MJA and Transparency Maldives Urge Maldivian Lawmakers to Reject Restrictive Media Legislation

The Maldives Journalists Association (MJA) and Transparency Maldives have issued a sharp joint statement strongly condemning a proposed amendment to the Foreign Exchange Bill that would ban media outlets from reporting parallel market FX rates, urging Parliament to reject the bill immediately.

The organisations warned that the amendment, introduced by the parliament’s Public Accounts Committee, directly violates constitutional guarantees of free speech and press freedom. The groups demanded that lawmakers withdraw the provisions, which give regulators broad authority to hit news organisations and individual reporters with severe fines, including penalties calculated in US dollars.

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Rights groups cautioned that these heavy financial penalties threaten the survival of independent newsrooms and create a climate of fear that could force journalists into self-censorship. By giving state bodies the power to impose harsh financial and administrative burdens, the bill severely restricts reporters from scrutinising government actions, depriving citizens of their right to stay informed and weakening public accountability.

MJA President and business journalist Ahmed Naif reiterated these concerns, stating that authorities must not misuse legislative reforms or dollar-denominated fines to jeopardise media sustainability. He urged lawmakers to align domestic laws with international human rights standards rather than expanding state control over independent reporting. Both organisations are calling on state authorities to strip all restrictive clauses from the bill and hold transparent consultations with journalists, civil society representatives, and legal experts to build a framework that protects press freedom.