Reporters: Passing Anti-Defamation bill as it is will create underground websites

Some leading reporters have expressed concern over the Anti-Defamation and Freedom of Expression bill at People’s Majlis, saying that it could create “underground websites” that could prove bothersome to citizens, if the bill were passed as it is, without any revisions.

Leading reporters from some newspapers and TV stations signed a statement on Sunday which said that the bill was designed in such a way that it could create huge constraints journalism and freedom of expression.

The statement was signed by Editor-in-chief of Haveeru - Moosa Latheef, Editor-in-chief of Sun Online – Ahmed Zahir (Hiriga), CEO of DhiTV – Midhuhath Adam, Editor of V Media – Imad Latheef, CEO of RajjeTV – Hussein Fiyaz Moosa, Chief Editor of Avas Online – Adam Haleem (Mundoo), Chief Editor of Maldives Independent – Zaheena Rasheed, Chief Editor of CNM – Ismail Rasheed, and Senior Assistant Editors of Haveeru – Ahmed Abdulla Saeed and Ahmed Hamdhoon.

The reporters said in their statement that Anti-Defamation bill could lead to journalism and basic rights being marginalized, whereas it is stated in Article 18 of Maldivian Constitution that it is the duty of State to protect and promote the basic rights authorized by the Constitution.

And that the bill constrained media and civilians from talking about allegations against officials at different posts within top level of State.

“As per the bill, neither reporters no civilians will be able to talk about integrity of officials at different posts within State, or about serious allegations against them,” reads the statement.

The reporters said that it was a right of every citizen to check upon how well officials - who are provided their salaries by State and legally bound to honor certain responsibilities – perform their duties and the level of their integrity.

But that if the bill was passed as it is now, anyone who says anything remotely offensive could be criminally prosecuted on grounds of defamation.

The reporters also said that the bill could also lead to an uprising of “underground websites” of unknown origin as was experienced from 2004 to 2008.

“Maldivians experienced from 2004 to 2008 that if journalism and freedom of expression of citizens was marginalized and if the system no longer works properly, it will lead to the heads of citizens turning towards websites of unknown origin that pop up on the internet,” read the statement.

The reporters said that changing defamation from a civil offense to criminal offense would not be accepted by international community, in a world where defamation was no longer considered a criminal offense. And that designing the bill in such a way that it constrained journalism and freedom of expression was questionable when better ways could be found to protect people against defamation.