Court accepts claim to omit parts of Anti-Defamation Act

High Court has accepted the claim filed by three attorneys asking for omission to be made to Anti-Defamation and Freedom of Speech Act.

The claim was filed by attorneys; Maumoon Hameed, Hassan Muaz Shareef and Ibrahim Shameel in September, 2016.

The claim asked for omissions to:

• Article 6 (b)

• Article 6 (c)

• Article 6 (d)

• Article 9

• Article 11

• Article 12

• Article 14

• Article 15

• Article 16

• Article 17 (c)

• Article 17 (d)

• Article 18 (c)

• Article 18 (d)

• Article 21

• Article 22

• Article 23

• Article 25

• Article 26

• Article 27

• Article 28

• Article 29

• Article 30

• Article 31

• Article 32 (a)

• Article 32 (b)

• Article 32 (c)

• Article 32 (d)

• Article 33

• Article 34

• Article 36

• Article 40 (a) (ii)

• Article 40 (a) (iii)

• Article 40 (b)

The attorneys also asked for a temporary court order to halt implementation of the law pending the outcome of the trial.

They filed the claim asking High Court to rule the parts of the law violated Maldivian Constitution.

They have asked High Court to order People’s Majlis to reform the law and resubmit and pass it within six months; in accordance with Article 16 of Constitution which dictates procedures that need to be followed in an independent and democratic society, High Court rulings, the popular opinion among the people and institutions, and the spirit of Article 75 of Constitution.