Strip-search

Deputy minister labels detained journalists ‘criminals’ as HRCM investigates mistreatment in custody

While international human rights and press freedom organisations have condemned the mass arrests as symptomatic of declining press freedom in the Maldives, the Human Rights Commission of Maldives has launched an inquiry after all 18 journalists, including seven young women, were strip-searched twice in 20 minutes in what they say was a deliberate attempt by police officers to humiliate the detainees.

MDP detainees accuse police of sexual harassment: “What right do they have?”