New Delhi, April 28, 2026—Maldivian authorities must immediately return seized equipment to the independent news outlet Adhadhu, lift travel bans on its staff, and cease using criminal allegations to silence reporting on the president, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday.
On April 27, police raided Adhadhu’s headquarters in the capital city, Malé, and seized electronic devices, the news outlet said. It added that officers entered the property under a court order issued following the March 28 release of “Aisha,” a documentary in which a former employee in the President’s Office alleged sexual misconduct and abuse of power against President Mohamed Muizzu.
The search warrant cited Section 612(a) of the Penal Code, which refers to the offense of “Qazf,” or the false accusation of adultery under Islamic law, as grounds to search the office.
“The raid on Adhadhu and subsequent travel bans are an attempt to criminalize investigative journalism under the guise of religious and national interests,” said CPJ’s Asia-Pacific Program Coordinator Kunal Majumder. “Using religious laws to bypass civil media regulations sets a chilling precedent. Authorities must allow the press to hold government offices accountable.”
The raid occurred hours after an Adhadhu journalist questioned Muizzu about the allegations during a televised press conference, said Mohamed Junayd, executive director of the Maldives Journalists Association, in a text message to CPJ.
Following the raid, authorities imposed travel bans on Adhadhu CEO Hussain Fiyaz Moosa and Managing Editor Hassan Mohamed.
Minister of Homeland Security Ali Ihusaan defended the police action, saying: “Spreading fabricated serious accusations is not journalism. Police are upholding the rule of law and the President’s constitutional rights. Responsible freedom comes with accountability. No one is above the law.”
The Maldives Police Service and the President’s Office did not respond to CPJ’s emailed requests for comment.