MMC resolves to call to reject Media Bill without providing feedback

Maldives Media Council (MMC), on Wednesday, has decided against offering feedback for the newly proposed Media Bill which would give authorities considerable control over the media.

Prior to this, both MMC and Maldives Journalist Association (MJA) had called for the withdrawal of the contentious bill submitted by Thulhaadhoo MP Abdul Hannan Aboobakr, an independent lawmaker aligned with the government.

In a statement on Wednesday night, MMC said it had extensive discussions regarding the Media Bill during a meeting, concluding that it was crafted to restrict constitutional rights to freedom of the press and related fundamental rights while enabling significant control over the media to the government and parliament.

MMC further noted that although the bill seeks to merge the Council with the Maldives Broadcasting Commission (BroadCom), it fails to clearly distinguish between the rights of broadcasters and those of journalists.

In light of these concerns, MMC reached several key decisions during Wednesday’s meeting:

• Call to reject the Media Bill without providing any feedback for the legislature 
• To establish a working group within the Council to collaborate with all relevant stakeholders in efforts to oppose the bill
• Request a meeting with President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu to directly communicate the Council’s concerns about the proposed legislation
• To raise awareness on social media, emphasizing the importance of media self-regulation and the important role played by journalism in a democratic society 
• To write to parliamentary groups, urging them not to support or proceed with the proposed Media Bill

The new bill follows a similar one submitted by Hannan back in November 2024, which was later withdrawn following pushback from the media.

Hannan’s Maldivian Media and Broadcasting Regulation Bill, seeks to establish the Maldivian Media and Broadcasting Commission as the single media regulatory body. 

The bill also outlines stringent measures against media workers and journalists. News agencies failing to rectify issues as advised by the commission within a given timeframe face fines ranging from MVR 5,000 to MVR 25,000. Media outlets or newspapers violating the law could incur fines up to MVR 100,000.

Crucially, the Commission would have the authority to temporarily suspend a media outlet's registration during an investigation. This temporary cancellation could become permanent following a case taken to court. The commission also gains the power to block newspaper websites or halt television broadcasts.

Under the bill, the commission would be empowered to investigate any submitted case, even those that occurred up to a year before the commission's establishment or the bill's adoption.

Notably, the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has also called to reject the bill.