The Maldives Parliament, known as the People’s Majlis, has recently passed a new law aimed at regulating journalists and media organizations. This move has immediately triggered widespread concern among both local and international media watchdogs, who fear the legislation could severely undermine press freedom in the island nation.
The Maldives Media and Broadcasting Regulations Bill, which was introduced by an independent Member of Parliament last month, was passed late on Tuesday, September 16, 2025. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the stated goal of this bill is to establish a unified regulatory framework by merging the existing Maldives Media Council and the Broadcasting Commission into a new, single Media and Broadcasting Commission.
This newly formed seven-member Media and Broadcasting Commission, as outlined in the Bill, is intended to function as an independent entity. Its composition will include four members elected by registered media organizations via a voting process, and three members nominated through an open application process, who will then be appointed by the People’s Majlis.
Despite claims of independence, media activists are fiercely opposing the legislation, arguing that it grants the new regulatory commission alarming and extensive powers. These powers reportedly include the authority to impose hefty fines, suspend media outlets, and even block websites, particularly during the course of an investigation.
Unsurprisingly, opposition politicians and various media organizations have strongly condemned this legislative action, labeling it a direct assault on press freedom. Abdulla Shahid, a former Foreign Minister and past President of the UN General Assembly, publicly accused President Mohamed Muizzu’s government of effectively “declaring war” on free speech.
On social media platform ‘X’, Shahid asserted, “A government that silences journalists is a government that has lost the courage to face the truth. Instead of addressing the critical crises our nation is grappling with, they are attempting to censor the very voices that strive to hold them accountable.”
Efforts to Control the Narrative
Naif Ahmed, President of the Maldives Journalists Association, drew a parallel to President Muizzu’s election campaign, which he noted was heavily characterized by “disinformation, particularly regarding the presence of the Indian military.”
Speaking from the capital, Male, Ahmed explained to The Hindu that the government appears unwilling for media outlets to probe sensitive topics such as the nation’s economic challenges or its ongoing relationship with India. “They wish to control the narrative by curbing media freedom,” he stated, highlighting the island nation’s tourism-dependent economy, which is currently struggling with significant foreign debt and a substantial fiscal deficit.
An April World Bank report projected a concerning rise in inflation, from 1.4% in 2024 to 4.3% in 2025, exacerbating the challenges faced by residents dealing with escalating living costs, stagnant incomes, and job insecurity. Critics of the government frequently turn to social media to express their dissatisfaction with current policies. Ahmed noted that the government has “opened a new door to internet censorship,” by fast-tracking this Bill into law, reportedly bypassing meaningful consultation with the media industry despite numerous pleas.
This legislative development follows President Mohamed Muizzu’s electoral victory in 2023, after which his party, the People’s National Congress, secured a supermajority in the 93-member parliamentary house last year.
Adding its voice to the growing criticism, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), a global non-profit dedicated to advocating for media freedom, warned that the Bill would “undermine the work of independent journalists and effectively place the media under direct government control.”