When President Mohamed Muizzu took office, he promised honesty, openness, and a government that listens. But less than a year in, his actions tell a different story.
The Media Control Bill is the latest warning. This is not a law about ethics or fairness. It is a law about silencing journalists and controlling what Maldivians are allowed to know.
The new bill would merge them into a single commission, with seven members — four elected by the media, three appointed by the president. Sounds balanced? Not really.
އެމްޖޭއޭގެ އެކްސްކޯ މެންބަރު އަދި ‘ދައުރު’ގެ ސީނިއާ ނޫސްވެރިޔާ މުޒައްޔިން ނާޒިމް ރައީސް މުއިއްޒުއާ މިރޭ ސުވާލުކުރުމުން ވިދާޅުވީ، އަމިއްލަ މެންބަރަކު މަޖިލީހަށް މިހާރު ވައްދާފައިވާ “މީޑިއާ ކޮންޓްރޯލް ބިލް” ބަލައިގަންނަން ޕީއެންސީގެ ޕާލިމަންޓްރީ ގްރޫޕުން ވޯޓް ނުދޭނެ ކަމަށާއި އެ… pic.twitter.com/45XfFyZDAf
— Maldives Journalists Association (@mjamaldives) November 17, 2024
Parliament, controlled by Muizzu’s PNC party, can remove any of the four elected members at will. That means the government will fully control this commission. The body that is supposed to protect media independence will instead become a tool for censorship.
Punishing Truth, Rewarding Fear
- Fine journalists MVR 25,000 for “slow corrections.”
- Fine media outlets MVR 100,000 for vague “ethics violations.”
- Block websites, halt broadcasts, cancel newspapers.
- Investigate stories written before the law is even passed.
Imagine reporting the truth and waking up the next day wondering if you will be fined or shut down. That is the world this bill would create. Fear would replace courage. Silence would replace accountability.
On National Day, Muizzu said: “None of us has the right to speak whatever comes to our minds, to write whatever comes to our minds.”
This is not about responsibility. It is about control. And journalists, the ones holding power accountable, are in the crosshairs.
Journalists Are Speaking Up
Ahmed Zahir, with 35 years in the media and President of the Editors Guild, warned:“I urge @mvpeoplesmajlis MPs to reject the Media Control Bill. This bill poses a serious threat.”
Naaif, with 15 years of experience at Dhauru News, “I call on MPs to reject the Media Control Bill, which threatens press freedom & freedom of expression.
These are not empty words. These are people who have dedicated their lives to truth, now telling us freedom is under threat.
A Pattern of Authoritarianism
- Thousands of political jobs given to loyalists.
- Cash handouts to MPs to buy silence.
- Broken promises to students, fishermen, and citizens.
- Power centralized in Malé, local councils weakened.
- Foreign policy decisions made for political survival, not national interest.
- Now, the press — the last independent institution — is under attack.
Why This Matters to Every Maldivian
Independent journalism is the heartbeat of democracy. Without it, corruption grows. Lies become law. Citizens are left in the dark.If this bill passes, Maldivians will no longer have an independent press. They will have a media controlled by the very politicians it is supposed to watch.Journalists across Mihaaru, Adhadhu, Dhauru, Sun, and beyond are standing together. International organizations like the Committee to Protect Journalists and the International Federation of Journalists are warning the world.
This is not about regulation. This is about fear, control, and silencing the truth. If Maldivians allow it to pass, democracy itself will suffer. Freedom dies slowly, one law at a time. And with the Media Control Bill, that death has begun.
Democracy dies when the press is silenced. This bill is a direct strike at our freedom.
