Maldives Journalists Association MJA says the President's Office's new rule on restricting mobile phones hinders the work of the journalists who use their handhelds to cover and record press conferences.
In a statement via X, MJA said that this morning journalists attending a press conference at the President's Office were initially told they cannot carry their mobile phones into the press conference room. MJA clarified that the reporters were then allowed to take in their phones for the press conferences.
MJA said that it raised this concern with the President's Office as mobile phones are essential to the work of the journalists and the office previously allowed to journalists to carry phones into press conferences.
MJA stressed that this move unduly restricts the work of journalists and impedes press freedom.
The Association further said that the President's Office since assured MJA that the measure is security-related and that the office will discuss an exception for media workers so they can use their phones to cover press conferences.
The move by the President's Office is receiving criticism from many online users.
