Journalists protest against Media Bill granting govt. control over media

Journalists have protested outside the People’s Majlis building on Wednesday morning in conjunction with the extraordinary sitting of the Parliament, with the preliminary debate on the contentious Media Bill, granting the government significant control over the media.

A large number of journalists gathered outside the People’s Majlis building on Wednesday as lawmakers arrived for the sitting, displaying posters opposing the Media Bill and voicing their opinions.

The journalists were urging against the passage of the law which would allow the government direct control over the independent press, which is the fourth pillar of democracy. They also spoke out against any attempts to undermine freedom of speech and press, both of which are protected by the constitution.

After the sitting began, the journalists took their protest inside the People’s Majlis building, moving to the gallery where they continued their demonstration in silence. Notably, they had also held a silent protest in the gallery during the sitting in which the preliminary debate on the bill was first held.

Notably, main opposition Maldivian Demcoratic Party (MDP) is also protesting against the Media Bill outside the People's Majlis building. 

The Media Bill was introduced in Parliament by Thulhaadhoo MP Abdul Hannan Aboobakr, an independent lawmaker aligned with the government and a medium-scale businessman with no background in media. Hannan had previously introduced a similar bill aimed at media regulation, which was ultimately rejected. However, the ruling People’s National Congress (PNC), holding a supermajority in parliament, has now publicly backed the current iteration of the bill.

The government’s spokesperson Heena Waleed previously asserted that the bill would safeguard media freedom and empower journalists. Nevertheless, the President on Monday evening informed PNC members that he did not wish to see the bill passed in a manner that would grant him undue control over the media.

If enacted, Hannan's Media Bill imposes hefty fines on individual journalists, ranging from MVR 5,000 to MVR 25,000, while media outlets could face penalties of MVR 100,000. Furthermore, the proposed legislation would empower a commission to revoke media outlet registrations and suspend newspaper operations even before a full investigation of alleged infringements.

In response to these potential ramifications, both the Maldives Media Council and the Maldives Journalists Association (MJA) have urged the withdrawal of the bill.

Despite being introduced by an independent MP with a history of proposing similar legislation, opposition parties and media organizations contend that the government is the true architect behind the bill. Amidst these allegations, Parliament’s Deputy Speaker Ahmed Nazim, a ruling party lawmaker, had admitted to participating in researching the bill.

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has stated he has no intention of controlling the media, adding a recommendation will be made to remove powers granted to the president under the new bill.