Maldives repeals draconian anti-defamation law

Maldives parliament has on Wednesday passed to repeal the draconian anti-defamation law.

38 MPs voted in favor of repealing the law, while 13 voted against it. There were no abstentions.

North-Henveiru constituency MP, former Speaker Abdulla Shahid presented the motion to the parliament floor this Monday. He first submitted the motion to the parliament secretariat in late October, noting that it was an important pledge of President-elect Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.

While it was forwarded to the committee on independent institutions, the committee approved the motion on Tuesday.

Submitting the motion, MP Shahid noted that the anti-defamation law contradicts with articles 27- right to freedom of expression- and 33- right to protect one’s reputation and good name- as well as international treaties that the Maldives is party to.

While the law was passed amid protests by journalists over the various obstructions to press freedom, Shahid highlighted that the Joint Opposition decided to repeal it in honour of the brave journalists that have served the country.

Noting that the motion was submitted in honour of abducted journalist Ahmed Rilwan and slain blogger Yameen Rasheed, the lawmaker added that this step was taken “to remove the tapes on the mouths of Maldivian citizens and to break the bonds that entrap journalists”.

While the law was introduced in August 2016, the bill was submitted by MP Jaufar Dawood from the ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM). 47 MPs from PPM voted in favor of the law.

After parliament passed to repeal the law, parliamentary group leader of PPM, Ahmed Nihan tweeted that 38 MPs have voted to repeal the anti-defamation law, with a ‘crying emoji’.

Nihan had initially submitted the legislation to criminalize defamation, in March 2016. However, he later withdrew the bill as the government submitted a ‘newer version’ of the bill.