MMC: Police used exccessive force while arresting journalists

Maldives Media Council (MMC) has said that the Police used excessive force that was uncalled for while making arrests at the protest demonstration by journalists today.

Speaking at a press conference at the MMC today, the President of the Council, Mohamed Asif (Mondhu) said that journalists protested today to protect their rights and the only problem was protesting at a green zone where no protest is allowed. He said that no protests should be held at an area where it is prohibited and journalists shouldn’t do that.

Mondhu said that the Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Areef told him over the phone that they cannot do anything other than take the arrested journalists to court since the protest was at a green zone.

The President of the Media Council said that journalists protested today not on the orders of any political figures and their own initiative. And if anyone else was there, they did not come because the journalists asked.

Ten journalists were arrested at the protest today.

The protest today was led by young journalists regarding the challenges to the journalists. The main concerns raised today were the seized operations at Haveeru News and the case of the missing Minivan News journalists, Ahmed Rilwan. Concerns were also raised regarding the obstructions to journalism in the country.