Maldives ‘rejects’ international criticism of defamation bill
The defamation bill “does not seek to criminalise free speech,” the government insists, claiming that it would “provide a layer of protection for those who may fall victim to scurrilous and defamatory articles and to ensure that such comment does not impact upon issues of religious sentiment or national security.”
02 Aug 2016, 9:00 AM
The government has rejected international criticism of a proposed law for criminalising defamation, dismissing concerns raised by the US, EU, UK, Germany, Norway, and Netherlands as “fallacious and ill-informed.”
A strongly worded joint statement issued Sunday by five embassies and the EU delegation to the Maldives warned that passing the bill would be a “serious setback for freedom of speech in the Maldives.”
“It instead seeks to provide a layer of protection for those who may fall victim to scurrilous and defamatory articles and to ensure that such comment does not impact upon issues of religious sentiment or national security,” the foreign ministry said.
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