MJA demands withdrawal of bill designed to ‘kill’ press freedom

The Maldives Journalists Association (MJA) on Tuesday demanded the immediate withdrawal of a new media control bill submitted to the Parliament, alleging that the legislature is designed to “completely kill” press freedom in the Maldives.

On Monday, Thulhaadhoo MP Abdul Hannan Aboobakr, an independent lawmaker aligned with the government, submitted a new bill that seeks to dissolve the Maldives Media Council (MMC) and the Maldives Broadcasting Commission (BroadCom), replacing them with a single body — the Maldives Media and Broadcasting Commission.

According to the Maldives Media and Broadcasting Regulation Bill, the new seven-member commission will be composed of four members elected by the media and three appointed by the President with parliamentary approval, with the President also given the authority to appoint the commission’s head.

The first reading of the bill was held at the Parliament on Tuesday morning.

The new bill follows a similar one submitted by Hannan back in November 2024, which was later withdrawn following pushback from media.

In a statement on Tuesday, the MJA condemned the new bill, describing it as one that “poses a direct threat to press freedom and seeks to place the media under government control.”

“We call for its immediate withdrawal,” said the MJA.

The association also slammed the use of ambiguous terms in the bill.

“This association rejects this bill that casts blame on the media, with multiple ambiguous phrases in its clauses that can be exploited, and the power to fine and shut down media outlets, and impose major penalties against journalists,” said the association.

MJA said this constitutes to a move to “completely kill press freedom.”

MJA strongly condemns the new Media and Broadcasting Regulation Bill. This bill poses a direct threat to press freedom and seeks to place the media under government control. We call for its immediate withdrawal. #HatharehgeHaggugai #CTRLbillBeyrukurey #CTRLehNukureveyne
Read our… pic.twitter.com/XIv9vKESYK

— Maldives Journalists Association (@mjamaldives) August 19, 2025

MJA said that it will not accept a commission that regulates the media that has presidential appointees, and is headed by a person who is also directly appointed by the President.

The association also expressed concern that the bill empowers the Parliament to dismiss commission members who are elected by medias through no-confidence motions.

“The failure to properly discuss this bill with the media and journalists before submitting it casts doubt that this was proposed with good intentions,” said the MJA.

The MJA also alleged that they are “certain” that Deputy Speaker Ahmed Nazim, a senior politician from the ruling People’s National Congress (PNC), had been heavily involved in the bill.

The association said that the decision to submit the bill through an independent parliamentarian shows there is a “nefarious agenda” behind it.

MJA said that it cannot support the bill, and asked Hannan to immediately withdraw it.

The association also asked the PNC, which holds a supermajority in the Parliament, to reject the bill.

The new bill empowers the proposed commission to impose major penalties against media outlets as well as individual journalists. This includes:

• Fines of MVR 5,000 -25,000 against journalists for failure to comply with the commission’s instructions.
• Fines of up to MVR 100,000 against media outlets and magazines for legal violations.
• Temporary suspension of registrations during ongoing commission probes.
• Permanently revoking registrations through the courts.
• Blocking websites during ongoing probes.
• Ordering the cessation of broadcasting.

While the MJA protests against this new bill as a threat to press freedom, it is backed by the government, which insists the legislature is designed to empower the press and protect press freedom.