Broadcom refuses to review ban on RaajjeTV's "sorcery" exposé

The Maldives Broadcasting Commission (Broadcom) has refused to review the government’s ban on privately run broadcaster Raajje Television’s documentary regarding a self-confessed sorcerer hired by then-President Abdulla Yameen.

The documentary "Sihuruge Verikan" was aired in 2016, and featured an exclusive interview with the self-proclaimed sorcerer Dr. Asela Wickramasinghe, who was to have seen to have close contacts with the former president.

Broadcom banned the documentary, after a government institution claimed that it contained content that could cause adverse impacts on the society’s beliefs as well as Islamic tenets, hinder Islamic unity and the overall peace of the nation, without even investigating the matter. While a penalty was imposed over these claims, Broadcom had failed to clarify the issues with it despite RaajjeTV's repeated requests.

A team from RaajjeTV had traveled to Sri Lanka to interview Asela for the documentary, which contained text messages, photos as well as audio conversations between him and ex-president Yameen, that were secretly recorded and revealed “plans” to “eliminate” current Speaker and Former President Mohamed Nasheed from the 2013 presidential election.

In a letter requesting to review the ban, RaajjeTV stressed that the action taken against the station was against procedures with the aim to make the station suffer. The station further asserted that it has always complied with the mandate set by Broadcom as well as under article 28 of the Maldives constitution which states that “everyone has the right to freedom of the press, and media other means of communication, including the right to espouse, disseminate and publish news, information, views and ideas. No person shall be compelled to disclose the source of any information that is espoused, disseminated or published by that person.”

RaajjeTV further asserted that the exposé was based on investigative journalism and refuted claims that it contains content that “hinder Islamic unity and religious tenets”. It was further highlighted that it merely revolved around facts, and was in no way biased. The station noted that local media outlets continue to publish or air content related to sorcery, adding that this proves that the action taken against it was politically motivated. RaajjeTV stressed that members of the broadcasting commission- who resigned recently or were removed- had admitted to targeting the station during their time at the commission.

Furthermore, RaajjeTV asked the broadcasting regulator to review the case in light of all this.

Responding to the letter, Broadcom said that it cannot review the ban as the station had failed to submit a complaint within the required time. Noting that reviewing the case will be against procedures, Broadcom said that its members had decided that there is no basis to do so.

During the administration of ex-president Yameen, several actions had been taken against RaajjeTV by Broadcom including multiple fines amounting to MVR 3.7 million under the Anti-Defamation and Freedom of Speech Act introduced in 2016. Several members of his government, as well as then president of Broadcom have since said that the purpose of this law was to target RaajjeTV.