Maldives’ parliament on Tuesday passed the
controversial ‘Defamation and Freedom of Expression Bill’, a week after
it was accepted for further consideration.
The Bill was passed into law at Tuesday’s parliament sitting, with 47 parliamentarians voting in favor and 31 voting against. There were no abstentions.
Condemned by opposition political figures and local journalists, the Bill had sparked a public outcry as it is deemed as one that aims to “criminalize defamation’ and 'set limits on freedom on expression.'
The eleven member ad-hoc Committee tasked with reviewing the Bill has initially agreed on bringing on 14 stakeholders, including all major media stations for their testimonials regarding the Bill.
They had also agreed to take the public comments on the Bill, but had on Friday decided against seeking public opinion.
The Committee’s decision was made after the Fiqh Academy, on Thursday, declared the bill “Islamic and in keeping with Islamic values.”
The Bill was passed into law at Tuesday’s parliament sitting, with 47 parliamentarians voting in favor and 31 voting against. There were no abstentions.
Condemned by opposition political figures and local journalists, the Bill had sparked a public outcry as it is deemed as one that aims to “criminalize defamation’ and 'set limits on freedom on expression.'
The eleven member ad-hoc Committee tasked with reviewing the Bill has initially agreed on bringing on 14 stakeholders, including all major media stations for their testimonials regarding the Bill.
They had also agreed to take the public comments on the Bill, but had on Friday decided against seeking public opinion.
The Committee’s decision was made after the Fiqh Academy, on Thursday, declared the bill “Islamic and in keeping with Islamic values.”
It is important to note that while the Committee
had hastily carried on with its sessions, calling in major institutions
and media stations, prior to the Academy’s declaration. However, in a
move that raises questions, the Committee’s decision to not seek further
opinion was made following the departure of the Commonwealth Secretary
General’s Special Envoy Dr. Willy Mutunga on Friday morning, who was in
the Maldives on a five day official visit.
Following the Committee's decision, largest opposition party, Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), said that by not seeking public opinion on the Bill because of the Fiqh Academy's declaration meants that "the government MPs have shifted the powers of the Parliament to a small religious group, whose authority and expertise lie outside the scope of this Bill.”
While the Committee leader Abdulla Khaleel had said that Committee work will continue till the 25th of August, the Committee, with a majority of the ruling coalition, decided to hasten the process.
Even though President Abdulla Yameen issued a three line whip over the Bill, ruling party, Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM)’s leader Maumoon Abdul Gayoom had, till the last minute, appealed to his Parliamentary Group to vote against passing the Bill into law.
Following the Committee's decision, largest opposition party, Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), said that by not seeking public opinion on the Bill because of the Fiqh Academy's declaration meants that "the government MPs have shifted the powers of the Parliament to a small religious group, whose authority and expertise lie outside the scope of this Bill.”
While the Committee leader Abdulla Khaleel had said that Committee work will continue till the 25th of August, the Committee, with a majority of the ruling coalition, decided to hasten the process.
Even though President Abdulla Yameen issued a three line whip over the Bill, ruling party, Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM)’s leader Maumoon Abdul Gayoom had, till the last minute, appealed to his Parliamentary Group to vote against passing the Bill into law.
“In the spirit of our Constitution which is in
line with Islamic principles I appeal to all MPs to reject the current
bill on defamation,” said the former President via twitter on Monday
night.
His son, MP for Dhiggaru constituency Ahmed Faris Maumoon was one of the ruling coalition parliamentarians who voted against the Bill, violating the three line whip issued by the government.
In addition to Faris, MP for South Kulhudhuffushi Mohamed Nasheed, MP for Thimarafushi Mohamed Musthafa and MP for Nolhivaram Hussain Areef voted against passing the controversial bill.
The 'Defamation and Freedom of Expression Bill' has been strongly criticized by the international community, including the The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), who called on the Maldivian government to review it with all stakeholders including the media and journalists to ensure it meets the international standards.
His son, MP for Dhiggaru constituency Ahmed Faris Maumoon was one of the ruling coalition parliamentarians who voted against the Bill, violating the three line whip issued by the government.
In addition to Faris, MP for South Kulhudhuffushi Mohamed Nasheed, MP for Thimarafushi Mohamed Musthafa and MP for Nolhivaram Hussain Areef voted against passing the controversial bill.
The 'Defamation and Freedom of Expression Bill' has been strongly criticized by the international community, including the The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), who called on the Maldivian government to review it with all stakeholders including the media and journalists to ensure it meets the international standards.
source- https://raajje.mv/70597
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