Committee schedules review of Media Bill again

Despite having passed the controversial Media Bill in yesterday's meeting of the Committee on Independent Institutions, the committee has once again scheduled a review of the bill. 

In yesterday's committee meeting, Committee Chair, ruling People's National Congress (PNC) MP Hussain Riza (Guraidhoo) decided to take a vote on the bill. In response, Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) MP Meekail Ahmed Naseem protested against this. Meekail claimed the bill should not be voted on without consideration for a petition submitted by journalists expressing concerns about the bill. 

Yesterday's committee meeting was adjourned when journalists present in the hall protested against the passing of the bill. Once the meeting resumed, the Chair announced that the bill has been passed. 

Despite this, a committee meeting has been scheduled for 2pm today to review the bill. 

An additional extraordinary sitting of the parliament has also been scheduled for 4pm today. 

Journalists continue to protest against the bill, citing that the bill is phrased in a manner that infringes heavily upon press freedom. Journalists are staging a protest outside parliament today as well. 

In light of these concerns, the Attorney General proposed amendments to the bill. These amendments include removal of the clause which allows fines to be levied against individual journalists and media personnel. 

The committee meeting in which the AG's proposed amendments were discussed was held closed. As such, it is so far unclear which of the amendments have been adopted in to the bill.