A petition signed by 151 journalists from 41 news outlets, including freelancers, was submitted to both the People’s Majlis and the President’s Office on Wednesday, urging the withdrawal of the Maldives Media and Broadcasting Regulation Bill, which critics say would severely undermine press freedom.
The petition submitted to parliament, backed by Velidhoo MP Mohamed Abbas, called on lawmakers to reject the bill, while the one addressed to President Mohamed Muizzu urged him not to ratify it if it passes.
The draft bill, currently under review by the parliament committee on independent institutions, would replace the Maldives Broadcasting Commission and the Maldives Media Council with a new Maldives Media and Broadcasting Commission. The seven-member body would include three presidential appointees and four members elected by established media outlets. The president would also appoint the chair. Critics say the measure risks placing the media under direct government control.
Under the proposed legislation, the commission would have sweeping powers, including the authority to suspend media registrations during investigations, block news websites, halt broadcasts, and impose fines of MVR 5,000–25,000 for individual journalists and up to MVR 100,000 for media outlets for non-compliance with commission rules. Opposition leader and Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) Chairperson Fayyaz Ismail has called the bill “another poorly concealed attempt” to dismantle media freedom. He warned it would grant the commission “unchecked authority to block, ban, and fine independent media sources and to stifle all forms of dissent.”
Local media organisations, including the Maldives Journalists Association (MJA) and the Maldives Media Council (MMC), have strongly criticised the legislation. The MMC said the bill “opens the door for unfair action against the media” and would roll back constitutional protections, including the right of journalists not to reveal their sources under Article 28. The MJA warned that vague terms in the bill are “ripe for abuse” and that punitive measures would effectively criminalise journalism.
International press freedom groups have also joined the call for the bill’s withdrawal. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) said the legislation “lacks legitimacy” and bypasses necessary consultation with the media industry, undermining democracy and press freedom. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and 20 other civil society organisations have urged President Muizzu to withdraw the bill immediately, citing its threat to media independence and the public’s right to know.
Attorney General Ahmed Usham last week dismissed journalists’ calls to withdraw the legislation, saying there was no reason to do so. Government officials maintain the bill is intended to streamline oversight and strengthen accountability. President Muizzu, meanwhile, has stressed that freedom of speech has limits, emphasising the need to protect the dignity and honour of others.
Journalists have appeared before the Independent Institutions Committee to press lawmakers to reject the bill ahead of the 15 September deadline. A similar bill introduced last year was withdrawn after widespread opposition, but critics say the new draft goes further, consolidating presidential control over media regulation.