Journalists raise concerns on what took place during their detention

The journalists who were arrested at yesterday’s protest rally calling for the rights of the journalists have raised concerns about what took place during their detention.

Journalists who were arrested yesterday were released last night after ten hours. And they were summoned to the Police station at different times to take statements.

Chief Editor at Maldives Independent, Zaheena Rasheed said that the female journalists were strip-searched twice and it was to embarrass them.

Human Rights Council of the Maldives (HRCM) previously said that they have requested not to conduct strip searches unless it’s absolutely necessary. And they said that it should be conducted by trained, designated officers.

Zaheena said that the female journalists were kept in a cell that was invested with rats and ants and there were things written on the wall with toothpaste. And she said that the toilet was clogged as well.

Journalist at Haveeru News, Ali Nafiz said that the journalist did not have a political motive when they protested yesterday and it was because their rights were violated. Nafiz said that journalism in the country has been facing many challenges in a short span of time.

Managing Director of SanguTV, Ibrahim Waheed (Aswaad) said that yesterday’s protest was because the freedom of press was lost and getting arrested does not reclaim that freedom.

He said that yesterday’s protest was within the Police guidelines and where were pepper-sprayed at close distance and he got some in his ear.

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He said that the meal arrangements for the arrested journalists were made when officials from the HRCM were waiting outside.

A total of 19 people were arrested during the dispersal of the protest rally yesterday near the President’s Office.

Journalists from Haveeru, RaajjeTV, SanguTV, Maldives Independent and Vnews were arrested.