Ungoofaaru Constituency MP Jaufar Daood has stated that media made use of freedom of expression without any limitations and that the Defamation Bill seeks to address this issue.
Speaking to PSM's Majlis TV, Jaufar said that while defamation is banned in the Constitution, there are no clauses or articles that defined how this would be protected. He added that while the current Constitution has been in place for year, this aspect has not been addressed adequately.
Jaufar said due to this, media used their powers without due consideration into the consequences of their indiscriminate attacks.
"In the eight years that had passed since the ratification of the Constitution, no President had taken effective steps to offer this protection. Due to this, parties, especially, the media had used this right without limitations," he said.
Jaufar said that the law clearly states that while exercising the right to free speech, one must also be prepared to be accountable as well and that this must be the case. He said the new defamation bill will set standards and limitations on how free speech can be used.
Responding to the allegations made by the Media Council regarding the first and second drafts of the defamation bill, Jaufar said the revised version of the bill had reduced the penalties by 60 percent and lessened the jail term as well.
He added that if the bill needed further discussions, then it will be held with Media Council and journalists. Jaufar said they will be summoned to Committee if required.
