Media commission orders Channel 13 to halt live protest coverage
The demonstrations are being held by the People's National Front (PNF), led by former President Abdulla Yameen.
The Maldives Media and Broadcasting Commission has ordered Channel 13 to stop broadcasting live footage of nightly protests taking place in Malé.
The demonstrations are being held by the People's National Front (PNF), led by former President Abdulla Yameen.
In a letter sent to the broadcaster, the Commission said it had previously instructed Channel 13 to air the coverage with a one-minute delay because the protests included material that could breach public decency standards.
According to the Commission, the channel continued to transmit footage in real time despite that directive.
The regulator said the broadcasts are now under investigation for possible breaches of ethics rules for broadcasters, media workers and journalists under the Media and Broadcasting Regulation Act.
Pending the outcome of that inquiry, Channel 13 has been ordered to suspend live coverage of the protests until further notice.
Since the release of the Aisha documentary by Adhadhu last month, allegations made in the programme against President Mohamed Muizzu have featured prominently in the protests.
Separately, police searched Adhadhu’s office on Monday night and seized property as part of an investigation linked to the documentary.
The passports of Adhadhu chief executive Hussain Fiyaz Moosa, managing editor Hassan Mohamed and Esha Ashraf have also been withheld for three months.
According to court orders, police suspect the three were involved in producing the documentary and cited intelligence information alleging they intended to leave the Maldives.
The investigation began around one month after the documentary’s release, shortly after President Muizzu was questioned about the allegations during a press conference.
“I request all relevant authorities to prosecute all parties who have spread these lies,” the President said.
