Some journalists boycott AG's press conference

Attorney General Ahmed Usham has said he does not recommend withdrawing the Media Regulatory Bill introduced by Thulhaadhoo MP Abdul Hannan, despite strong opposition from journalists, Maldives Media Council, and the Maldives Journalists Association (MJA). Following his comments, some journalists walked out of the press conference in protest, prompting the event to end early.

Speaking at a press conference, AG Usham argued that the bill closely resembles a draft submitted by the Media Council in August 2022, and therefore doesn’t warrant withdrawal. 

Protests against the bill continued today outside the President’s Office, following similar demonstrations near Mulee Aage yesterday. Many journalists are demanding the bill be completely withdrawn and rewritten with proper consultation.

AG Usham reiterated that he won’t recommend MP's to withdraw the bill which was met by media personnel leading protests saying that they would continue with their demonstration against the bill.

The bill was accepted during an extraordinary parliamentary sitting while Parliament was in recess and is now under review by the Independent Institutions Committee. Public consultation on the bill was announced this afternoon by the Parliament Secretariat.

Earlier today, President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu met with the MJA and several journalists, assuring them the bill would be amended and reaffirming that his government is "100 percent pro-media."