Five journalists detained during protest released after legal warning

Five journalists protesting against the contentious Media Bill, granting the government significant control over the media, were temporarily detained by the Police.

The Parliament, where ruling PNC holds supermajority, accepted the Media Bill during an extraordinary sitting held out of session on Wednesday with the votes of 49 MPs. 12 MPs voted against accepting the bill.

Journalists had been protesting against the bill outside the People’s Majlis building since Wednesday morning.

The protest was later moved in front of the President’s Office, where journalists were obstructed by the Police.

In this regard, Muzayyin Nazim from Dhauru, Mohamed Shahuzaan and Ahmed Aaidh from Adhadhu, former member of Maldives Media Council and owner Citizen Moosa Rasheed were among those detained. 

They were taken into a police vehicle, however, were released shortly afterwards after a legal warning.

The journalists are 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.

The Media Bill was submitted to the 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, ruling 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 undue powers granted to the president under the new bill.