RaajjeTV Managing Director Ahmed Saleem says that the Maldives with Rohingya telethon has proved that Maldivians are not bystanders when fellow Muslims suffer persecution.

He made the statement speaking in the ceremony held on Thursday night to hand over the proceeds of the telethon to Maldives Red Crescent (MRC).

Saleem said that Maldivians saw the plight of Rohingya Muslims and had stepped up; amassing MVR 5.16 million in a period of 30 hours. This, he said showed that Maldivians’ humanity.

He added that he hoped this amount will go towards easing the plight of Rohingya Muslims. He said the station wanted the proceeds to reach their recipients as soon as possible and that this was the reason for handing over the proceeds to MRC.

Though the funds were collected under RaajjeTV initiative, these will go to the Rohingya Muslims as from the whole nation. This aid, Saleem said, was intended to send a message to the international community, signalling that Maldivians were not bystanders when our fellow Muslims suffered persecution.

He added that Maldivians must be proud to be first responders to the situation and that RaajjeTV was proud to be part of this.

Saleem further noted that individuals from all walks of life had contributed to the initiative.