Police have arrested a 29-year-old man from Addu City for allegedly inciting riots over the new media control bill that landed in the Parliament earlier this week.
Police identified the man as Ali Anim Mufeed from Addu City, Hithadhoo.
They said he was arrested under a court order for posting on X encouraging protesters to cause riots over the Maldives Media and Broadcasting Regulation Bill.
Police are alleging that Mufeed had violated Article 10 of the Counter Terrorism Act as well as two articles of the Penal Code.
They added that they were further investigating the case.
Under the new bill, media outlets would be fined MVR 100,000, and individual journalists may be fined up to MVR 25,000 if they disobey the bill.
In addition to withholding and revoking licenses and registrations, it also combined the two institutions into one single body called the 'Maldives Media and Broadcasting Commission', which would be governed under its law.
Article 73 of the bill provides that the Commission has the power to investigate a case under another law and take action under that law.
