MMC rejects Defamation Bill, proposes amendments

Maldives Media Council (MMC) has rejected the bill on defamation and freedom of speech, proposing amendments to the bill.

Members of MMC were summoned by the 11-member parliamentary committee set up to evaluate the bill on Wednesday.

Speaking during the meeting, MMC member Hussain Hassan said that individuals should be protected from defamation, but that the Defamation Bill up for consideration at the parliament violated the rights guaranteed by the Constitution.

MMC member Hussain Hassan during meeting with committee to evaluate Defamation Bill on August 3, 2016. Sun photo: Fayaz Moosa

He said that the bill was designed in such a way that it destroyed any convenient way for media to carry out their business.

Hussain said that the bill was worded very ambiguously, and that certain clauses needed to be more specifically stated along with more explanation.

“We need to spread accurate news. This is what we reporters do. This is our duty. But according to this bill, the reporter needs to prove the accuracy of his article. According to

Article 28 of the Constitution, no one can be forced to reveal the source of his information.

Therefore, this bill also violates the clause regarding the source of information,” said Hussain.

MMC member Ahmed Hamdhoon said that the media had many concerns regarding the bill.

And that the bill contained certain clauses that could bar them from covering certain news.

MMC member Ahmed Hamdhoon during meeting with committee to evaluate Defamation Bill on August 3, 2016. Sun photo: Fayaz Moosa

“Political news – the type of news most popular among the people will disappear. It will be difficult to cover such news. We would have to focus on entertainment or sports news. We cannot accept this, and neither will anyone else in this society. Media needs to be allowed to cover a wider scope of news than this,” said Hamdhoon.

Key amendments proposed for Defamation Bill:

• Cutting down fines

• Amend the clause which requires the accused to file for appeal only after he/she has paid the fine

• Cut down prison sentence

• Increase protection for reporters

• Re-design the bill in such a way that it does not limit the work of reporters

MMC member Hidhaayathulla raised the question as to whether television channels can broadcast People’s Majlis sittings if the Defamation Bill is passed.

MMC member Hidhaayathulla during meeting with committee to evaluate Defamation Bill on August 3, 2016. Sun photo: Fayaz Moosa

He also pointed out that if Defamation Bill had been in effect, it raised questions as to how media would have been able to cover the biggest embezzlement case in Maldivian history – the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) scandal.

“This bill needs to be there. But institutions need to be formed along with this bill. There’s Broadcom and MMC – with no way to run it. One law conflicts with another. We don’t know how we should operate. MMC is the institution which looks after the interest of reporters working in media. Broadcom gives reporters passes. And the person who does cleaning in media stations go out in demonstrations,” said Hidhaayathulla.

Meanwhile, members of the committee – Kelaa MP Ali Arif and Ungoofaaru MP Jaufar Dhawood – who proposed the bill – insisted that there was no barrier to reporting accurate news with the Defamation Bill.

Meeting between MMC and committee to evaluate Defamation Bill on August 3, 2016. Sun photo: Fayaz Moosa

“Is there any clause in this law which prescribes penalties for spreading accurate information? Can DhiTV run its operations with the license given to VTV? Article 27 of the Constitute states that freedom of speech is allowed unless it violated principles of Islam. So this bill does not stop any report which does not conflict with Islam,” said MP Arif.