Police seek PG advice on MP Falaah’s remarks on journalists

The Maldives Police Service has sought legal advice from the Prosecutor General’s Office (PGO) over remarks made in parliament by Parliamentary Majority Leader and Inguraidhoo MP Ibrahim Falaah, who called for “impalement” of journalists.

Falaah made the statement during Wednesday’s parliamentary debate on a bill that would establish a government-controlled media commission with powers to impose fines and restrictions on media outlets and journalists.

The Maldives Journalists Association (MJA) condemned Falaah’s remarks and submitted a request to the police to investigate the matter.

Police said in a statement on Friday that they had referred the issue to the PGO for legal guidance but did not provide further details.

During the debate, Falaah referred to a video posted on social media by an unknown account and said he had suffered humiliation due to defamatory reports.

“I too have suffered a lot of humiliation because of various magazines written unfairly by those working in the media. I have been made a homosexual,” Falaah said.

“Working at this level, the media should not be taken to jail, but impaled, directly impaled. Those who work that way,” he added.

The MJA, in its statement, urged the ruling Progressive National Congress (PNC) to take disciplinary action against Falaah and called on him to issue a public apology.