The Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) expresses grave concern over the continued and escalating actions taken by the Maldives Police Service against Adhadhu, an independent online news outlet in the Maldives, and its journalists, following the publication of a documentary alleging a sexual relationship between President Muizzu and a former staff member of the President’s Office.
The initial police raid on Monday night has been followed by the confiscation of journalists’ electronic devices, and the summoning of senior editorial leadership for questioning. The raid and actions against Adhadhu has been so wide ranging that it seems designed to suppress the entire operation of the outlet. Adhadhu Editor Hassan Mohamed and CEO Hussain Fiyaz Moosa were both summoned by police today for questioning in connection with the same investigation, with multiple criminal charges now filed against Hassan. Travel restrictions have also been imposed on both individuals, further intensifying concerns about the use of disproportionate and coercive measures against media professionals.
Reports from journalists at Adhadhu indicate that the warrant used in the initial raid did not clearly specify the scope of the search or the alleged violation under investigation. Following the raid there has been a concerted effort by Government officials, including senior cabinet Ministers, to portray Adhadhu’s broadcast as a baseless character assassination of the President, even justifying the raid on Adhadhu and its journalists as an enforcement of responsible media standards.
The MDP calls on the authorities to cease these baseless and trumped up charges against Maldivian journalists and uphold the values of press freedom in line with the Maldives domestic and international requirements.