A local Sheikh is seeking MVR28 million from four journalists for defamation following their coverage over an alleged Hajj pilgrimage scam.
Sheikh Nasrulla Musthafa who had recently stepped down as the Arabiyya School principal had originally sued five journalists from local newspaper 'Mihaaru'. However, the Islamic preacher had withdrawn the lawsuit against one of the five "following a request by the journalist."
Nasrullah was arrested in November over his alleged involvement in a scam that saw four people sent to Mecca without any arrangements for their pilgrimage.
The four were stranded in Saudi Arabia before the state-run Hajj Corporation stepped in. Nasrulla is now suing each of the four journalists for MVR7 million each claiming defamation for various articles reporting the incident.
The case is now at the dispute resolution stage and would proceed to trial if an agreement is not reached.
