Attorney General's Office (AGO) has announced that it will introduce a bill to amend the Evidence Act which makes it compulsory for journalists to disclose the source of information.
AGO has drafted the bill amid concerns from journalists and the media that section 136(b) of the Evidence Act, as it stands, does not define terrorism offenses and national security threats, and that a court could compel journalists to disclose sources in such cases.
During the Maldives Broadcast Award 2022, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih announced the decision to amend the Evidence Act, which was ratified in July, in order to address the concerns of journalists.
In a statement, AGO said the bill to amend the Evidence Act has been prepared for submission to the Parliament of Maldives after consultations with the Maldives Journalists Association (MJA), the Maldives Editors Guild (MEG), and other relevant bodies. The office said the amendment will clarify the crimes of terrorism and cases that threaten national security.
The amendment defines national security offenses as those involving acts that cause serious harm to the sovereignty or body or property of a person or group, and terrorism offenses as defined in Chapter II of the Prevention of Terrorism Act. In addition, the amendment provides for the court to take into account the disclosure of the source of information given to journalists and such a decision will be taken under an order of the High Court of the Maldives.
AGO said the bill will be introduced to the Parliament next week.