Opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) MP Meekail Ahmed Naseem has said that the Maldives Media Council (MMC) was summoned to the Parliament committee on Independent Institutions over the award given to Adhadhu's "Skeelan" documentary at the 11th Journalism Awards in October.
In a post on social media, the Galholhu Dhekunu MP expressed concern as the committee meeting was being held behind closed doors on Wednesday.
"It is a threat to journalism that the media council has been summoned over the award given to Gnei Skeelan documentary and the meeting is being held in secret," he wrote.
When questioned about the committee meeting, Meekail told Adhadhu that ruling party MPs had made different excuses for the reason for summoning members of the media council, but they were summoned over the award.
Media council members have been summoned at a time when the council has said that they were considering withdrawing the award.
Timeline of events following the award
- Government officials and pro-government activists criticise the award
- Public Service Media (PSM)'s News Operations Manager Ahmed Musthafa, President of the MMC was sacked from PSM on October 31. He was accused of showing a video that contradicted PSM's editorial content. The said content is a video clip from the "Skeelan" documentary.
- PSM filed a complaint against MMC to the Parliament saying the video was shown deliberately.
- Following the criticism, the PSM board changed its decision and reinstated Musthafa on November 1.
- After reinstatement, Musthafa issued a statement against the documentary on November 1.
- All six award judges release statement on November 1.
- An emergency meeting of the Media Council was held on November 2. MMC members decided to look into the allegations regarding the award and to decide on withdrawing the award.
- ACC enters MMC premises to investigate journalism award. They seize the mark sheets.
- President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu responds to allegations about his treatment of his stepmother on November 6.
Meanwhile, the Maldives Journalists Association (MJA) has also said that the events after the award given to "Skeela" was "caused by the influence of powerful people."
The documentary was produced about President Muizzu's stepmother, Gnei Skeelan, a Sri Lankan citizen, who was blacklisted and deported from the Maldives.
The documentary featured interviews with the widow and presented evidence about her blacklisting.
