MP Nizar to contribute to RaajjeTV's efforts to pay defamation fine

MP Ali Nizar, the representative for South-Hithadhoo constituency, has pledged to donate MVR 50,000 to Raajje Television following the MVR 1 million fine imposed on it for defamation.

Nizar said Raajje Television’s work and perseverance is akin to martyrdom and is what has inspired him to make the donation.

The Maldives Broadcasting Commission fined Raajje Television for remarks made about President Abdulla Yameen at an opposition rally broadcast live by the station.

‘So many millions of dollars pumped into the government…all we got was corruption and theft’ the speaker had said.

Raajje Television had recently paid a MVR 200,000 fine, also imposed under the defamation law, for a report it prepared about a gender ministry official influencing an investigation to allegations of rape.

“Punishing this station broadcasting the piece without relevant institutions conducting a transparent investigation- while the victim’s family consistently maintained that the individual has been influencing the case- is unjustly conducive to allowing individuals in power to punish those who are not” Raajje Television’s statement said, criticizing the MBC for the fine.