MMC, MJA urge probe into threats on Dhauru journos
Siyam's warning was followed by warnings from various numbers to Naaif, who wrote the article. Some of the messages issued death threats.
By
Mohamed Muzayyin Nazim
Maldives Media Council (MMC) and Maldives Journalists Association (MJA) have condemned the threats issued to Senior Associate Editor Ahmed Naaif and another senior editor of Dhauru, the sister publication of Atoll Times.
Naaif and a senior editor of the newspaper have both been threatened with death following the publishing of an article titled, ‘Siyam and Hilton: A red warning to investors'. A complaint was lodged with the police on Friday on behalf of Dhauru and Naaif himself. They had received threat messages even after the complaint was filed.
The report is based on the fact that a Singapore arbitration ruling against Sun Travels, owned by Meedhoo MP Ahmed Siyam Mohamed who has formed an alliance with President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih for his re-election bid, remains unenforced for eight years.
MJA condemned the incident and issued a statement on Saturday calling for an investigation at the earliest.
"Ahmed Siyam called up a senior editor of the newspaper and spoke to him on the issue. Ahmed Siyam asked for the article to be taken down immediately saying that he was issuing the final warning," the said.
Siyam's warning was followed by warnings from various numbers to Naaif. Some of the messages issued death threats.
"The organisation believes that issuing death threats to journalists is not a minor issue. The organisation recognises that this warning is a serious and worrisome threat," the MJA said in a statement.
"The organisation is also concerned that a politically influential person has been involved in the case. The organisation demands that the case be investigated at the earliest, those who threatened should be brought to justice and the police should provide the necessary protection to journalists."
The MJA statement further said:
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It is a matter of concern that the police have so far not conducted a successful investigation into any such threats to journalists and have not taken action against those who did it
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The failure to find and punish those who obstruct the work of journalists in various ways is an indirect incentive to those who plan such crimes and gives them encouragement to repeat such acts.
Retweeting the MJA's statement, the MMC also strongly condemned the incident on Sunday.
"Threatening journalists is not acceptable. It is a threat to freedom of expression. We call upon the authorities to conduct a thorough investigation and ensure the safety and security of all journalists," MMC tweeted.
