Today, journalists from various media outlets, joined by opposition MDP party workers, took to the streets outside Parliament to protest the government’s Media Control Bill—a dangerous attempt to strangle press freedom in the Maldives.
We’re outside the @mvpeoplesmajlis house protesting against the Media Control Bill
📸@millzero #CTRLbillBeyrukurey #CTRLehNukureveyne #HatharehgeHaggugai pic.twitter.com/zKsrATEbTa
— Maldives Journalists Association (@mjamaldives) August 27, 2025
The bill, if passed, would give the government sweeping powers to fine journalists, shut down news outlets, halt publications, and block websites critical of those in power. In short, it is a legal framework for censorship, designed to silence dissent and control the narrative.
Journalists at the protest rightly warned that this is not just an attack on the media—it is an attack on democracy itself. By criminalizing independent reporting and empowering authorities to punish media houses for simply doing their jobs, the government is signaling that it will tolerate no scrutiny, no criticism, and no accountability.
Opposition MDP workers also condemned the bill as an authoritarian tool. “This is about control, not regulation. If this passes, the Maldives will no longer have a free press, and the people will be left in the dark,” one protester said.
މީޑިއާަ ކޮންޓްރޯލް ބިލް ބޭރުކުރުމަށް ގޮވާލާ ނޫސްވެރިކަމުގެ މިނިވަންކަމުގެ ދިފާއުގައި އެމްޑީޕީން މަޖިލިސް ދޮށުގައި ދަނީ އިހްތިޖާޖު ކުރަމުން. #HatharehgeHaggugai #CTRLehNukureveyne #CTRLbillBeyrukurey pic.twitter.com/4L0PP1cf4g
— Hussain Shafiu (@charly_thuthu) August 27, 2025
Local and international observers have long warned that press freedom is the first casualty under governments seeking unchecked power. By imposing fines on journalists and enabling the shutting down of media outlets, this bill threatens to roll back decades of democratic progress in the Maldives.
Parliament must reject this bill. Journalists will continue their protests, but the ultimate responsibility lies with lawmakers: they must decide whether they stand with democracy and the people—or with censorship and authoritarianism.
