The opposition coalition has submitted a bill to abolish Anti-Defamation Act. The bill was submitted to parliament by Parliamentarian Abdulla Shahid, on behalf of the opposition coalition.
After submitting the bill to parliament, Abdulla Shahid said the aim was to abolish Anti-Defamation Act to ensure certain basic rights enshrined in the constitution which was violated with the passing of the act. Due to the act, several legal issues of concerns were raised he said, adding it also contradicts with several international treaties participated by Maldives. Moreover, Abdulla Shahid revealed the bill was also submitted to ensure freedom of expression and a free media in the country.
A person or an institution can be fined between USD 1,600 US dollars and USD 130,000, if found guilty of violating the act, which came in to force on August 11, 2016.
It is an electoral pledge of the President-Elect Ibrahim Mohamed Solih to repeal the Anti-Defamation Act.