Sun journalist attacked in

Sun Online journalist Murshid Abdul Hakeem has been attacked in Maldivian Democratic Party’s (MDP) ‘urgent direct action’ protest.

Murshid sustained a serious head wound from a hurled battery at around 19:00.

A Police Media cameraman was also injured in the attack.

A Police Media official said that Murshid lost consciousness upon contact with the battery hurled at him, and that he was taken to the hospital by the Police. The Police cameraman was injured also by a hurled battery, which left a large area of his back swollen.

Murshid is being treated at IGM Hospital, and his condition is improving. The Police cameraman has been released after treatment.

A senior official of Sun Online said that Murshid was attacked while he was reporting the protest to Sun Media Group radio, Sun FM. The equipment used by Murshid before he was attacked have gone missing.

There have been several attacks on the Police during MDP’s series of protests. MDP has claimed that the protests will not stop until the government is overthrown.

Maldives Journalist Association (MJA) has called on protesters to refrain from obstructing and attacking journalists. President of Maldives Media Council Ibrahim Khaleel has also said that journalists should have the freedom to work and condemned the attacks on journalists.