EU urges Maldives to safeguard media freedom under new law

The European Union (EU) has called on the Maldivian government to implement the new Media Regulation Act in a way that ensures the protection of media freedom and the right to information.

President Mohamed Muizzu ratified the media regulation bill on Thursday last week despite appeals from journalists and international organisations not to proceed with the legislation. The EU issued its statement the following day.

The EU office in neighbouring Maldives said it had monitored the passage of the bill and noted the concerns expressed by journalists and civil society groups. It added that the implications of the law for freedom of expression would also be taken into account.

The statement urged the Maldivian government to apply the legislation in line with international human rights agreements to which the country is a signatory, noting that access to information is a key foundation of both media freedom and democracy.

The bill was introduced by Abdul Hannan Abubakar, with the backing of the ruling People’s National Congress (PNC). The text was drafted by Deputy Speaker Ahmed Nazim. Parliament passed the bill in under two weeks, during recess, with some committee deliberations held behind closed doors.

With the law now in effect, the Maldives Broadcasting Commission and the Maldives Media Council have been dissolved. In their place, the Maldives Media and Broadcasting Commission has been established with expanded powers. Under the Act, the new commission may in some cases order the suspension of media outlets through security forces without recourse to the courts.