Maldives Archives - Page 2 of 6 - Committee to Protect Journalists

President Yameen, center, surrounded by his body guards in the capital, Malé, in February 2018. The president was criticized today for comments he made about missing Maldives journalist Rilwan. (AP/Mohamed Sharuhaan/File)

Maldives president’s off-hand comment on missing journalist Rilwan highlights need for fresh investigation

August 7, 2018 5:35 PM EDT

Four years to the day that Ahmed Rilwan Abdulla was last seen by his family, President Abdulla Yameen Abdulla Gayoom declared the Maldives journalist dead.

Ahmed Rilwan Abdulla, pictured with his mother Aminath Easa, went missing on August 8, 2014. (Ya'sha Adnan)

Maldives acquits two men accused of abducting missing reporter Rilwan

August 3, 2018 1:38 PM EDT

New York, August 3, 2018–A Maldives criminal court yesterday acquitted two men accused of abducting Ahmed Rilwan Abdulla, a reporter for the news website Minivan News, who has been missing since August 2014, according to news reports. The court found Alif Rauf and Mohamed Nooradeen not guilty of forcing Rilwan into a car at knife-point,…

Maldivian police pictured at a protest in the capital, Malé, on March 2. Three Raajje TV journalists are detained over their coverage of anti-government protests held on March 16. (AFP/Ahmed Shurau)

In Maldives, at least three journalists detained over protest coverage

March 16, 2018 4:47 PM EDT

New York, March 16, 2018–The Committee to Protect Journalists called on Maldivian authorities to immediately release three Raajje TV journalists who, according to their pro-opposition station, were detained today over their coverage of anti-government protests in the capital, Malé.

A view of the island of Male, the capital of the Maldives in August 2016. Amid political turmoil in the Maldives, the press has come under attack. (AFP/Ishara Kodikara)

Amid political turmoil in Maldives, press comes under attack

February 5, 2018 6:32 PM EST

New York, February 5, 2018–The Committee to Protect Journalists today called on Maldivian authorities to stop threatening and harassing news outlets and allow them to operate freely. An opposition-aligned TV station and independent news website have come under threat of closure and cyberattack, respectively, amid an escalating political crisis.

Supporters donate money to Maldives broadcaster Raajje TV, which has been subject to large fines for alleged defamation in relation to its critical reporting. (Raajje TV/Mohamed Sharuhaan)

Maldives repeatedly slaps Raajje TV with huge fines under defamation law

October 24, 2017 4:00 PM EDT

One of the largest TV stations in the Maldives, Raajje TV, says authorities are using newly recriminalized defamation law to try to shut it down by levying exorbitant fines.

A screen shot from Raajje TV's Twitter account shows police arresting a journalist in Male, July 26, 2017.

Journalists detained covering Maldives protest

July 27, 2017 4:45 PM EDT

New York, July 27, 2017–Police in the Maldives should cease detaining journalists covering events of significant public interest, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Police yesterday briefly detained seven journalists from the private television channels Sangu TV and Raajje TV as they covered an opposition party protest, according to police and media reports.

A Sri Lankan woman in Colombo points to a photo of murdered Maldivian blogger Yameen Rasheed from his blog, April 23, 2017. (AP/Eranga Jayawardena)

Blogger stabbed to death in Maldives

April 24, 2017 1:26 PM EDT

New York, April 24, 2017–Authorities in the Maldives should swiftly identify and bring to justice those responsible for the murder of blogger Yameen Rasheed, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Rasheed died after he was found with multiple stab wounds in the stairway of his apartment building yesterday, according to media reports.

CPJ calls on Maldives to drop case against Raajje TV journalist

April 18, 2017 4:34 PM EDT

New York, April 18, 2017–The Committee to Protect Journalists today called on the Maldives’ prosecutor general to drop the legal case against Raajje TV journalist Mohamed Wisam, who was acquitted last month of obstructing police at an anti-government protest in 2015. The prosecutor general lodged an appeal with the high court on April 5.

Maldives journalists face prison

January 20, 2017 4:18 PM EST

New York, January 20, 2017–Authorities in the Maldives should cease pursuing all criminal charges against journalists from Raajje TV, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. A court is expected to sentence Raajje TV journalists Mohamed Wisam and Leevaan Ali Nasir on January 24, according to press reports. Both intend to appeal “the baseless charges,”…

Maldivian President Yameen Abdul Gayoom (left) arrives in Sri Lanka in this January 12, 2014, file photo. Police raided the office of the Maldives Independent on September 7 after its editor was interviewed in an Al-Jazeera documentary alleging corruption and abuse of power under Gayoom's government, allegations his government has denied.

Police raid newspaper after critical documentary airs in Maldives

September 9, 2016 1:47 PM EDT

Bangkok, September 9, 2016 – Authorities in the Maldives should cease harassing the Maldives Independent, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Police raided the daily newspaper’s office hours after the Qatari broadcaster Al-Jazeera aired a documentary produced by the paper’s former editor alleging high-level corruption in the Maldives.