Protests outside Parliament against Media Bill

Journalists have begun protesting outside Parliament over concerns that the Media Regulation Bill may be approved.

Journalists from various media organizations have been voicing their opinions in opposition from 8:30 am. However, Police have forcefully pushed them back from the Parliament entryway and have barricaded its surroundings. 

As per Mihaaru News journalists who are on site, all roads leading to the Parliament building have been closed off.

Even though an extraordinary sitting had been scheduled for today, the agenda is yet to be announced by Parliament.

Parliament's highest priority right now is the Media Regulation Bill, proposed by Thulhaadhoo MP Abdul Hannan AbuBakur. The bill, while proposed by an independent, was defended by supermajority PNC in Parliament, has been reviewed along with its amendments and approved last night by the Parliament's  Independent Institutions Committee. It is being theorized that today's sitting will have members vote on the bill in question.

Journalists have been saying that the media bill was put together in such a way that it would obstruct press freedom with journalists having presented the issue to the President as well. Even with journalists presenting a petition with a major amount of signatures to both the President and the Parliament, the processes regarding the bill has been hastened without any regard to the petition.

With work being done to approve the bill, Maldives Journalist Association (MJA) and 21 organizations including international agencies have called for the withdrawal of the bill.

"Reporters Without Borders" organization has also called for the reversal of the bill stating that it is a threat to free press. However, the government has stated that the bill has been approved with the amendments that journalists wanted. The government also stated that the bill will not obstruct journalists and media organizations in conducting journalism freely.