BroadCom orders Raajje TV to apologies for disparaging judiciary

Maldives Broadcasting Commission has ordered local TV channel Raajje TV to apologize for airing inappropriate content, over a complaint filed by the Supreme Court.

In a letter to the Supreme Court, Maldives Broadcasting Commission assured that the commission has ordered Raajje TV to apologize for framing their content beyond the broadcasting code of practices, but said the commission found no basis for Supreme Court’s allegations that Raajje TV had shown content that threatened national security, in its broadcast of the show “Magey Report” (My Report) on 19 October 2013.

Under Article 44 (a) (3) of the Broadcasting Act, the commission has ordered Raajje TV’s parent company Raajje Television Pvt Ltd to issue a statement of apology and broadcast the statement between 8:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. on 25 December 2013. The commission has also ordered the channel to amend the content if they wish to re-broadcast the program.

The same Raajje TV report was investigated by the Maldives Police Service over allegations of liking the decisions of the Maldives judiciary to that of the judicial practices employed by the people of Sodom. The case, also prompted by the Supreme Court, has been forwarded to the Prosecutor General’s Office for prosecution.

Maldives Broadcasting Commission reprimanded Rajjee TV earlier this year for content they showed on a program named “Thilafai” (Scale) in February. The Commission also chastised local station Villa TV on 17 November 2013 for broadcasting demeaning remarks against the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG).