme Court hearing earlier this week.
Noting that it aims to eliminate all such obstructions to journalists from fulfilling their responsibilities and to provide a safe environment for free media, MMC said that officers found guilty will be penalized.
MMC has formed a special committee to investigate the issue.
Journalists in the Maldives faced various threats during former President Abdulla Yameen’s five-year tenure, including arrests and prosecution.
While the Yameen regime believed that journalists “must be contained,” the curernt administration vowed to ensure full press freedom throughout his tenure.
“Having a free press without a government is more important to ensure the rights of the people, than having a government without a free press”President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih
In fact, one of incumbent President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s first tasks in office was the repealing of the draconian anti-defamation law introduced by the previous administration in 2016.
