The Maldives Police Service has launched an investigation into the death threats sent to Ahmed Naif and other senior editors of 'Dhauru' news in the wake of a report published by the online media outlet.
The death threats are being made in connection with an article Dhauru published on Thursday regarding local business tycoon Ahmed Siyam Mohamed's company, Sun Travel and Tours Private Limited, and its case against Hilton International.
The police confirmed that they received the report on Friday.
The Maldives Journalism Association (MJA) has also issued a statement condemning the incident.
The MJA's statement alleged that Siyam, who also represents Dhaalu atoll Meedho constituency in the parliament, had called the journalist who wrote the article on Friday afternoon and threatened him and warned him to take the article down.
"Following the threat, several messages were sent to Ahmed Naif and a senior editor. The messages sent to Naif and the editor earlier [on Friday] claimed they would be cornered on the streets, and there were messages that threatened their lives," the MJA's statement said.
"The association believes that this threat is extremely dangerous and serious. We are concerned that a politically influential person is involved in this case."
MJA stated that they consider this to be a serious matter and demanded that journalists be given adequate protection. They also raised concern over the lack of action so far, noting that a successful investigation into threats against journalists has yet to be concluded.
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