Maldives press freedom drop may reflect other countries’ gains, says spokesperson

Chief Government Spokesperson Mohamed Hussain Shareef said on Thursday that the Maldives’ fall in the World Press Freedom Index may have resulted from other countries improving their positions.

The Maldives was ranked 108th in this year’s index published by Reporters Without Borders ahead of World Press Freedom Day. The country fell four places compared with last year.

Speaking at a press conference, Shareef was asked whether the decline was linked to proposed legislation to establish a Media and Broadcasting Commission with regulatory powers over media outlets.

He said the index considers a range of factors and is not based solely on government actions.

“We consider the number of media outlets in the Maldives and the opportunities afforded to them,” he said.

Shareef added that President Mohamed Muizzu and cabinet ministers regularly engage with the media.

He also said the administration had introduced financial support programmes for media organisations.

“The Press Freedom Index does not measure the government alone,” he said. “The responsibility also lies with you [the media].”

Shareef said ranking changes can also occur when countries previously below the Maldives make greater progress and move ahead.

“A country dropping four places in an index could mean that several countries below it have advanced,” he said.

He rejected suggestions that the Maldives’ lower ranking was caused by the proposed commission.

“Our objective is not to control or over-regulate the media,” he said.

According to the RSF report, factors cited in the Maldives’ decline included the continued existence of source-disclosure provisions in the Evidence Act, proposed legislation giving a commission authority over media outlets, and the use of state advertising and subsidies in ways that may influence the media.