Gov’t Files Complaint Against RaajjeTV Over Content Allegedly Mocking PWDs
Photo: RaajjeTV
Ministry of Social and Family Development condemned the content broadcasted on RaajjeTV where politicians allegedly mocked people with autism and Down Syndrome and submitted this case to the Maldives Broadcasting Commission (Broadcom).
In a notice published by the ministry yesterday, they said people with disabilities are protected under international treaties the Maldives is signed to and under Article 35 of the Maldivian constitution. They are also protected under Article 53 of the Protection of Children’s Rights Act, and the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and Financial Assistance Act states that such people have the right to live with dignity and autonomy as well.
advertisement
The ministry highlighted that the aforementioned international conventions prohibit all acts that may infringe upon the dignity of people with disabilities, the Maldivian constitution and laws. Therefore, the ministry expressed concern over the statements made by politicians on the Kalaabaisa program on RaajjeTV on Monday evening.
That evening, Former Nolhivaram MP Mohamed Nasheed Abdulla (Mosta) and former Colonel Ahmed Fayaz Ali Riza likened President Dr Mohamed Muizzu to people with autism and Down syndrome, alleging “there is an issue with his brain.” The broadcasted content was met with public outrage as many saw it as the politicians belittling people with disabilities.
“The incident will undermine our efforts to create a caring and compassionate society for the differently-abled in the society. There is also the possibility that the repetition of such events may normalize speech that violates the human dignity of persons with disabilities and children,” the ministry said in Dhivehi.
“Therefore, given these developments, the Ministry has submitted a request to the Broadcasting Commission seeking action against Raajje TV by the law and regulations in this regard.”
However, Broadcom said on Tuesday that they would be investigating this matter as well.
HRCM Calls on Media Houses to Maintain the Dignity of PWDs
The Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (HRCM) also condemned content broadcasted on RaajjeTV’s Kalaabaisa program on Monday and called on media houses to protect the dignity of people with disabilities when broadcasting or publishing content.
2025 މާރިޗު 22 ވަނަ ދުވަހުގެ ރޭ ރާއްޖެ ޓީވީގެ ”ކާލާ ބައިސާ“ ޕްރޮގްރާމްގައި ނުކުޅެދުންތެރިކަން ހުންނަ ފަރާތްތަކަށް ކުޑައިމީސްކޮށް ނުކުޅެދުންތެރިކަން ހުންނަ ފަރާތްތަކަކީ ދަށް ބައެއްގެ ގޮތަށް އަދި މަލާމާތް ރައްދުވާ މޭރުމަކުން ވާހަކަދައްކާފައިވާތީ އެކަން މި ކޮމިޝަނުން…— HRC of the Maldives (@hrcmv) March 25, 2025
The commission said people with disabilities have the right to live with dignity like the rest of society, and with equal rights. They urged the relevant authorities to look into this matter.
“Therefore, the commission urges all media houses not to indulge in such acts and to take care to ensure that the human rights and human dignity of any section of the society is not compromised while airing the visuals, sounds and information provided by the media,” HRCM said in a post on X, in Dhivehi.
RaajjeTV’s Apology
RaajjeTV stated on Tuesday that they apologise if anyone found the content broadcast on their Kalaabaisa programme demeaning to people with disabilities.
