Maldives Media Council President Mohamed Asif has stated that this year alone Commissioner of Police Hussain Waheed had assured that the Police will give assistance to journalists on the four separate occasions and had assurance that the Council had full assurance that will be given.
Speaking in a press conference in Media Council, Asif said that journalism and journalists faced many threats this year. However, he said that they had met with the Police regarding the issue and every time, police had assured that they will resolve the issue.
Asif said that the issue was nevertheless concerning, but ever present. Therefore, he said that the Council was seeking to resolve the issue. He said that the Council had met with Home Minister on the issue several times this year.
Council Vice President Ahmed Shareef said that the Council’s responsibility was to ensure that ethical and responsible journalism was practiced in the Maldives. As such, he said that the Council was investigating issues related to journalists and enacting measures in such cases as well.
Media Council said that if the journalists were not allowed to do their jobs, the public will not have access to the actual situations. In that case, the council said that the public will seek out news from social media, which is not always most reliable or authentic.
Asif urged all journalists to defer to journalistic standards and to practice ethical journalism.
Police assistance still guaranteed for journalists: Media Council
