Government-aligned MPs agree to address concerns, amend defamation bill

Most of the government-aligned lawmakers who participated during the debate of defamation and freedom of expression bill on Monday agreed to address the concerns over the bill and amend it.

Speaking during the debate, ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) Parliamentary Group Leader – Vilimale’ MP Ahmed Nihan Hussain Manik said that preventing people from being defamed was also a right that needed to be guaranteed through law.

Nihan said that the freedom of expression – guaranteed through Article 27 of Maldivian Constitution was being excessively abused. And that the bill proposed by Ungoofaaru MP Jaufar Dhaood was designed to prevent inaccurate news articles from being published and stop people from being deliberately defamed.

“We accept the concerns raised by reporters regarding defamation bill. We accept the technical issues raised by the reporters. I declare that PPM Parliamentary Group is open to making amendments,” said Nihan.

His proposal for a 11-member committee to be set up to evaluate the bill has been approved by the Majlis.

The committee will include six PPM lawmakers, two lawmakers from Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), and one lawmaker from Maldives Development Alliance.

Speaking during the debate, Eydhafushi MP Ahmed Saleem said that the freedom of the pen must not be meddled in.

Eydhafushi MP Ahmed Saleem. Photo: People's Majlis

North Fuvahmulah MP Ali Shah noted that it was stated in Maldivian Constitution that there can be no legislation which violates the principles of Islam.

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North Fuvahmulah MP Ali Shah. Photo: People's Majlis

He said that he too accepted that amendments needed to be made, but said that a law on defamation was vital to the country at the moment.

“Constitution says there cannot be any laws which violate Islamic Sharia. I’m not saying there aren’t amendments that need to be made to this bill. There are amendments that need to be made. But this is an important bill,” said Shah.

Meanwhile, opposition lawmakers raised issue after issue with the bill during the debate.

Hinnavaru MP Ibrahim Mohamed Solih (Ibu) said that the defamation bill was an assault on freedom of expression. And that reporters and media stations were threatened by the bill.

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Hinnavaru MP Ibrahim Mohamed Solih (Ibu). Photo: People's Majlis

The bill was accepted into the Majlis with the vote of 38 MPs; 28 MPs voted to reject the bill, while one MP remained neutral.