Claiming that journalism “is more dangerous than
guns”, Maldives Broadcasting Commission (MBC) has shown support for a
number of clauses in the proposed defamation bill.
The Commission was summoned to parliament on Thursday by the 11 member team formed by Parliament on Monday, after voting to accept it, to further review the bill. The team on Tuesday decided to summon 14 big stakeholders for their input.
Speaking at today’s Committee meeting, President of the Commission Mohamed Shaheeb has shown support for a number of points in the Bill, noting that journalism is more dangerous than a gun.
Shaheeb said that he did not believe that there is a danger of journalism “dying” by passing the bill with a few changes, adding that instead it will allow “more work to be done protect one’s self.”
He emphasized that it is important to make this a law, with a few amendments.
While Shaheeb had not asked to bring a change to the clause regarding fines, which prescribes hefty fines of between MVR 50000 and MVR two million as penalties for violations, he noted that he does not believe that the highest amount will be given as penalties. Offenders who default on the court-imposed fine will face a jail term of up to six months.
“The fine is a big amount not to take the fine from people, but to impress upon the seriousness of the matter, to put an end to defamation,” he noted at the meeting.
While the Maldives Broadcasting Commission said that the bill does not have any major issues, the local and international communities have been expressing concern on proposed bill, which local journalists and experts have called it the “death knell” for press freedom and freedom of expression in Maldives.
On Wednesday, Maldives Media Council was summoned to the Committee, where they noted their concerns on the bill.
The Council's President Mohamed Asif had urged the 11 member committee, with overwhelming government majority, to consider major amendments to the bill pointing out the existing mechanism to regulate media overseen by the council.
The Commission was summoned to parliament on Thursday by the 11 member team formed by Parliament on Monday, after voting to accept it, to further review the bill. The team on Tuesday decided to summon 14 big stakeholders for their input.
Speaking at today’s Committee meeting, President of the Commission Mohamed Shaheeb has shown support for a number of points in the Bill, noting that journalism is more dangerous than a gun.
Shaheeb said that he did not believe that there is a danger of journalism “dying” by passing the bill with a few changes, adding that instead it will allow “more work to be done protect one’s self.”
He emphasized that it is important to make this a law, with a few amendments.
While Shaheeb had not asked to bring a change to the clause regarding fines, which prescribes hefty fines of between MVR 50000 and MVR two million as penalties for violations, he noted that he does not believe that the highest amount will be given as penalties. Offenders who default on the court-imposed fine will face a jail term of up to six months.
“The fine is a big amount not to take the fine from people, but to impress upon the seriousness of the matter, to put an end to defamation,” he noted at the meeting.
While the Maldives Broadcasting Commission said that the bill does not have any major issues, the local and international communities have been expressing concern on proposed bill, which local journalists and experts have called it the “death knell” for press freedom and freedom of expression in Maldives.
On Wednesday, Maldives Media Council was summoned to the Committee, where they noted their concerns on the bill.
The Council's President Mohamed Asif had urged the 11 member committee, with overwhelming government majority, to consider major amendments to the bill pointing out the existing mechanism to regulate media overseen by the council.
source- https://raajje.mv/70266
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