Police watchdog asked to probe alleged abuse of journalists
Following heavy-handed police crackdowns on opposition gatherings during the past week, opposition lawmakers and supporters meanwhile began sharing photos on social media of individual police officers accused of brutality.
31 Jul 2017, 9:00 AM
The main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party has asked the police watchdog to take disciplinary action against two police officers accused of mistreating journalists and damaging their equipment.
MDP Secretary-General Anas Abdul Sattar accused Staff Sergeant Ali Ahmed and Lance Corporal Ahmed Imthiyaz of physically abusing journalists during their arrest while covering an opposition protest last Wednesday night.
Anas told the press that the complaints were filed with the National Integrity Commission with sufficient evidence, including video footage showing a policeman kicking Raajje TV journalist Murshid Abdul Hakeem whilst others seized cameras and broadcasting equipment.
“We cannot accept unlawful acts and disproportionate force aimed at harming the people. We have requested the NIC to look into our complaints and take due measures,” he told the press on Saturday.
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