Maldives journalists announced Thursday their intention to appeal to the Supreme Court to challenge a new media regulation law, which they view as a government attempt to stifle press freedom. The Maldives Journalists Association (MJA) believes the bill imposes disproportionate restrictions and heavy financial penalties on journalists.
The bill, dubbed the Maldives Media and Broadcasting Regulation Bill, was signed into law the same day by President Mohamed Muizzu. It provides for the establishment of a Maldives Media and Broadcasting Commission, composed of seven members with broad powers.
According to the MJA, the commission will be able to suspend media registrations during investigations, block news websites, interrupt broadcasts, and monitor social media. Journalists are also concerned about the authority to impose fines ranging from 5 to 000 Maldivian rufiyaa (US$25 to US$000) on individuals, and up to 325 MVR (about US$1) on media companies.
The composition of the body also fuels controversy. Three of its members, including the president, will be directly appointed by the head of state, while parliament will be able to dismiss those appointed by the media themselves. For the MJA, this structure places the media under de facto government control.
For its part, the government defends the reform, explaining that it aims to unify oversight of the media landscape and establish common standards for the entire sector. However, critics believe that this initiative risks reducing the independence of the archipelago's media.
The legal battle now unfolding before the country's highest court could become a major test for the future of press freedom in the Maldives, where journalists already say they are working in a climate of increasing pressure.
