IFJ expresses concern over parliament privileges bill

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), an organisation that aims to protect and strengthen the rights and freedoms of journalists, has expressed concern over the bill on parliament privileges. This bill has been passed by the parliament without any amendment after it was returned by the president for reconsideration; and thus must now be ratified the president.

IFJ noted that its affiliate the Maldives Journalists Association (MJA) had expressed concern regarding section 17(a) of the act, which empowers the parliament or one of its committees to summon anyone to “give witness or to hand over any information” of interest.

IFJ said that this could undermine the constitutional protection that journalists currently enjoy.

IFJ said in its statement:

“Under article 28 of the Maldives constitution every citizen enjoys the right to freedom of speech and expression and nobody “shall be compelled to disclose the source of any information that is espoused, disseminated or published by that person.”

“The IFJ believes that this is a salutary provision of law which makes the Maldives one of the few countries to provide constitutional protection to sources of journalists’ information.

“The IFJ joins the MJA in asking for a reconsideration of provisions in the Parliamentary Privileges Act which may undermine this valuable protection afforded to journalists and all citizens.”

The Maldives fell from 73 in 2012 to 103 this year, in the ‘Press Freedom Index 2013’ released by Reporters Without Borders earlier this year.