Did not have direct involvement in Journalism Awards: Musthafa

Maldives Media Council (MMC) President Ahmed Mustafa has said that he was not directly involved in any aspect of the Journalism Awards organized by the council.

Mustafa's remarks were made in a press statement released responding to allegations made by MMC Member Ali Nishan regarding the ceremony held to present the awards.

In the statement released in his capacity as MMC President, Mustafa stated that he was not aware of award winners and nominees ahead of the event. He said that since MMC's inception, the practice had been to hold the Journalism Awards without the direct involvement of its president.

Mustafa said that the nominations and related work this year had been conducted directly by Nishan and the Prize Committee's Deputy. He said that the content editing and graphics needed for nominees was also done under Nishan's direction.

"This was decided at a council meeting. No council member, nor me as the President, received any details about this," Musthafa said.

Nishan, in his statement, said that although the results of the nominees had been under the supervision of specific persons, Musthafa had viewed the information without the necessary permissions from related officials.

The issues around the Journalism Awards this year arose with Adhadhu Online's 'Skeelan' documentary winning the investigative journalism category, which was then aired live on PSM through Awards ceremony coverage.

The 'Skeelan' documentary centered on President Dr Mohamed Muizzu's stepmother, Sri Lankan Skeelan, who, in the video, makes major allegations against the President. With the documentary first having aired during last year's presidential election campaigns, President Muizzu had at the time rejected the allegations.

Regarding the matter, Mustafa, who has worked at PSM for three decades, had been dismissed from his position at PSM. Once he submitted his dismissal for review, he was reinstated in the same day.

Musthafa released the press statement in his capacity as MMC President after PSM announced his reinstatement.

Mustafa said that a video that contravenes PSM's editorial content guidelines had been aired during the award ceremony, and said that a statement had been released stating the documentary is against journalistic standards even when it was first aired.

Mustafa maintains that the council members who organized airing the documentary at the award ceremony despite all this, subsequently having it aired live on PSM as well, must bear responsibility.

"Hence, it is my belief that Ali Nishan's allegations against me are premeditated, and strongly condemn these actions," the statement reads.