Raajje TV is an television channel based in the Maldives, known for its news coverage, entertainment programs, and cultural content.

Arson Attack on Raajje TV

On October 7, 2013, the channel's television station in Queen of the Night building in

Malé Malé (, ; dv, މާލެ) is the capital and most populous city of the Maldives. With a population of 252,768 and an area of , it is also one of the most densely populated cities in the world. The city is geographically located at the southern ...

was targeted in an

arson attack Arson is the crime of willfully and deliberately setting fire to or charring property. Although the act of arson typically involves buildings, the term can also refer to the intentional burning of other things, such as motor vehicles, water ...

. The perpetrators reportedly used petrol bombs to set fire to the station's studios, causing significant damage to the building and equipment. There were no casualties reported. The attack was widely condemned by local and international organizations as an assault on press freedom. Raajje TV, known for its critical coverage of the Maldivian government, had previously faced threats and intimidation due to its journalism. The attack sparked concerns about the safety of journalists and the state of media freedom in the Maldives. It was revealed in

Al Jazeera Al Jazeera ( ar, الجزيرة, translit-std=DIN, translit=al-jazīrah, , "The Island") is a state-owned Arabic-language international radio and TV broadcaster of Qatar. It is based in Doha and operated by the media conglomerate Al Jazeera ...

's documentary ''Stealing Paradise'' that

Ahmed Adeeb Ahmed Adeeb Abdul Ghafoor ( dv, އަޙްމަދު އަދީބު ޢަބްދުލްޣަފޫރު; born 11 April 1982) is a Maldivian politician who briefly served as Vice President of Maldives in 2015. Prior to his appointment on 22 July 2015, he s ...

was involved in the attack.

Raajje TV Ban

During the 2018 Maldives political crisis, the Maldivian government accused Raajje TV of violating broadcasting regulations and ordered the station to cease operations following the declaration of a

state of emergency A state of emergency is a situation in which a government is empowered to be able to put through policies that it would normally not be permitted to do, for the safety and protection of its citizens. A government can declare such a state du ...

by then-President Abdulla Yameen. Despite facing government pressure, Raajje TV has contined to operate. Following the

2018 Maldivian presidential election Presidential elections were held in the Maldives on 23 September 2018. Incumbent president Abdulla Yameen of the Progressive Party of Maldives was seeking re-election for a second five-year term. His only challenger was Ibrahim Mohamed Solih of ...

, the new administration under

Ibrahim Mohamed Solih Ibrahim Mohamed Solih ( dv, އިބްރާހީމް މުޙައްމަދު ޞާލިޙް; ar, إبراهيم محمد صالح; born 1 March 1962), better known as Ibu (އިބޫ), is a Maldivian politician and the president of the Maldives since 17 ...

pledged to uphold media freedom and restore democratic institutions. As a result, Raajje TV was able to resume its operations and continue its role as an independent news outlet in the Maldives.

References

External links

Official Website in Dhivehi

Official Website in English
2010 establishments in the Maldives Publicly funded broadcasters Public television Television channels and stations established in 2010 Television channels in the Maldives {{tv-station-stub