Media council prohibits council members

The institution responsible for the oversight of the media in the Maldives, Maldives Media Council has decided to prohibit participation by its members in the front line and campaigns of political parties.

The resolution to prohibit these activities was passed unanimously by the nine members of the council present at the meeting today. The meeting was chaired by Vice President of the Media Council Husham Mohamed, who did not participate in the vote.

The Media Council said that prohibiting participation by its members in the front line and campaigns of political parties does not impose any restrictions legally, and therefore also passed to amend the council’s regulation accordingly.

The decision passed by the council today does not obstruct council members’ right to become members of political parties.

Some members of the 14-member council, which by law has the power to probe and take action against any activity that obstructs media freedom, are active in the front line of various political parties.

In this regard, some members of the council have participated in visits by political parties to the islands as part of their campaigns for the presidential election, and in activities carried out to increase support for primary election candidates of some political parties.

Meanwhile, the parliament recently investigated a case regarding former member of Maldives Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) Nahla Ali applying for the post of council member of the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM). Nahla resigned from her post at MBC before the parliament made a decision on the matter.

Several members of the board of MBC are active in the front line of various political parties.