Opposition leader and Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) Chairperson Fayyaz Ismail on Sunday criticised President Mohamed Muizzu for undermining media freedom and curbing political criticism, in response to the president’s National Day remarks and a proposed media regulation bill that critics say would place the press under direct political control.
“The dream and goal of every ruler who intends to establish a dictatorship is to keep the people from knowing their wrongdoings. Such leaders seek to eliminate political criticism in the name of preserving nationalism and reputation. A politician’s reputation will be protected by sincere service, not by destroying freedom of speech and the press,” Fayyaz wrote on X.
He added: “Deceptive and ruthless leaders silence journalists and shut down newspapers that expose their crimes and theft, depriving the people of their freedom. Every law passed by the Muizzu government to destroy freedom of expression and imprison journalists and media will be repealed under the next MDP government. A leader has tried this before. It did not succeed. God willing, it won’t this time either.”
Muizzu, addressing the nation earlier in the day at this year’s National Day ceremony in Utheemu Island, Haa Alifu Atoll, said: “You must accept that others have honour and dignity just as you do. The traditional Maldivian identity is rooted in these principles.” He added: “We have no right to violate the dignity, reputation or honour of others. We do not have the freedom to speak whatever comes to mind, nor to write with a pen whatever comes to mind.”
He further emphasised the state of society today, saying: “Today, we don’t care about the dignity, reputation or honour of others. You’re fine when you progress. You’re fine when you achieve what you want. You don’t care about whatever happens to others. That’s not Maldivian national unity.”
Muizzu also stressed the religious duty of citizens, noting: “The responsibility of protecting the Maldivian identity and passing on Islamic customs to the next generation lies with every Maldivian.” He repeatedly highlighted that “no one has the freedom to engage in character assassination that violates the rights of others.”
Fayyaz’s comments come amid growing concern over a newly proposed media regulation bill introduced in Parliament by government-aligned MP Abdul Hannan Aboobakuru. The bill, formally titled the Maldives Media and Broadcasting Regulation Bill, seeks to replace the Maldives Media Council and Maldives Broadcasting Commission with a new body, giving the president the authority to appoint its chair and three of its seven members.
Critics argue the legislation risks placing the media under direct political control. The Maldives Media Council said the bill “completely replaces the existing independent self-regulatory system to regulate the media and gives control of the entire media to the government and the party with the majority in parliament,” warning it would “set back the hard-earned freedom of the press for many years.”
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and the Maldives Journalists Association (MJA) also condemned the bill, calling it a “grave threat” to independent reporting and urging the government to withdraw it immediately.
Fayyaz warned that the law would grant the new body “unchecked authority to block, ban, and fine independent media sources and to stifle all forms of dissent,” adding: “We cannot go back to the days where speaking the truth is cause enough for persecution.”