Former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has warned that the government’s proposed media control bill poses a serious threat to press freedom and democracy in the Maldives.
In a post on X marking World Democracy Day, Solih said the bill—placing all media under the authority of a government-controlled commission—would not strengthen accountability or transparency, but instead silence dissent and reward only those aligned with the government’s narrative.
He described this year’s Democracy Day as coming at a “particularly precarious moment” for the Maldives, stressing that freedom of speech and press are under direct threat.
Solih urged the government to respect the will of the people, uphold democratic principles, and safeguard the sanctity of fundamental rights.
In a post on X marking World Democracy Day, Solih said the bill—placing all media under the authority of a government-controlled commission—would not strengthen accountability or transparency, but instead silence dissent and reward only those aligned with the government’s narrative.
This year’s World Democracy Day comes at a particularly precarious moment for democracy in the Maldives. The government’s proposed media control bill—placing all media under the regulatory authority of a government-controlled commission—poses a direct threat to freedom of the…
— Ibrahim Mohamed Solih (@ibusolih) September 15, 2025
He described this year’s Democracy Day as coming at a “particularly precarious moment” for the Maldives, stressing that freedom of speech and press are under direct threat.
Solih urged the government to respect the will of the people, uphold democratic principles, and safeguard the sanctity of fundamental rights.
