The Human Rights Commission of Maldives (HRCM) says they are concerned about remarks by Ibrahim Falah, the ruling People’s National Congress (PNC)’s top lawmaker, calling for journalists to be executed by impalement, but lack the jurisdiction to investigate it.
Falah had made the remarks during the preliminary parliamentary debate on Wednesday on the contentious government-backed media control bill. The Parliament majority leader’s suggestion that journalists should be executed by ulubeyndhun or impalement - an ancient torture and execution method - sparks widespread condemnation, including from the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and the Maldives Journalists Association (MJA), the latter of which demanded a public apology from Falah as well as the ruling party.
Responding to these remarks, the HRCM said that it does not have the jurisdiction to investigate officials who enjoy special protection and privileges under the Constitution and laws.
But the human rights watchdog said they find any remarks that violate inherent human dignity, whether it is made at the Parliament floor or outside, unacceptable.
 The HRCM said that it finds the remarks directed by Falah against journalists concerning, especially given it was made at a platform that does not accommodate for a defense.
The commission also said that they are working on providing comments to the bill, and will share an update once it’s done.
Noosverinah maruge adhabu dheyn govailumun, Falaah hoonu fenah!https://t.co/iCIDDjKXlv#sunnews #sunmv #sunonline #news #ssmedia #latestnews #dhivehinews #maldivesnews pic.twitter.com/eQcu1OKn3U
— sun.mv (@sunbrk) August 27, 2025
On August 18, Thulhaadhoo MP Abdul Hannan Aboobakr, an independent lawmaker aligned with the government, submitted a bill that seeks to dissolve the Maldives Media Council (MMC) and the Maldives Broadcasting Commission (BroadCom), replacing them with a single regulatory body — a seven-member Maldives Media and Broadcasting Commission (MMBC), composed of four members elected by the media and three appointed by the President with parliamentary approval, with the President also given the authority to appoint the commission’s head. It also empowers the MMBC to impose major penalties against media outlets as well as individual journalists, including during the investigative stage.
The Parliament, which is currently in recess, held an extraordinary sitting as journalists demonstrated against the bill outside the Parliament on Wednesday, during which the PNC used its supermajority to accept the bill into the Parliament and send it to the Independent Institutions Committee for review.
Dozens of journalists later gathered outside the President’s Office and Muliaage, demanding a meeting with President Muizzu, before they were pushed back by riot police.
In addition to allowing the President power over appointment of its members, the new bill also empowers the proposed commission to impose major penalties against media outlets as well as individual journalists, including during the investigative stage. This includes:
Fines of MVR 5,000 -25,000 against journalists for failure to comply with the commission’s instructions.
Fines of up to MVR 100,000 against media outlets and magazines for legal violations.
Temporary suspension of registrations during ongoing commission probes.
Permanently revoking registrations through the courts.
Blocking websites during ongoing probes.
Ordering the cessation of broadcasting.
On Thursday, the Independent Institutions Committee set a September 15 deadline for the bill, with a 10-day window for public opinion, and a three-day window for consultation with media outlets and other stakeholders.