Reporters Without Borders calls on authorities to step up efforts to find Rilwan

Reporters without Borders has urged Maldivian authorities to step up efforts to find Ahmed Rilwan Abdulla, a local journalist who was reported missing on 13 August.

In a statement issued on Monday, 18 August, Reporters Without Borders expressed concern over Rilwan’s disappearance ten days ago, and urged authorities to deploy whatever resources necessary to find him.

“There is every reason to be concerned about Rilwan, especially as gangs and religious extremists are very often responsible for threats to journalists,” read the statement.

The group cited Minivan News and said that all evidence collected so far points to Rilwan having been abducted.

Rilwan is believed to have been missing since 8 August. Police said on Sunday that a large area in Hulhumale’ had been covered in the search efforts, and that work is ongoing to study relevant CCTV footage.