As journalists and rights groups urge retreat, the government insists the law is necessary. But given the stakes – press freedom, rule of law, and governance – the coming days could mark a significant turning point.

Tensions escalated in the Maldives this week as legislators push forward with a controversial Media Regulation Bill – a draft law that media outlets, human rights organizations, and journalists warn will severely curb free expression. Outside Parliament on Tuesday, dozens of journalists engaged in protest, while authorities deployed police to block access, barricade roads, and enforce order.

On Tuesday, journalists began gathering outside Parliament at 8:30 AM to oppose the bill. Police forcibly pushed them back from Parliament’s gates and blocked roads leading to the building.

Parliament’s Independent Institutions Committee has reviewed the bill and its amendments and approved them. Today’s extraordinary session is expected to lead to a vote.

What the Bill Proposes

The bill, officially titled the Media Regulation Bill, was initiated by MP Abdul Hannan Abubakr on August 18. Although Abubakr is officially independent, he is closely tied to the ruling People’s National Congress (PNC), which holds a supermajority in Parliament.

Key features include:

• Dissolving the existing Maldives Media Council and Maldives Broadcasting Commission and replacing them with a single media commission of seven members. Three of those would be appointed directly by the president. Parliament would also have power to remove commission members elected by media outlets via a no-confidence vote.
• Granting the commission powers to order media outlets to publish correction notices for online content, impose fines of MVR 5,000 to 25,000 (~US$325 to US$1,623) for non-compliance, suspend media outlets during investigations, block newspaper websites, and halt broadcasts.
• Criminalizing vaguely defined offenses such as “spreading fake news,” which critics argue could be used to silence dissent.

Timeline and Political Process

• The draft law was submitted to the People’s Majlis (Parliament) on August 18, 2025.
• On August 24, President Muizzu, in his National Day address, publicly promoted the bill. He claimed the government had no intention of controlling the media.
• On August 27, journalists protested outside the President’s Office; some were allegedly detained and later released.
• Parliament, after being in recess, convened an extraordinary session and voted in favour of discussing the bill. An oversight committee has since opened a 10-day window for public input, including consultations with media starting August 31.

Opposition: Journalists, Civil Society, and Rights Groups

The bill has sparked opposition from many quarters:

• Journalists have staged protests, both outside Parliament and the President’s Office, arguing that the law will “dismantle free press” in the country.
• The Maldives Journalists Association (MJA), along with 21 other organizations – including international bodies – have called for the withdrawal of the bill.
• International rights groups such as Human Rights Watch and Reporters Without Borders have voiced alarm, saying the law undermines press freedoms and could facilitate censorship.

Mohamed Junayd, from the MJA, said the draft legislation would roll back the self-regulatory framework established after the Maldives’ democratic transition in 2008. He described it as a tool for unchecked executive power, with the potential even to allow constitutional amendments “in a day.”

Government’s Position

The government claims that the bill includes amendments that address journalists’ concerns, and asserts it will not obstruct media freedom. The President said the law’s aim is not to curb free reporting.

Nevertheless, critics say many of the bill’s terms are vague, granting wide discretion to authorities – which could lead to misuse or suppression.

Broader Context: Signs of Democratic Backsliding

Observers see the media bill as part of a larger shift under President Muizzu’s administration:

• Alongside the media proposals, there are efforts to reinstate the death penalty for drug-related crimes – a move that would reverse decades of de facto moratorium.
• Another bill would remove administrative powers from island councils, which are key to local governance. Critics say this could undermine decentralization.

These developments come amid concern that media outlets already practice self-censorship, especially on politically sensitive issues – driven by worry of reprisals, including threats or legal action.

Implications

Should the bill become law in its current or even lightly revised form, analysts warn:

• A loss of independent oversight of media and broadcasting bodies – potentially shifting control to the executive.
• Heightened risk of censorship, legal penalties, and suppression of dissenting voices.
• An erosion of democratic norms in the Maldives – particularly media freedom, judicial independence, and local governance.

The Maldives stands at a crossroads. With Parliament moving rapidly to pass the Media Regulation Bill despite widespread objections, the country faces a test of its democratic institutions. As journalists and rights groups urge retreat, the government insists the law is necessary. But given the stakes – press freedom, rule of law, and governance – the coming days could mark a significant turning point.