Former President Solih warns of threats to press freedom, calls for resilience
Former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has called on journalists to remain resilient in the face of mounting challenges, warning of increasing attempts to suppress press freedom in the Maldives.
In a message shared on X to mark World Press Freedom Day, Solih extended his greetings to Maldivian journalists, stating,
I salute Maldivian journalists who report with integrity and resolve. A free press is vital to our young democracy.
He wrote
Reflecting on progress achieved during his administration, Solih noted that the Maldives rose from 120th to 72nd place in the World Press Freedom Index during his administration.
He described this as “proof that commitment delivers results,” attributing the improvement to his government’s prioritisation of media freedom.
However, he expressed concern over recent developments, pointing to incidents involving raids on newsrooms, travel restrictions imposed on editors, and the use of restrictive legislation.
Highlighting these concerns, He stated
Today, as newsrooms are raided, editors barred from travel, and draconian laws weaponized against the truth, journalists must stand firm with courage and conviction
He added
He further stressed that “we must not allow intimidation to win,” urging journalists to continue their work with courage and unwavering resolve.
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