Charges Against Editors Dropped: Nasheed

Information Minister Mohamed Nasheed announced to journalists at the World Press Freedom Day Conference that the state is dropping all charges against Minivan Daily Deputy Editor Nazim Sattar and reducing charges against Editor Aminath Najeeb (Ainthu). Speaking at Dharubarge in Male', Mr Nasheed said the two journalists would be informed "in a few hours." But despite the announcement neither Nazim nor Ainthu have been informed of any change to the charges against them. Nazim faced a maximum of six months in prison after being charged with “disobedience to order” for publishing an article in August 2005 including comments from opposition activist Ahmed Abbas allegedly inciting the public to violence against the police Aminath Najeeb still faces a possible six month sentence. The charges she faced in relation to the Ahmed Abbas case have been dropped, and the Information Minister said that as Mr Abbas had served a sentence regarding the article, Ms Najeeb would not. Mr Nasheed said two other charges relating to articles published last year, which the state also says incite violence against courts and judges, will be combined into one charge. Nazim told Minivan News, “I hope this is not just a political stunt for Press Freedom Day. Although this is good news for me, my editor still faces charges and, if she is convicted, the future of our paper would be at risk.” Aminath Najeeb welcomed the Minister’s decision to drop charges on the Abbas case, but said “I am still not free of the fear of jail.”