The High Court on Monday accepted the case to abolish certain clauses of the controversial Defamation and Freedom of Speech Act.
It was filed last September as a constitutional convention case by lawyers Maumoon Hameed, Hassan Maaz Shareef and Ibrahim Shameel, stating that certain clauses in the Act violate the Constitution and, hence, must be nullified.
The case seeks to abolish the clauses specified and to order the parliament to amend the Act in accordance with the policies of independent democracies. It also looks to withdraw the Act’s implementation until a verdict is reached.
The contentious Defamation and Freedom of Speech Act was passed by the parliament and implemented last year August amidst protest and criticism from media and opposition parties. The ratified bill outlined limitations and consequences even harsher than the original bill submitted to the parliament, including severe penalties for journalists for defamation, which had sparked public outrage and concern for free media in the Maldives.
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