Members appointed to controversial media commission without vote amid widespread boycott

Individuals who were declared elected to the controversial media regulating commission without a vote have now been officially appointed as members of the body, further deepening concerns over media freedom in the Maldives.

Four members were appointed on Monday under the new Maldives Media and Broadcasting Regulation Act (Law No. 16/2025), which establishes a government-backed commission with sweeping powers to regulate the country’s independent media. The appointments were made without a vote, as only four candidates applied for the four available seats, reflecting a widespread boycott by media outlets protesting the law and the process behind it.

According to the President’s Office, the appointments were made in accordance with Article 17(2) and Article 21(g) of the new law.

Appointed were Abdul Aziz Ibrahim, native to Feydhoo island of Shaviyani atoll, and Zam’ath Ahmed Waheed, native to Thinadhoo island of Gaaf Dhaal atoll as representatives of broadcasters, and Simaha Naseem, native to Rathafandhoo island of Gaaf Dhaal atoll, and Hisaan Hussain Thaqeef, native to Vaikaradhoo island of Haa Dhaal atoll as representatives of other media.

The Maldives Media and Broadcasting Commission is composed of seven members: four elected by the media and three appointed by the People’s Majlis. With most media organizations boycotting the process, the legitimacy and independence of the commission have come under heavy scrutiny.

The formation and enforcement of this law have sparked strong domestic and international backlash. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, has stated that the law violates international agreements to which the Maldives is a signatory, and has urged the government to withdraw it.

In addition to this, key international actors, including the European Union, the United States, the United Kingdom, and prominent organizations such as the International Federation of Journalists, Reporters Without Borders, and the Committee to Protect Journalists, have condemned the law and called for its repeal.

The government, however, pushed ahead. The bill was submitted to parliament by an "independent" member widely believed to be acting at the ruling party’s behest. It was passed with the People’s National Congress (PNC) using its supermajority in sittings held outside the regular parliamentary calendar. President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu ratified the law in early September, despite protests from journalists and widespread calls for reconsideration.

The legislation grants the commission broad powers to shut down media outlets, impose heavy fines, and control editorial content in the name of regulation, mechanisms widely viewed as tools to suppress dissent and silence independent journalism.

Following the passage of the bill, numerous journalists and media outlets staged protests and submitted a petition to the President’s Office urging him not to ratify the law. After their concerns were ignored, many media organizations boycotted the newly formed commission and refused to participate in the member election process, resulting in uncontested appointments.

The law's implementation, along with the manner in which the commission has been formed, reflects an increasingly hostile environment for press freedom in the Maldives. Critics warn that these developments mark a dangerous shift toward state control of the media, with little regard for democratic principles or journalistic independence.