The Parliament’s Committee on Independent Institutions has passed the Maldives Media and Broadcasting Regulatory Bill, amidst ongoing protests against it by various media outlets.

The committee meeting began at 11:15 a.m. today, during which 72 amendments were proposed by the committee’s Deputy Chair, Kelaa MP Abdulla Shareef.

While some concerns raised by journalists were considered, several major issues highlighted by the media community were left unaddressed. Opposition MP Meekail Ahmed Naseem, who is also a member of the committee, requested the opportunity to propose further amendments. He expressed his concerns about the bill’s contents and suggested repealing certain provisions.

The committee continued its work until 5:30 p.m., with prayer breaks suspended to complete the review.