Draconian bill to silence independent media passed amid outcry

In a chilling blow to press freedom, the People's Majlis has passed a highly controversial bill widely condemned as an attempt to silence independent media in the Maldives. The legislation, pushed through with the full backing of government-aligned members, was passed behind closed doors despite growing public outrage and condemnation from journalists, civil society, and international observers.

As the Majlis convened to vote on Tuesday, large crowds of journalists and citizens gathered outside, protesting from the start of the sitting until its conclusion. Their demands, to withdraw the bill and safeguard free expression, were met not with dialogue, but with force.

Eyewitnesses report that police used excessive and disproportionate force to break up the peaceful protest. Journalists were reportedly kneed in the head, had their arms twisted, and were assaulted to the point of bleeding. Several had their clothing torn in the violence.

Following the passage of the bill, prominent journalists who had spoken out against it, including Ahmed Aaidh and Mohamed Shahuzaan of Adhadhu News, and Ahmed Naif of Dhauru News, have received death threats, raising further alarm over the deteriorating state of press freedom and personal safety for media workers.

Observers warn that this legislation marks a significant regression for democracy in the Maldives. Critics argue that the bill is a calculated move by President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s administration to consolidate power and suppress dissenting voices, part of a broader pattern of authoritarian backsliding.

Opposition parties have condemned the bill as a clear effort to muzzle independent journalism and curtail free expression. Legal experts have also voiced concerns, stating that the new law severely undermines constitutional protections for free speech and will have wide-ranging implications for the public's right to information.

Journalists assert that the government has effectively declared war on independent media, adding that this is not just an attack on the press, it’s an attack on democracy itself.

The international community and human rights organizations are now being urged to respond to what many describe as an alarming assault on fundamental freedoms in the Maldives.

Many note that with the passing of the bill, press freedom in the Maldives will be set back many years. Opposition parties stress that this is a bill passed as part of Muizzu's efforts to establish a strong authoritarian rule. Legal experts have pointed out that this bill will also restrict the freedom of expression granted to Maldivian citizens in many ways.