Concern over all-male committee investigating sexual harassment case

South Galolhu MP Mohamed Ibrahim (Kudu) has requested the parliament to resolve the issue where an all-male panel of the parliament's Independent Institutions Committee investigated the sexual harassment allegations made by a female employee of the Broadcasting Commission (BroadCom) against the commission's Vice President Mohamed Fazeen.

As part of the investigation, the Independent Institutions Committee, which only has male members, summoned and questioned both Fazeen and the female employee who made the allegations.

The committee meetings are categorised as classified citing personal information relating to both people involved.

Mihaaru News reported that only male members were present when the female employee was questioned. The news outlet also reported that the victim was distressed from the nature of the questioned asked.

According to Mihaaru, the questions were "insensitive" and could deprive the victim of the protection and safety they needed.

While the Human Rights and Gender Committee of Parliament has the mandate to investigate sexual harassment cases, the Independent Institutions Committee started investigating the case because the complaint is against a member of the Broadcasting Commission.

MP Ibrahim raised these concerns in a letter he sent to the parliament requesting female members be present in the investigation process of such cases.

In his letter to Parliament Speaker Abdul Raheem Abdullah, Ibrahim said he believed that the presence of only male members in sexual harassment cases would make it difficult for women to provide information and answer questions.

He also flagged the issue to the only three female MP's in the parliament.

Although the committee has completed the questioning phase of Fazeen's case, a decision has not yet been announced. A member of the committee said a decision on the matter is scheduled to be taken on the 6th of next month when the parliament begins its new session.

The female employee who was sexually assaulted has also reported the case to the police.

Fazeen, who worked as a journalist for Raajje TV previously, was appointed to the BroadCom in 2021. He was elected as the vice president in January, 2023.