The Maldives Broadcasting Commission ordered Channel 13 to suspend broadcasting during a Thursday night rally of former President Abdulla Yameen, but the station defied the directive and aired the event live.
The commission directed Media Ring Pvt Ltd, which operates Channel 13, to halt its programme schedule from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m., citing Article 44 of the Broadcasting Act. The law allows temporary suspension of a broadcaster that repeatedly violates regulations.
Instead of stopping, Channel 13 aired live coverage of the rally at Artificial Beach in Malé, replacing its regular news bulletin.
The commission said the order was tied to a case it opened over a 30 January 2025 broadcast, though conflicting dates on its website and Facebook page — 13 August and 11 August — have raised questions about the timeline.
A source familiar with the matter said commission officials repeatedly warned Channel 13 of fines and tougher penalties if it carried the rally. The source claimed the order was politically motivated to block Yameen’s appearance.
The regulator has not yet said whether it will pursue action over Channel 13’s defiance.