Home Minister invites MMC for talks regarding press freedom

Home Minister Umar Naseer, on Tuesday, invited Maldives Media Council (MMC) to meet with him and discuss issues of concern.

Umar spoke to “Sun” and said that he wished to he wanted to listen to concerns by media stations and help find a solution.

Tension has been high between media and government with top Maldivian journalists releasing a joint statement expressing concern over the bill to amend Defamation and Freedom of

Expression Act and re-criminalize defamation, submitted to People’s Majlis on behalf of government by Parliamentary Group Leader of ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM), Vilimale’ MP Ahmed Nihan.

Journalists had demonstrated for press freedom on Sunday, with 16 journalists arrested as police tried to clear the area near President’s Office.

Arrested journalists were released within 24 hours after being kept at Dhoonidhoo Prison, but expressed concern over what took place while under arrest.

Female journalists reported that they were strip searched two times within a time frame of 20 minutes, and alleged that it was a deliberate attempt to humiliate them.