Censorship in the Maldives

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The Maldives ranks from the middle to the top third of international indexes of press freedom, indicating a large degree of freedom. Media discussion of religion, however, remains tightly restricted.

Indexes

In the 2011 Freedom House Freedom of the Press annual report, the Maldives scores a 50, or "partly free".[1] In 2024, Reporters Without Borders ranked the Maldives as having the 106th freest press in the world (of 180 ranked nations).[2]

Ismail Khilath Rasheed controversy

In November 2011, the blog of journalist Ismail Khilath Rasheed was shut down by Communications Authority of the Maldives (CAM) on the order of the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, on the grounds that the site contained "anti-Islamic material".[3] Rasheed, a self-professed Sufi Muslim, had argued for greater religious tolerance.[4] The blog closing was condemned by Reporters Without Borders[5] and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navanethem Pillay[6] as representing a rise in religious intolerance.

When Rasheed organized a rally in favor of greater religious freedom on 10 December, the rally was attacked and Rasheed's skull fractured.[4] He was subsequently arrested at the urging of the orthodox Sunni Adhaalath Party,[7] which also organized a counter-demonstration on 23 December to protect Islam. Rasheed was released on 10 January following protests by groups such as Amnesty International (which named him a prisoner of conscience[4]) and Reporters Without Borders[7] on his behalf.

Anti-gov news websites blocked

On 22 December 2023, CAM blocked 2 anti-gov news websites which caused massive outrage and after 4 days which caused major rights groups in the archipelago to condemn the blocking. It was later unblocked after 4 days of major criticism of the government.[8][9]

References

  1. ^ "Freedom of the Press 2011" (PDF). Freedom House. 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 May 2011. Retrieved 13 January 2012.
  2. ^ "Maldives". Reporters Without Borders. 29 March 2023. Retrieved 22 November 2024.
  3. ^ Johnstone, Eleanor (21 November 2011). "Blog crack-down "is just the beginning", warns censored blogger". Minivan News. Archived from the original on 14 January 2012. Retrieved 12 January 2012.
  4. ^ a b c "Maldives' Police Arrests Campaigner Seeking Religious Tolerance and Allows His Attackers Impunity". Amnesty International. 21 December 2011. Retrieved 12 January 2012.
  5. ^ "Government shuts down blog in climate of growing religious intolerance". IFEX. 23 November 2011. Retrieved 12 January 2012.
  6. ^ Pillay, Navanethem (24 November 2011). "Opening remarks by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay at a press conference during her mission to the Maldives". OHCHR. United Nations Human Rights. Retrieved 12 January 2012.
  7. ^ a b "Journalist detained, charges unclear". IFEX. 21 December 2011. Retrieved 12 January 2012.
  8. ^ "Rights groups condemn anti-govt websites ban as 'undemocratic'". Atoll Times. 22 December 2023. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  9. ^ "Two anti-govt news websites unblocked". Sun. 28 December 2023. Retrieved 23 March 2024.