Unlawful Conduct Will Not Be Tolerated, Says President

President Dr Mohamed Muizzu said today that people do not have an “open licence” to write whatever they want without verifying the truth and affirmed that unlawful conduct will not be tolerated in the Maldives.

Addressing residents of Vaavu Atoll Felidhoo as part of his ongoing tour of four atolls, the President reiterated his commitment to upholding the rule of law. He stressed that all citizens will be treated equally under the law and reaffirmed his pledge to govern in line with Islamic principles.

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“We don’t have an open licence to say whatever we want with no consideration for other people, without checking if it is truthful or if it is lies,” he said.

The President emphasised that citizens share a collective responsibility to uphold values rooted in the country’s Islamic identity. He said lasting peace and stability could only be achieved through intellectual growth and respect for human dignity, adding that Muslims must refrain from making false accusations.

Turning to public discourse, President Muizzu said politicians, the media, and the public have the right to share truth and fact-based information. Referring to the Maldives Media and Broadcasting Regulation Act, which was passed by Parliament on Tuesday and ratified on Thursday, he said the law requires that any claims made must be substantiated.

“They [journalists] can write everything, however much they want, but they cannot write lies. They cannot write without verifying matters first, that is not something the Maldivian citizens will accept,” he added.

The President said his government’s aim is to ensure national unity and peace.

 “No one has the right to take that [peace] away. Therefore, we will make the laws necessary to maintain it [peace],” he said.

Addressing concerns raised by journalists about the new legislation, President Dr Mohamed Muizzu said he had not met a single journalist who had read the Act. He maintained that the law only seeks to ensure the publication of truthful and verified information. The President clarified that it does not restrict factual content, but prohibits fabricated narratives, misleading accounts, or unverified claims. He added that where information cannot be substantiated, it must be explicitly identified as unverifiable.

“I am not sure if any journalist has read the law that has been ratified recently. I have not met one,” he said.

Concluding his remarks, the President urged citizens to think independently and not rely solely on public sentiment. He said Maldivians aspire to live in peace and harmony and are determined to prevent any recurrence of instability.