Voices in Danger: In the Maldives, it's not just knives that journalists are being threatened with

Journalists working in the region are facing a startling array of threats

A knife lodged into a door belonging to Minivan News

Anyone searching for #Maldives on Twitter over the last week, and expecting to see endless pictures of an idyllic desert island holiday, may have found themselves slightly perplexed by the seemingly random image of a machete lodged through a door.

The door in question belongs to Minivan News, an independent online publication that has provided coverage of the country's often painful transition from an autocratic theocracy to a democracy. Minivian News journalists were then once again threatened with their lives via SMS. “You will be killed next,” Minivan News' current deputy editor was told.

The machete, pictured above, was a gift from suspected gang members on a self-proclaimed spiritual mission to “eliminate” suspected secularists, atheists and homosexuals. Conveniently, these labels are almost always attached to media outlets, NGOs, opposition politicians and bloggers.

What started with a machete through the door of the Minivan News office, soon escalated into arson threats being issued against the publication and Raajje TV. Police moved quickly to evacuate the offices of both media outlets, while providing them with ongoing protection.

The “weekend of fear and violence” across the capital follows the recent publication of a report commissioned by the Maldivian Democracy Network NGO that linked radicalised gangs to the disappearance of Minivian News journalist Ahmed Rilwan.

Ahmed Rilwan is believed to have been abducted at knife point in early August from outside his apartment building on the island of Hulhumale. Little else is known at present.

The government of Maldives issued a statement of “...deep concern on the sudden disappearance of Mr. Ahmed Rilwan Abdulla” and noted that, “...the Government and concerned authorities were committed to maximum effort in searching for the whereabouts of Minivan news journalist who was last seen on CCTV footage from Hulhumale...”

The Maldives Police Service subsequently announced the arrest of three suspects in connection with Rilwan's disappearance, but also criticised marches held to keep up pressure on authorities over the case.

Since the disappearance, journalists for a number of news publications that covered the story have received anonymous threats warning of further violence if they don't drop their coverage. Meanwhile, Rilwan's family, friends and colleagues have continued to raise concerns about the speed and current conclusions of police investigations.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Her Excellency Ms Dunya Maumoon expressed concern on the act of intimidation and reprisals to journalists in general. “Freedom of media facilitates a greater degree of interconnectedness and awareness in the community, and is the cornerstone of any democratic society. Therefore, the protection and safety of journalists is fundamental not only at an individual level, but at a national and international level as well.” She added, “...the Government is committed to ensuring safety and security of all Maldivians.”

According to Reporters without Borders, the “Maldives has experienced a great deal of political instability since emerging from a dictatorship in 2008 [...] Violent gangs have imposed a climate of terror and their close links with political parties underlie the widespread corruption. At the same time, most of the parties use the gangs to harass their opponents. Dissidents are often threatened, abducted or murdered, undermining freedom of expression and information. The attacks on Minivan are not isolated. The premises of Raajje TV, an opposition station, were torched last October.”

This summer's attack is the latest act in an escalating idealogical crisis for a religiously conservative country that is almost exclusively associated with its hundreds of resort islands catering exclusively to the whims of earnest foreign honeymooners.

The Maldives has cosponsored resolution calling for the safety of journalists at the Human Rights Council in 2012 and at the UNGA in 2013.

Neil Merrett is the former deputy editor of Minivan News