The Maldives Journalists Association (MJA) is preparing to hold an open mic public event regarding the media bill in Parliament.
Ahmed Naif, MJA Secretary General and President-elect, stated that the forum will be held at Artificial Beach at 20:45 on Saturday evening to raise public awareness about the media bill, in collaboration with youth in Male' city.
The forum, which will include live music activities, will focus on the obstacles the bill may create for the public in expressing their views, he added.
The forum is open to the public, and Naif assures that journalists will be on hand to answer questions.
"We will try to spread more awareness in tonight's forum, and our request is that as many people as possible come to this forum and express their views, as we will be very much prioritizing the public in this forum, to express their views, more than what we have to say," Naif remarked.
The forum will also feature guest speakers, including TikTok content creators and experts.
Mohamed Shahuzan, MJA Vice-President-elect, emphasized that the bill is directly related to public thought and opinion and will affect the public from the moment it is passed.
Noting the misinformation surrounding the bill on social media and other platforms, Shahuzan stated that the forum is being held to facilitate direct communication between journalists and the public. He added that journalists and lawyers would explain the bill's concerns in detail.
We invite everyone to join our public forum tomorrow night, Sat, September 13th, at Artificial Beach. Come and make your voice heard. This is an open mic forum. #ctrlbillbeyrukurey pic.twitter.com/N30wpRPr7m
— Maldives Journalists Association (@mjamaldives) September 12, 2025
"This is a very good start. When we actually make major changes in the legislature, for example, when we changed the constitution, we did not seek public input, awareness or consultation, so we believe this is a good beginning," he said.
Shahuzan also confirmed that the public would have the opportunity to speak out on major issues facing the country.
It is noteworthy that the media bill, introduced for the second time by Thulhaadhoo MP Abdul Hannan Abubakar, includes numerous provisions aimed at controlling journalists. Consequently, journalists have been advocating for the bill's expulsion from Parliament.
Despite significant protest, the bill was accepted in Parliament and is currently in the review stage.
MJA distributes leaflets to raise awareness regarding the media bill under review in parliament, September 2025. (MJA Photo/Anoof Junaid)
On Thursday, the government proposed amendments to the media bill, including a provision for no action against individual journalists. The Attorney General's Office has proposed a total of 14 amendments to the bill.
The Attorney General's Office has indeed published 13 proposed amendments to the bill. Key among these is the decision to remove the provision targeting individual journalists, instead requiring editors of media outlets to meet specific requirements set by the commission.
Further proposed amendments include:
More detailed definitions of "public order," "national security," and "electronic media" within the bill.
A provision stipulating that a specific allocation from the annual budget shall be provided to the Commission, based on the Commission's advice, to cover its expenses.
If the Commission opts to investigate a complaint or case, the investigation shall be conducted by an Interim Adjudication Committee established by the Commission, and the rules governing this committee must be incorporated into the bill.
The addition of standards to the obligation to disclose truthful information as outlined in Article 44 of the bill.
The deletion of Article 42, "Standard for Disclosure of Information on Matters of Conflict," and its replacement with "Standard for Disclosure of Information on Matters of Public Interest."
The inclusion of the disclosure of truthful information, along with the fair and transparent presentation of news and information, within the Code of Conduct for the Media in Article 39 of the bill.
The stipulation that Article 41, "Standards for Disclosure of Personal Information," must uphold an individual's personal freedom, and that the release of such information should be conducted respectfully.
The Attorney General has also resolved to propose amendments to three points of the bill, specifically to exclude the President's role in the appointment and dismissal of Commission members and the appointment of the Commission's Chairman.
It also proposes to remove the provision that empowers the commission to temporarily cancel the registration of a media outlet as an administrative measure until the commission investigates a case.
Journalists protest against the media control bill outside the Parliament Building on September 9, 2025. (Sun Photo/Maaniu Mohamed)
Maldivian journalists, international journalists' associations, and the Human Rights Commission of Maldives (HRCM) have widely voiced concerns regarding the bill, asserting that it contains provisions antithetical to democratic principles and regulations. Despite the government's insistence on its non-direct involvement, ruling party (PNC) Members of Parliament have publicly defended the bill in parliament.
One of the main concerns about the bill is how the AG Office has defined ‘media’ in the proposed amendment to the bill. Accordingly, in the proposed amendment, the government defines media as TV, radio, CDs, websites, newspapers, publications, and other registered and unregistered publications for the dissemination of information, news and opinion.
Therefore, freedom of expression advocates are expressing concern that the government will begin regulating social media like newspapers with the implementation of the bill.