Siyam: Press freedom crucial to democracy, it must be guaranteed

Press freedom is crucial to a democracy, making it imperative to ascertain freedom of the press, says Ahmed Siyam Mohamed, president of Maldives Development Alliance (MDA).

In a message on Saturday on occasion of World Press Freedom Day, Siyam, the parliamentary representative for Dh. Meedhoo, described press freedom as crucial to upholding democracy.

In his message, Siyam said that a free press has the power to empower the people and hold leaders accountable.

He said that journalists often work under difficult conditions, and condemned any and all efforts to hinder press freedom.

“Press freedom must be guaranteed,” he said.

Siyam runs the Sun Siyam Media Group, one of the oldest running media houses in the Maldives, which runs Sun Online and SSTV.