Journalists' association seeks police probe into harassment over Eagle Hills media trip

The Maldives Journalists Association (MJA) has requested a police investigation into alleged online harassment and threats against journalists who travelled to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on a media visit organised by Eagle Hills, the developer of the Maldives Waterfront and Marina project in Ras Malé.

The association has also called on police to ensure the safety of the journalists, who it says have been targeted through social media posts following their participation in the visit.

In a letter addressed to Commissioner of Police Ahmed Mohamed, the MJA expressed concern over what it described as harassment directed at journalists who participated in the Eagle Hills-organised trip to report on projects undertaken by the company in the UAE.

According to the association, photographs and videos of the journalists have been circulated on social media platforms alongside comments intended to provoke hostility towards them.

The MJA said some posts had described the journalists as "traitors" and "Zionists", accompanied by insults and harassment.

The association said journalists were carrying out their professional responsibilities in accordance with the editorial policies and standards of their respective media organisations.

It maintained that targeting individual journalists for performing their duties was unacceptable.

In its letter, the MJA said the online attacks had created concerns about the safety of the journalists and their families.

The association also noted that harassment of journalists through social media had increased before the UAE visit.

It called on police to treat the matter as urgent and launch an investigation to identify those responsible for the alleged harassment and attempts to damage the journalists' reputations.

The MJA also requested an assessment of the security risks facing the affected journalists and immediate measures to ensure their protection.

The association urged police to provide appropriate security assistance to journalists and their families where necessary.

MJA President Naif Ahmed condemned the harassment and called on the relevant authorities to take action.

"No journalist or their family should face threats because they are carrying out their work and responsibilities. Publishing journalists' photographs, portraying them as traitors to the country and conducting organised campaigns to damage their reputations is a dangerous attack on press freedom," Naif said.

He said disagreements over news coverage should not result in harassment or intimidation of journalists.

"Although people may disagree with news reports and criticism, those disagreements must not turn into harassment and threats against journalists," he said.

Naif urged police to prioritise the case, hold those responsible accountable and ensure the safety of the journalists involved.

Alongside its request for a police investigation, the MJA called on media organisations and editorial leaders in the Maldives to distinguish sponsored content from independent news reporting.

The association warned that commercial arrangements should not undermine public trust in journalism or expose journalists to risks.

It urged media organisations to maintain transparency in their reporting and uphold editorial standards when producing content linked to commercial agreements.

The MJA said it would continue working to protect the rights and safety of media professionals.

It also appealed to the public to refrain from actions that could endanger journalists while they carry out their professional duties.