Govt hints at "penalties" in new press freedom law
"We are not of the mind to penalise or restrict the press,” Usham said.
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By
Mohamed Muzayyin Nazim
The government's legislative agenda has included a special law for press freedom and freedom of expression.
The Cabinet on Thursday approved the government's five-year legislative agenda, which includes 213 bills with 78 new bills.
The 78 new bills include a Freedom of the Press Bill and a Freedom of Expression Bill.
When asked about the two bills at a press conference at the Attorney General's Office on Thursday after the Cabinet meeting, Attorney General Ahmed Usham said the two bills were not intended to further restrict the constitutional right.
“This is not intended to restrict any rights you [journalists] or anyone else has,” Usham said when asked whether the two bills would restrict any rights already granted.
"We have no intention of restricting freedom of expression or the right to freedom of the press”.
Usham said both rights can be exercised as broadly as possible through the law. The two bills are being drafted for that purpose, he said.
“When we do this, we will do it in consultation with the journalists,” Usham said of the two bills, which the government intends to introduce in parliament early next year.
Asked whether the two bills would include any punishment or fine, Usham said the government had not taken such a decision yet.
"As I said, when we do this, we will do this after consulting the Broadcasting Commission, the Media Council and journalists. Does it include punishment or not? For example, some of you may want to include punishment, so I cannot say there won't be any penalties in relation. However, we are not of the mind to penalise or restrict the press,” Usham said.
The government's legislative agenda also includes amendments to the Constitution. The amendments do not include any amendment to the rights chapter of the Constitution, he said.
When asked why two separate laws are being brought for the two, Usham said the current intention is to draft two separate bills. However, if it is proposed as one bill during the study stage, it will be submitted as one bill.
