Former Economic Minister and Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) Chairperson Fayyaz Ismail has voiced concerns over the future of independent media in the Maldives, claiming that recent government actions are eroding press freedoms hard-won over the past three decades.

Fayyaz’s remarks came during an MDP meeting last night, following the dismissal of Maldives Media Council (MMC) President Ahmed Musthafa from his role at Public Service Media (PSM). Musthafa was reportedly dismissed for airing a video that allegedly breached PSM’s editorial standards and general norms at an awards ceremony. The video in question, an investigative piece produced by Adhadhu, explored President Dr Mohamed Muizzu's personal life, winning an award in the investigative journalism category.

Fayyaz argued that Musthafa’s dismissal signals a concerning clampdown on free speech. He further claimed that MMC would be summoned to Parliament for questioning, potentially subjecting the council to additional scrutiny.

"This is why independent media is at risk. We allocated MVR 27 million in the budget for media, but it has undermined the power of political parties and limited the voices willing to speak freely," Fayyaz said.

He added that financial pressure and intimidation tactics were being used to “enslave” more media outlets, expressing fears that the MMC president’s dismissal points to a broader agenda against press freedom.

“What I am trying to say is that we are witnessing a slow and steady erosion of the freedoms and power our people have achieved over the past 30 years,” he continued, emphasizing the hard work that went into securing these liberties over the last two decades.

The incident surrounding PSM’s dismissal of Mustafa was also raised in Parliament, with some questioning the choice to screen a video deemed inappropriate under editorial standards at a public award event.