RaajjeTV’s former journalist Aalaa Ibrahim says that she was not given any opportunity to respond to the defamation charges against her and the station over the reportage of a rape case.

Responding to Tuesday’s decision by the Broadcasting Commission, Aalaa said that she had at the time attempted to seek a statement from Fasaahath Hussain, a senior official at Gender Ministry in Addu City. The story was on a sexual abuse case in Hithadhoo, Addu City, and was reported as told by the victim’s family, who, to this day, claims that an employee at the Hithadhoo ward of the Ministry of Gender of Law is trying “to bury the case,” by swaying those overseeing the case.

Aalaa said that her repeated calls and SMS’s to Fasaahath in connection to the case remained unanswered, which was clearly reported in the news bulletins.

Aalaa added that it was deeply concerning that the Commission did not give her a chance to give her statement on the case. She said that it was more concerning when, after this, she was fined by a hefty amount.

RaajjeTV was fined MVR 200,000 under the controversial bill on defamation and freedom of speech, over a news story broadcast in its news bulletins on November 19, 2016, while the journalist who covered the story was fined MVR 50,000.

MBC had instructed the channel and the journalist to pay up the amount within a 30-day period, starting from March 7, 2017.

RTV News Director Ali Yoosuf defended the channel, stating the channel had followed set procedures in reportage.  As such, he said the channel had sought out statements from all involved parties. He added that the Commission had not taken into account any of the points put forward by RTV as defense. Ali said the channel will look into the next steps that can be taken.

Ali noted that while RTV seeks out the opinion of all parties involved in a story, there were restrictions for RTV in seeking information. He noted that several cases involving RTV, such as the torching of the station, intimidation of journalists, remained stagnant within the system.

This is the first time the defamation bill has been put into practice. MBC is currently reviewing other cases involving RTV. However, the Commission had consistently failed to apply the same level of dedication to other channels in similar cases.