Closure comes after threats against NGO’s staff by religious hardliners
‘The Maldives Democracy Network is being punished for exercising its legitimate right to freedom of expression’ - Dinushika Dissanayake
The Maldivian Government’s closure of a widely-respected human rights group for “slandering Islam” has been strongly condemned by Amnesty International.
The organisation was shut down earlier today by the Maldivian Ministry of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment, which regulates the activities of NGOs in the country.
On 10 October, the Maldivian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced it had temporarily suspended Maldives Democracy Network’s operations, alleging that the content of a 2015 report by the NGO contained “content slandering Islam and the Prophet Mohamed”.
The closure comes after a series of threats by religious hardliners against Maldives Democracy Network staff, including its director Shahinda Ismail. [Amnesty International] Read more
