Gov’t silent on ruling party MP’s call to kill journalists

The government has remained silent on a shocking statement made in Parliament by Ibrahim Falah, the Parliamentary Group Leader of the ruling People’s National Congress (PNC), who called for journalists to be “killed.” Despite mounting public outrage and calls for accountability, no official condemnation has been issued by the administration of President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu.

During Wednesday's parliamentary sitting, angered by news outlets publishing his inappropriate remarks, Falah said in the debate on a bill designed to restrict media freedom and imprison journalists, "They published a photo of someone who looks like me, claiming I'm homosexual. I have a wife and children too. I have grown children. I have young children. Is this how the media works, Honorable Speaker? When they work at this level, the media shouldn't be sent to jail, they should be killed."

MP Falah invoked a brutal method of torture and execution historically practiced, a phrase that carries violent, chilling connotations. In his speech, Falah suggested that this method “needs to be done” to journalists, a statement widely interpreted as a call for violent retribution against the press.

Falah’s inflammatory remark comes amid growing tension over a widely criticized media control bill, submitted by Thulhaadhoo MP Abdul Hannan Aboobakuru, an independent lawmaker aligned with the ruling party. Journalists argue the bill, which has already been accepted by the People’s Majlis with 49 votes from pro-government MPs, is a direct attack on press freedom. The legislation includes provisions to shut down news outlets, imprison journalists, and place sweeping powers in the hands of a government-controlled media commission.

In response, journalists have been staging protests outside the President’s Office, demanding answers from top government officials, including Minister of Youth Empowerment, Information and Arts Ibrahim “Asward” Waheed and Presidential Communications Minister Ibrahim Khaleel.

When repeatedly asked whether the government condemns Falah’s violent rhetoric, both Waheed and Khaleel deflected. Khaleel initially claimed he was unaware of the statement, despite the widespread circulation of the speech on social media, with journalists, media outlets, and the public tagging the president, the President’s Office, and PNC.

In an effort to prompt a response, journalists played the audio of Falah’s speech on-site. Minister Waheed showed reluctance to listen, and when pressed, told reporters it wasn’t tolerable to argue. Khaleel, after hearing the recording, declined to comment, stating he did not wish to speak on anything said by a lawmaker on the parliament floor, a stance critics say enables impunity.

Khaleel ended the exchange by offering a vague assurance: “The government will not do anything to restrict the media,” a statement many journalists viewed as hollow, given the administration's continued support for the bill.

President Muizzu has so far only stated he would seek amendments to the legislation, a move widely interpreted as tacit approval of the bill’s intent and contents.