The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and the Maldives Journalists Association (MJA) have urged President Mohamed Muizzu to reject a new media law that critics say threatens press freedom and places the media under government control.
“CPJ is deeply concerned that the Maldives Parliament has passed a bill that would undermine the work of independent journalists and place the media under government control,” the New York-based watchdog said in a post on X on Wednesday. “We urge President @MMuizzu to reject the Maldives Media and Broadcasting Regulation Bill and uphold his pledge to protect media freedom.”
Parliament on Tuesday passed what the MJA called a “draconian media control bill”, with 60 MPs from the ruling PNC voting in favour and one against, despite opposition protests inside the chamber and demonstrations outside.
The bill gives sweeping media and social media regulatory powers to a politicised commission, the MJA said in a statement on Tuesday.
The legislation dissolves the current Maldives Media Council and the Maldives Broadcasting Commission and replaces them with a new seven-member Maldives Media and Broadcasting Commission. Under the structure, the president would appoint three of the commission’s members, including the chair, while the remaining four would be selected by media outlets.
Critics warn this gives the executive branch disproportionate influence over media oversight. The commission would also be granted broad powers to suspend media registrations, block news websites, halt broadcasts, and impose fines of up to MVR 100,000.
Opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) lawmakers staged a protest during the sitting, accusing the parliament of violating standing orders to fast-track the legislation.
Journalists and members of the public gathered outside parliament in protest as the ruling People’s National Congress (PNC) party used its supermajority to push the bill through, a move MJA said was aimed at silencing the press and punishing dissent on social media. “Journalists stand together in defiance of this takeover of the media by the executive branch,” the organisation said.
The association said it continues its “call to reject the bill and calls on President Muizzu to immediately reject this unconstitutional bill.”