Parliament has rejected an emergency motion seeking an investigation into a police raid on the office of Adhadhu over a documentary titled Aisha.
The motion, submitted by MDP Galolhu South MP Meekail Ahmed Naseem during today's sitting, was ruled inadmissible as an emergency motion.
Speaker Abdul Raheem Abdulla said parliamentary regulations require that statements in emergency motions be verified, and that the criteria for such motions had not been met.
In the proposed motion, MP Meekail argued that “police forcibly entering the office of an independent media outlet, searching and seizing property is a violation of media freedom.”
Speaker Abdul Raheem also said the motion could not proceed as an emergency motion because it had called for an investigation into the police action.
Citing article 196 of parliamentary regulations, Speaker Abdul Raheem said emergency motions cannot involve motions, votes or resolutions. He noted that MP Meekail’s motion sought parliamentary action to investigate the case.
In his letter, MP Meekail said the Maldives Media and Broadcasting Regulation Act provides a mechanism to address disputes over published content, and accused police of bypassing due process by entering the newsroom and seizing equipment.
Police on Monday searched electronic devices at the newspaper’s office and confiscated items including storage media.
At a press conference held yesterday, President Dr Mohamed Muizzu denied allegations made in the documentary and said authorities would be asked to pursue legal action against those involved in its production.
