IFJ Deeply Concerned by Attack on Maldives Broadcast Studio

January 30, 2012

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) is deeply worried by the attack on the office and studio of DhiTV, a private broadcaster in the Maldives capital of Male on January 26. The attack occurred in the early hours of the day after the station had broadcast live coverage of opposition protests at the recent arrest of a judge by Maldives Special Forces the previous evening.

The Maldives Journalists’ Association (MJA), an IFJ affiliate, reports that Hussain Nishan, a senior camera operator with DhiTV was injured when a group of masked men attacked the premises with bricks. Mohammad Shiham, a senior journalist, was injured the previous evening while covering the opposition protests.

“The IFJ and its affiliates note with alarm the recent rise in attacks on journalists and media offices in Maldives”, IFJ Asia-Pacific said.

“We call for thorough investigations by the Maldives authorities into this and other preceding cases of violence against journalists”.

“We also urge the Maldives government to engage the MJA and other professional bodies in a serious dialogue to ensure a more conducive climate for the practice of journalism”.

The IFJ represents more than 600,000 journalists in 131 countries

Find the IFJ on Twitter: @ifjasiapacific

Find the IFJ on Facebook: www.facebook.com/IFJAsiaPacific

ENDS

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