CPJ urges withdrawal of controversial bill threatening press freedom
CPJ urges Muizzu to withdraw media control bill that restricts press freedom
Journalists at a press conference held by the president - 05.12.2023
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has called on President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu to withdraw the bill submitted to the People's Majlis that restricts media freedom and brings journalism under government control.
CPJ's Asia-Pacific Regional Director Beh Lih Yi asserted that President Muizzu must withdraw this bill, which "sets back" journalism, in order to fulfill his promise to uphold media freedom.
The bill proposes to dissolve the current Maldives Media Council (MMC) and Maldives Broadcasting Commission (Broadcom) and establish a new commission called the "Maldives Media and Broadcasting Commission".
Of the seven members in the new commission, the president will have the power to appoint three members, including the commission's chairperson. The four members elected by the media can be dismissed through a vote in the parliament.
Under the draconian bill, the commission will have the power to fine journalists between MVR 5,000 and MVR 10,000, and media outlets up to MVR 100,000. In addition to this, the commission will have the authority to block websites and suspend broadcasts.
The Maldives Journalists Association (MJA) has stated that the bill poses a significant threat to press freedom and that journalists and media outlets were not consulted in drafting the bill.
The bill was submitted to the People's Majlis on August 18 by MP Abdul Hannan Aboobakuru. This bill comes after a similar bill was submitted last year and later withdrawn.
When the bill was introduced last year and journalists protested, with international organizations issuing statements, President Muizzu had said that he does not support controlling journalism and wants to further expand media freedom.
