President says to 'consider' demand to withdraw media bill

President Mohamed Muizzu has not given assurance that the proposed media regulation bill in Parliament will be withdrawn, but has said he would consider the request, journalists who met him on Thursday confirmed.

The President met with several media leaders following ongoing protests against the bill. At the meeting, which lasted for more than an hour, journalists repeatedly requested that the bill be withdrawn rather than amended.

According to participants, the President said it was not his intention to control the media and that he would not allow such control to take place. He said he would instruct for changes to be made to the bill at its current stage in Parliament.

However, journalists present at the meeting stressed that the bill could not be effectively amended and that withdrawal was the only option. They argued that amendments would make the process more complicated and time-consuming than drafting a new bill.

When pressed by journalists to confirm withdrawal, the President said he would consider their concerns and seek the advice of the Attorney General.

The meeting came amid continued protests by journalists and associations demanding that the bill be withdrawn in full.