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August 27, 2025 – Maldives –
At least five journalists were detained during protests against the proposed Maldives Media and Broadcasting Regulation Bill, which critics say grants the government disproportionate control over the media. The detentions occurred as demonstrators, journalists among them, gathered outside the People’s Majlis and later the Presidential Office to oppose the bill’s passage. Among those detained were Muzayyin Nazim of Dhauru News, Mohamed Shahuzaan and Ahmed Aaidh of Adhadhu, and veteran journalist and former Media Council member Moosa Rasheed of Citizen News. They were released after receiving legal warnings, although police denied making any arrests.
The bill, introduced by MP Abdul Hannan Abubakr, proposes dissolving the existing Maldives Media Council and Maldives Broadcasting Commission to create a new regulatory body, the Maldives Media and Broadcasting Commission (MMBC). The MMBC would include three presidential appointees, including its chair, and wield sweeping powers such as imposing fines, suspending or revoking media registrations, and blocking media outlets—often before full investigations.
Journalists have denounced the bill as a major setback for press freedom, warning it could roll back two decades of democratic progress. Speaking at a press conference, Ahmed Zahir (Managing Editor, Dhauru News) said the legislation would erode nearly 20 years of democratic governance. Meanwhile, Hussain Fiyaz Moosa, Chief Editor of Adhadhu News, described the bill as “ill-intended and cunning,” emphasising that existing regulations already allow checks on media without needing such draconian measures.
The Maldives Media Council (MMC) has also urged the president to veto the bill, calling it a silencing tool that undermines citizens’ voices. MMC president Hussain Sageef emphasised the lack of consultation with media professionals and warned that the law would have far-reaching impacts on free expression.
As backlash intensifies, with calls from media bodies, the opposition, and advocacy groups, the government’s next steps will be a critical indicator of the trajectory for press freedom in the Maldives.
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