MALÉ, Maldives — As the world observed International Democracy Day on 15 September, the Maldives was gripped by political unrest, its fragile commitment to free expression facing one of its toughest tests yet. In the capital, the People’s Majlis, the country’s Parliament, turned into a scene of confrontation. Opposition lawmakers and journalists clashed with ruling party MPs over a contentious measure critics have labelled the “Media Control Bill,” warning it could strangle one of South Asia’s freest press environments. The day began with tense deliberations inside the Majlis, where the Independent Institutions Committee took up the proposed legislation. Members of … Continue reading On Democracy Day, Press Freedom in the Maldives Hangs in the Balance