August 15, 2014
The Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (HRCM) has brought the disappearance of Minivan News journalist, Ahmed Rilwan Abdulla, 28, to the attention of the United Nations (UN).
In a statement issued on 14 August, the HRCM expressed deep concern over Rilwan’s disappearance, and noted that the commission was aware that Rilwan recently received ‘threats of intimidation’.
The commission also expressed concern over recent death threats and incidents of intimidation against journalists in general.
“The Commission is monitoring the State’s response to the threats against journalists and parliament members and the disappearance of Ahmed Rilwan Abdulla, and has brought these issues to the attention of the Special Procedures mechanism of the UN,” read the statement.
In addition to HRCM, the Maldives Journalist Association (MJA) has also issued a statement following Rilwan’s disappearance, in which it expressed concern over the issue and urged relevant authorities to launch special search efforts. MJA also expressed concern over the recent threats via text messages against journalists, and called on everyone to refrain from activities that might obstruct freedom of press.
Rilwan has been missing since Thursday, 7 August; and a special search operation has been launched by Maldives Police Service since he was reported missing by his family.