A bill to amend the Evidence Act, introducing new conditions under which journalists may be compelled to disclose their sources, has been tabled in Parliament and scheduled for debate on Wednesday.
The amendment, proposed by People’s National Congress (PNC) MP Ahmed Aslam, seeks to revise Article 136 of the Act.
Under the proposed changes, the High Court would be empowered to issue an order for source disclosure if deemed essential to prevent an accused from committing an offence. The court must decide within 24 hours of receiving such a request. If appealed, the case must be submitted to the Supreme Court within ten days.
The amendment also expands the list of circumstances where journalists may be required to reveal their sources. These include:
Acts of terrorism
Unauthorized disclosure of confidential information
Attempts to overthrow the government by force
Armed aggression
Offences threatening national security, sovereignty, or territorial integrity
The move follows longstanding concerns from journalists over the original Evidence Act passed by the previous Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) government. Media professionals had petitioned the President’s Office to revise provisions they feared could compromise press freedom. Although former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih later pledged to amend the law, no changes were enacted during his term.
Maldives Journalist Association's (MJA) President Ali Rishfan presents petition on the source disclosure provision in Evidence Bill with the signatures of 158 journalists. (Photo/Nazim Hassan)
The current bill marks a significant shift in how courts may intervene in journalistic confidentiality, raising fresh debate over the balance between national security and media independence.