Defamation is now a Criminal Offence in Maldives

Psst, in case nobody noticed... Maldives just changed Defamation from a Civil to a Criminal Offence!

“the Prosecutor General’s office decided to take Defamation cases to be tried under Criminal code.”

Where the hell did the PG office get the authority to decide that without even the Parliament having it approved first? When did the courts get the legislative power? Do the higher officials of the Government need to be given lectures on Separation of powers?

“The Deputy, Mr. Shameem also said that although this is a criminal offence, common citizens may opt to use the civil court.”

Implications???

1. Won’t this make the justice system open to double jeopardy?
2. Once a criminal offence is committed, isn’t the State obliged to prosecute the guilty?
3. This looks like “If you say something bad about government high officials, we gonna legally kick your ass. But if some moron talks nasty about your grandma, then you can go drag your own ass around civil court.”

Defamation being a matter between two persons and if it is taken as a civil matter, the wronged party would be awarded damages to compensate the injuries suffered. However, as a criminal offence, the penalty can include harsher punishment such as imprisonment.

Wasn’t Maldives supposed to become a haven for writers and prosecuted journalists? In the words of our current beloved President, the State just “stepped on [its own areca nut]”.

Existence of criminal defamation law is charted by a freedom of expression advocacy group, ARTICLE 19.

I think it’s high time that people who have studied Law be dealing with the justice system rather than the two-bit wannabes such as those who think a small country like Maldives require a million articles in its Constitution, let alone be able to differentiate between a Constitution and a Penal Code.