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Maldives Independent nominated for Freedom of Expression Awards

Fathmath Shaahunaz
08 February 2017, MVT 16:25
A screen grab of the Al Jazeera documentary ‘Stealing Paradise’ shows editor of the Maldives Independent news website Zaheena Rasheed during her interview with the Doh based broadcaster.
Fathmath Shaahunaz
08 February 2017, MVT 16:25

Local news website Maldives Independent has been nominated for the Freedom of Expression Awards 2017 by the United Kingdom’s Index on Censorship.

Index on Censorship’s Freedom of Expression Awards are given to any individual or organisation to celebrate their efforts and impact on resisting censorship around the world.

Formerly named “Minivan News”, Maldives Independent is nominated under the category Journalism for “courageous, high-impact and determined journalism that exposes censorship and threats to free expression”.

Other contenders in the category are “Crime and Corruption Reporting Network” (KRIK), an independent investigative website of Serbia, “Daptar”, a Russian website that tackles issues affecting women, and Behrouz Boochani, a journalist who is now a refugee in Australia after fleeing Iran.

Noting that the Maldives ranks 112 out of 180 on the Reporters Without Borders Press Freedom Index, the Index on Censorship’s official website shed light on the Maldives’ recently passed Anti-Defamation and Freedom of Expression Act which authorises the state to fine and close down media that post or broadcast any defamatory content.

Police outside Maldives Independent's office during a raid in September 2016. FILE PHOTO/MIHAARU

Index on Censorship also highlighted the key role played by Maldives Independent in Al Jazeera’s documentary “Stealing Paradise” last year which exposed large scale corruption in the government of the Maldives. Police had raided Maldives Independent’s office following the documentary’s release and its editor, Zaheena Rasheed who had given interviews to Al Jazeera, had subsequently fled the country.

The website cited Zaheena Rasheed’s comment, “Journalists in the Maldives have taken unprecedented risks in reporting on human rights, business corruption and abuse of authority. I believe a free press is crucial, essential in protecting human rights.”

In addition to Journalism, Freedom of Expression Awards include three other categories with Arts, Campaigning and Digital Activism. Contenders for these categories include organisations hailing from countries such as Morocco, China, Malaysia, Hungary, Angola, Israel, Zimbabwe and Turkey.

The winners will be chosen by a panel of experienced judges including journalist and editor Tina Brown, tech entrepreneur Anab Jain, barrister Caiolfhionn Gallagher, music manager Stephen Budd and actor Noma Bumezweni.

The awards will be held April 19 at the Unicorn Theatre in London.

Award winners will join the Index’s Awards Fellowship program, which will provide assistance and aid to further enhance the winners’ work. The program lasts a year including an intensive week to be spent in London.

Maldives Independent’s Editor Zaheena Rasheed had also been nominated for Reporters Without Borders’ TV5 Monde Press Freedom Prize last year.

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