In a video posted to Twitter, a Maldives Police Service (MPS) officer can be seen forcibly grabbing Channel 13 cameraperson Misbah, pushing him away from a protest attended by leaders of the Maldivian opposition ‘Progressive Congress’ coalition held in Male’s Jumhooree Maidhaan, or Republic Square on July 20. The officer pushes Misbah into Sangu News journalist Maathu Hussain and a prone activist, with the two media workers falling to the ground. Both were wearing press cards identifying themselves as members of the media.
The incident has been widely condemned by the Maldivian media community on social media. In an interview conducted hours after the incident, Police Commissioner Mohammed Hameed announced that he had ordered the suspension of the offending police officer and that an investigation into the incident from the Special Operations Department was underway.
The demonstration was organised by leaders of the Progressive Coalition, comprised of the People’s Party of the Maldives (PPM) and People’s National Congress (PNC), and protested charges laid against former-President Abdullah Yameen and his resulting disqualification from contesting September’s Presidential elections. Police were seen arresting the opposition leaders conducting the protest and escorting them into vans, although all have since been released.
Journalists in the Maldives continue to face harassment and assault from police while covering opposition rallies. In February, Channel 13 reporter Shaheed and media worker Misbaah were assaulted, pepper sprayed, and struck by police while covering a joint PPM and PNC rally. In March, Avas journalist Hussain Juman was assaulted and briefly detained by police while covering a PPM rally in Malé.
The MJA said: “MJA strongly condemn the brutal attack by a police officer on the journalists covering today's opposition gathering at the Republican Square. We urgently call upon the National Integrity Commission and the police to conduct a swift and thorough investigation and take necessary measures against the officers who obstructed journalists and media workers during the incident. It is imperative to establish a comprehensive national framework to safeguard journalists and formulate clear guidelines for media coverage of protests and gatherings.”
The IFJ said: “Journalists must be able to report without fear of obstruction, harassment or assault and these repeated incidents make clear the need for greater safety measures for media workers in the Maldives. The IFJ condemns the assault committed by local police and urges authorities to conduct a transparent investigation into the incident.”