Police sent a summons to the deputy leader of main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), Mohamed Shifaz, in connection to an article published in Mihaaru newspaper.
According to a statement released by MDP, Shifaz is to present himself to police headquarters on Tuesday night for an inquiry regarding an article published in Mihaaru on September 20.
Former Vice President of the Local Government Authority, Shujau Hussain, had filed the case at the police, accusing that the article’s reference to him as an “MDA (Maldives Development Alliance) member” was defamatory. Police had subsequently summoned Mihaaru’s journalist Fazeena Ahmed earlier for questioning over the case.
In their statement, MDP condemned the summons and urged the police to withdraw it.
“The true objective of the recently passed anti-defamation Act to silence freedom of speech is being exposed today,” declared MDP as they highlighted that the first person to be questioned under the Defamation and Freedom of Speech Act was “one of the most accomplished journalists in the Maldives”, who is now being followed by the deputy leader of “the largest and most active political party in the Maldives”.
Stating that the contents of the article did not contain anything defamatory, MDP said that questioning Shifaz is an act that takes illicit advantage of Constitutional laws and infringes the public’s right to freedom of speech.
Describing the police’s actions as a violation of free media and extortion of journalists, MDP called on the police to adhere to the Constitutional framework of the law and democratic principles.
“We urge [the police] to renounce political influence and protect the rights of the people.”
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