Anti-defamation law repealed
The draconian law was abolished with 38 votes in favour and 13 against.
14 Nov 2018, 9:00 AM
Parliament passed Wednesday a bill to repeal the draconian law that re-criminalised defamation in the Maldives.
The 2016 law was abolished with 38 votes in favour and 13 against with 51 MPs present from the 85-member house. Earlier this week, MPs voted 48-17 with two abstentions to send the bill to a committee for review.
As pledged by president-elect Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, the repeal legislation was submitted in the wake of the joint opposition candidate’s decisive victory over President Abdulla Yameen in September’s election.
Enacted in August 2016, the widely-condemned law introduced hefty fines and jail terms for journalists and individuals found guilty of slander.
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