Leevan Ali Naseer, a member of the Maldives Media Council (MMC), was arrested by police on Tuesday during a protest outside the Parliament Building opposing a controversial media bill that aims to replace the current self-regulation system with a government-controlled commission, and has now been released from custody.

A police representative stated that two individuals, one being 28-year-old Leevan, were arrested in the afternoon for demonstrating outside the Parliament Building, breaching the right to assemble freely and challenging the police.

The announcement of the arrest followed the release of videos showing Leevan, a journalist for the news agency Adhadhu, being escorted by three police officers with his hands shackled behind him.

A police representative later stated that both Leevan and the other protestor, a 40-year-old man, were subsequently released from detention.

On August 18, independent lawmaker Thulhaadhoo MP Abdul Hannan Aboobakr, affiliated with the government, introduced a bill aiming to disband the Maldives Media Council (MMC) and BroadCom, establishing a unified regulatory entity — a seven-member Maldives Media and Broadcasting Commission (MMBC).

The legislation, heavily criticized by both local and global journalism organizations, is openly supported by the administration of the People’s National Congress (PNC). The Parliament entered recess on August 19, yet has been conducting extraordinary sessions and committee gatherings to address the bill.

Despite significant worries regarding the bill's impact on press freedom and expression, the Independent Institutions Committee approved the legislation with various government-revised amendments on Monday afternoon, prompting protests from journalists and opposition lawmakers.

Soon after, the Parliament declared that an extraordinary session would take place on Tuesday, during which multiple PNC legislators affirmed their intention to approve the bill.