Sawad says media bill will limit space for debate, oversight

Former Attorney General Ahmed Ali Sawad has criticised the media regulation bill currently under parliamentary review, warning that it is designed to impose control and restrict space for diverse perspectives on government actions.

Speaking at a forum held at Artificial Beach on Saturday evening, Sawad said the bill, which seeks to regulate media, journalists, and those who post information on social media, will result in reduced freedom of expression.

He noted that journalists, both Maldivian and international organisations, have called for the withdrawal of the bill, and local journalists have organised protests and awareness campaigns.

Sawad argued that the foundation of the Maldivian state is republican democracy, where all citizens should be able to express and share their political views. He said the role of journalists is to report on the activities of state institutions, providing space for citizens to examine governance from multiple perspectives.

According to Sawad, democratic systems worldwide adopt participatory models of journalism regulation to ensure oversight without direct government control. He said the current Maldives Media Council functions effectively because it operates independently of government, parliament, and political parties.

“The first thing this bill will do is dismantle that independence. It is intended for control, not genuine regulation,” Sawad said.

He added that the bill’s provisions on social media would extend its impact to ordinary citizens, as people of all ages rely on online platforms for communication. “We cannot live without the internet. We cannot criticise politics. That is something we must do as members of this republic,” he said.

Sawad cautioned that restricting freedom of expression would weaken citizens’ ability to hold state authorities accountable through elections.