CPJ expresses concerns over Media Bill approval

President Dr Mohamed Muizzu ratified the Media and Broadcasting Regulation Bill on Thursday, despite previously promising to foster an environment supportive of press freedom in Maldives.

The decision has drawn criticism, including from the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), which has expressed serious concerns.

Following the bill’s passage, already a source of unease among journalists, CPJ's Asia-Pacific Regional Director, Bae Li Yee, described it as an attack on both press freedom and democracy.

He stated that the President had reneged on his campaign promise to protect independent journalism by endorsing the bill.

“...Therefore, we call for the repeal of this law and the protection of press freedom,” he said.

During a podcast appearance yesterday, President Muizzu defended the bill, stating that protecting one’s reputation is a universal right and should not be a subject of debate. However, he added that stories could still be published in accordance with facts, without compromising rules, and journalistic principles. He emphasized that the Maldivian people do not support the spread of misinformation.

The bill was passed by Parliament on Tuesday amid protests and vocal opposition from journalists. With the President's approval today, Maldives Media Council (MMC) has been dissolved, and all members of the Maldives Broadcasting Commission have lost their jobs.

Both MMC and the Maldives Journalists Association (MJA) had appealed to the government not to approve the bill. In response to the approval, both organizations have stated their intention to challenge the legislation in court.

Under the new law, the administrative staff and resources of the former Broadcasting Commission will be transferred to a newly established regulatory body, however, upon ratification the commission's members have all lost their positions.

Media Regulation Bill has been a flashpoint for journalist-led protests since its introduction. Acknowledging these concerns, the Attorney General had proposed several amendments, including removing a provision that allowed punitive action against individual journalists and media workers.

One of the key amendments involved removing Article 67, which originally included penalties targeting individual journalists. Another controversial clause, which would have permitted retrospective application of the law, was also removed.