Police Seek PGO Advice Over MJA Complaint on MP Falah’s Remarks

The Maldives Police Service confirmed yesterday that they are seeking advice from the Prosecutor General’s Office (PGO) on how to proceed with the Maldives Journalists Association’s (MJA) request to investigate remarks made in parliament by MP for Inguraidhoo constituency, Ibrahim Falah, calling for the violent execution of journalists. MP Falah has denied the accusation.

On Wednesday, while debating the Maldives Media and Broadcasting Regulation Bill, Parliament Majority Leader Falah said journalists who publish misinformation should not be jailed but rather subjected to “emeehun ulubaindhanvee,” a form of execution practised in the Maldives in earlier times.

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The MJA condemned the remarks, describing them as a dangerous incitement to violence against the media. On Thursday, the association filed a case with the police, requesting an investigation into Falah’s statement. Yesterday, police confirmed that they had sought PGO guidance on how to proceed.

ވަރަށް ރަނގަޅުނިންމެވުމެށް މިމައްސަލާގައި. އަޅުގަނޑު ޖަލުގައުޅޭ ނަމަ އެތާގެ ރަހްމައިތްތެރިންނަށްވާނީ އެމްޑީޕީގެ ވެރިކަންކުރި ރައީސުންނާ އެމްޑީޕީގެ ގިނައަދަދެއްގެ މަޖިލީސްމެމްބަރުން އަދި އެއްމެގިނަވާނީ ނޫސްވެރިން!

ސަބަބަކީ މިއަށްވުރެގިނައިން އިސްލާމްދީނުގެ އަސްލުތަކާޚިލާފުވެ… pic.twitter.com/kYfF9KTD4V— Ibrahim Falah (@IbrahimFalahR) August 29, 2025

Responding on X, MP Falah said he never called for anyone to be killed. He argued that in his community, the term ulubeyndhun refers to keeping misbehaving people in a place higher than the ground, rather than executing them.

Falah described the police decision to consult the PGO as “very good,” adding that if he were jailed over the matter, he would be alongside those from the era of the Maldives Democratic Party (MDP) governments. 

“The reason is that no one in this country has violated the principles of Islam more frequently than they have,” he said.