MJA Submits Petition Calling for Rejection of Media and Broadcasting Regulation Bill
Maldives Journalists Association (MJA) submitting the petition calling to reject the Maldives Media and Broadcasting Regulation Bill to the parliament yesterday, September 3, 2025 | Photo: MJA
The Maldives Journalists Association (MJA) submitted a petition signed by 151 journalists from 41 media outlets calling on the President and parliament to reject the Media and Broadcasting Regulation Bill yesterday.
Launched on 25th August, the petition urges lawmakers to dismiss the bill submitted by the independent member for the Thulhaadhoo constituency, Abdul Hannan Aboobakuru. The proposed legislation has faced criticism from both local and international media for its potential to restrict freedom of speech and expression in the Maldives.
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Following a meeting with the parliamentary Committee on Independent Institutions on Sunday, MJA requested a four-month period to review the country’s existing self-regulatory media system alongside the proposed bill, which is currently under assessment by the committee.
According to our estimates Maldivian journalists number between 170 to 200.
151 journalists calling for the immediate rejection of the bill is the consensus of the Maldivian journalism community.#ctrlbillbeyrukurey #ctrlehnukureveyne pic.twitter.com/siYHwnNZC1— Maldives Journalists Association (@mjamaldives) September 3, 2025
The bill, drafted without consultation with media professionals, was adopted in an extraordinary parliamentary session on 27th August and subsequently referred to the Committee on Independent Institutions. The committee is tasked with seeking expert input and proposing amendments, with a final draft due by 15th September for submission to parliament for a second reading.
If enacted, the legislation would merge the Maldives Media Council (MMC), an independent self-regulatory body, and the Maldives Broadcasting Commission (BroadCom), which regulates broadcasters and whose members are elected by parliament, into a single new commission. This proposed body would be empowered to impose fines of up to MVR 25,000 on journalists and up to MVR 100,000 on media outlets, revoke licences, block websites, and initiate proceedings against editorial offices. The bill also allows retroactive sanctions on content published up to one year before the law comes into effect.
The Maldives is currently ranked 104th out of 180 countries and territories in the 2025 RSF World Press Freedom Index.
