7 April 2022
For immediate release
Aiman Latheef, a RTI practitioner working our organisation on the RTI 37 project conducted in collaboration with the National Democratic Institute (NDI), received direct threats and intimidation from a person who telephoned him from the Male’ City Council on 6 Aprill 2022. The phone call was received after a submission was made to the Malé City Council under the Section 37 of the Right to Information Act, the section on obligation by the State disclose specific information proactively.
Threatening and intimidating people is a criminal offense defined in Section 2 of Law no. 2010/17 (the Prohibition of Intimidation and Possession of Dangerous Weapons and Sharp Objects Act). The failure to investigate cases of intimidation and threats over the past years has enabled the loss of life and serious bodily injuries to targets of intimidation.
The Maldives Police Service, upon receiving the complaint of threats and intimidation, stated that there was not enough evidence for the police to investigate the case, and that the case should be submitted to the Information Commissioner’s Office of Maldives (ICOM).
We call on the Maldives Police Service for a full investigation into the complaint made regarding the threats and intimidation aimed at Latheef, and to take action according to the law. We also call on the National Integrity Commission to conduct a full investigation into police officers who informed Latheef that the threats and intimidation made against him cannot be investigated.
Hate crimes, intimidation and threats are alarmingly rampant in the Maldives. The incidents described above are a source of encouragement for those who commit such crimes. Therefore we call on State and private institutions to stay vigilant and demonstrate zero tolerance on intimidation and threatening.
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ENDS.
For more information:
Phone: 9513008
Email: admin@democracymaldives.org