Minister of Islamic Affairs and Endowment Dr Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed has stated that freedom of expression must be exercised within the limits of Islam and the law, stressing that press freedom should be used responsibly and not for defamation or personal attacks.

In a post shared on social media, the Minister said freedom of expression is fully guaranteed under the Constitution of the Maldives and noted that journalists in the country enjoy this right, which should be protected and further strengthened.

He said the Maldives should be among countries that uphold high standards of press freedom, adding that journalism plays an important role in addressing injustice, unfairness and corruption in society.

At the same time, minister Dr Shaheem emphasised that freedom of expression must be exercised responsibly. He described journalism as a national value that deserves recognition and protection at the state level, but warned that misuse of press freedom to damage a person’s reputation, dignity, or to engage in defamation and bullying could harm society.

He also cautioned against using journalism as a political tool, stating that ethical and professional reporting is essential for maintaining social stability and security.

The Minister highlighted that the Administration of President Dr Mohamed Muizzu places significant importance on press freedom. He noted that the President meets journalists weekly to answer questions directly and encourages ministers to do the same, describing transparency and access to information as key government priorities.

Minister Dr Shaheem also raised concerns over what he described as the behaviour of some media outlets, television channels and social media accounts. He alleged that President Dr Muizzu, members of his family, ministers and their families are being targeted in ways not previously seen in the Maldives.

While criticism of issues is acceptable, he said personal attacks, insults, slander, abusive language, and the spread of false information are not, noting that such actions are prohibited in both Islamic teachings and the law.

He added that protecting a person’s honour and dignity is one of the key objectives of Islamic Sharia and called for responsible journalism based on constructive criticism and objective reporting that serves society while respecting individual dignity.