Maldives' decline in Press Freedom Index could be due to other lower-ranking countries making more significant progress: Shareef
Although the government spokesperson suggested that the Maldives' four-place drop in the Press Freedom Index may be due to the advancement of other nations, statistical data reveals a decline in the country's overall score. Reporters Without Borders highlighted that the establishment of a commission to control the media and legislative amendments compelling the disclosure of sources serve as clear evidence of deteriorating press freedom in the Maldives.
Mohamed Hussain Shareef (Mundu) | Raajje MV
Government spokesperson Mohamed Hussain Shareef has suggested that the Maldives' decline in the Press Freedom Index—a key metric for evaluating media liberty—could potentially be attributed to improvements made by countries previously ranked below it.
Shareef made these remarks during Thursday's press conference in response to a journalist's inquiry regarding the Maldives' four-slot decline in the World Press Freedom Index. The journalist specifically questioned whether the government's move to establish a commission to oversee the media was a contributing factor to the country's lower ranking.
In response to that question, Shareef stated that the media is currently being afforded opportunities unprecedented under any previous administration. He further noted that both the President and the Cabinet continue to engage directly with journalists.
Shareef questioned why journalists assume that every decline in the Maldives' ranking on the Press Freedom Index is solely due to the government withholding information. He further noted that press freedom is not measured exclusively by the media's relationship with the government.
Despite Shareef's assertions, this year’s report evaluated press freedom based on several key criteria, including the extent of government influence, pressure, and control over the dissemination of news and information, as well as the safety of journalists. The Maldives saw a decline in its performance across the majority of these categories.
A country dropping four places in an index could simply mean that the nations previously ranked below it have advanced by five, or even ten, positions, couldn't it?Mohamed Hussain Shareef
According to the index statistics, the Maldives' overall score has declined from 52.46 to 49.23. This shift has resulted in a negative impact on the country's ranking across all key indicators used to measure press freedom.
According to Reporters Without Borders (RSF), although the previous administration repealed the controversial Defamation Act that threatened media freedom, the situation has shifted under President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s government. The organization highlighted legislative amendments that compel journalists to disclose their sources, as well as the establishment of a new Media Commission despite ongoing concerns raised by the press.
