Court order to seize Internet activist’s phone sparks outrage
The police sought the warrant to identify Thayyib Shaheem’s sources for an investigation into alleged false claims about President Abdulla Yameen, the head of the anti-corruption watchdog, and senior government officials.
21 Nov 2017, 9:00 AM
A criminal court order to seize the mobile phone of a prominent social media activist has sparked outrage and concern over the constitutional right to protect sources.
Citing a secret intelligence report as evidence, the police sought the warrant to identify Thayyib Shaheem’s sources for an investigation into alleged false claims about President Abdulla Yameen, the head of the anti-corruption watchdog, and senior government officials.
But the constitution prohibits compelling anyone “to disclose the source of any information that is espoused, disseminated or published by that person.”
The police reportedly seized Thayyib’s phone on Monday afternoon. The warrant authorised the confiscation of his mobile phones, SIM cards, memory cards and laptops for 30 days to collect data on calls and messages.
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