The Parliament has accepted the new media regulation bill amid protests staged by journalists in Male' today.
The journalists gathered outside the Parliament today as 49 MPs voted to accept the bill for further deliberation. Twelve MPs voted against the bill but it was forwarded to the committee for further deliberation.
The reporters outside the Parliament building moved on to protests in front of the President's Office but were blocked by Police as gathering there is prohibited.
Some reporters were taken under custody by Police temporarily as they attempted to disperse the protests. The reporters were later released.
Today's legislative work was carried out in an extra ordinary parliamentary session amid concerns from the media.
This comes after the Media Council and the Maldives Journalism Association called on the Parliament not to accept the bill for deliberation and stated that they did not accept the bill.
The Media Council said that the bill is now designed to severely restrict the constitutional right to the press and other related rights.
The Media Council noted that the bill contained many provisions that undermined freedom of the press, prevented the maintenance of the basics of journalism, and restricted freedom of expression.
MP for Thulhaadhoo Constituency, Abdul Hannan Abubakur, submitted the bill earlier this month, which proposes to combine the Media Council and the Broadcasting Commission to form a new entity that would regulate media practices in the country.
