Maldives: Police raid Maldivian news outlet, slap travel bans on journalists

Maldivian police raided the offices of online news outlet Adhadhu in Malé on April 27 and placed its CEO and managing editor under a three-month travel ban following the release of an investigative report on the country's president last month. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and its affiliate, the Maldives Journalists Association (MJA), strongly condemn the government's overreach in launching the raid and its attempt to criminalise journalists reporting in the public interest.

MJA protesting outside the office of online news outlet Adhadhu in Malé following the release of an investigative report on the country's president. Credit: MJA / X

The police warrant used for the raid cited Section 612(a) of the Penal Code (Qazf - false accusation of adultery in Islamic law), following the release of the documentary "Aisha" on Adhadhu on March 28, 2026. The Adhadhu documentary featured allegations by a former employee of the President's Office who alleged that Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu had abused his power to sexually manipulate and harass her.

The MJA said the investigation was being conducted by the Serious and Organized Crime Department of the Maldives police and the raid was executed the same day that an Adhadhu journalist questioned President Muizzu about the allegations and asked for his response during a televised press conference. He has denied all allegations.

Following the press conference, it is alleged the president requested authorities to launch an investigation and take stringent legal action against the production team of the documentary. Adhadhu's electronic devices and equipment were seized in the raid and the passports of Adhadhu CEO Hussain Fiyaz Moosa and Managing Editor Hassan Mohamed were also confiscated. The MJA said Adhadhu's owners and lawyers were present during the raid and fully cooperated with police executing the warrant.

The journalists have since been hit by a three-month travel ban imposed by the Maldivian Criminal Court. According to the warrant for the travel ban, Fiyaz was placed on a no-fly list after police intelligence alleged Fiyaz was planning to flee the country. Fiyaz denied the claims and the Adhadhu team continues to stand by its reporting on the allegations against Muizzu. Fiyaz and another journalist, Mohamed Shahzaan, who is also the vice-president of MJA, had previously received death threats after the release of the documentary.

The country's main political opposition group, the Maldivian Democratic Party, and former state leaders have condemned the police raid, calling upon the Muizzu government to respond appropriately to uphold press freedom and democratic principles.

The MJA said the government's actions were particularly alarming given the Muizzu government's Media Control Commission reported it did not initiate any investigation, which meant that the police investigation was not backed by any authority with the power to regulate and investigate the media.

This is not the first time Adhadhu has faced prosecution for its political commentary. Earlier this year on January 22, the Maldives Media and Broadcasting Commission ordered the immediate removal of a political cartoon published by Adhadhu. The image, which satirised the prevalence of theft and bribery in Maldivian society and included a likeness of President Muizzu, was removed from all social media platforms, with the outlet's regular Siyaasee cartoon segment also suspended indefinitely for alleged violation of religious principles.

MJA Executive Director Junayd Saleem said:"By using the loophole of criminalized speech (Qazf), Muizzu and his police service have blatantly circumvented the civil procedures of regulating and investigating the media and in its stead deployed an "active criminal investigation" against a critical and independent media outlet."

The IFJ said: "This raid sounds a warning alarm for the media freedom environment in the Maldives, with the government using police to bypass due process and misuse the law to criminalise independent media reporting."