Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (HRCM) has proposed to reduce the penalty fees listed in the defamation bill. The proposal was submitted to the interim Committee selected to review the bill.
The proposal was submitted to the Committee on the Commission's own initiative. The 11-member Committee had passed not to seek out opinions of public and other agencies to the bill, after Fiqh Academy said the bill was apt for the current situation.
The proposal sent by HRCM said that freedom of speech and expression were basic tenets in the Constitutions and as such a defamation bill should seek to protect against defamation while at the same time protecting the right to free speech. HRCM noted that penalty fees listed in the bill were exorbitant amount and will hamper press freedom and freedom of expression.
HRCM had proposed to waive the clauses on penalties and appealing after settling the penalties. The Commission had also proposed to change the suit to a civil suit rather than a criminal suit in the event the accused party is unable to pay the fees. HRCM said the purpose of the bill will be achieved when the suit is changed to a civil one.
HRCM had also proposed to waive the clause that stipulates that any story cannot be published without a statement from the alleged party.
In addition to Fiqh Academy, Media Council and Broadcom had also given their feedback regarding the bill. The Committee had fixed a deadline of the 25th of this month.
