Minister of Economic Development, Transport and Trade Mohamed Saeed has stated that freedom of expression and press freedom should not be misused to justify defamatory conduct or actions that fall outside the principles of ethical journalism.

In a post shared on X, the minister described press freedom as one of the important foundations of democracy and noted that the current Administration has continued to provide space for open media engagement. However, he said certain media practices risk undermining ethical journalism by using press freedom as a platform for personal attacks, fabricated narratives and conduct that disregards legal and judicial boundaries.

Minister Saeed stated that press conferences are intended to facilitate responsible public communication and should not be treated as opportunities to make unsubstantiated allegations, violate laws or undermine the dignity of the courts. He stressed the importance of maintaining professionalism and respecting the standards expected within democratic institutions.

The minister also highlighted that President Dr Mohamed Muizzu currently meets journalists directly on a weekly basis in an open setting without additional moderation, describing it as an example of the Administration’s commitment to transparency and access to information.

He further called on journalists to make responsible use of such opportunities in a manner that benefits the public while respecting legal procedures and the ethical responsibilities of the profession.