New Delhi, May 12, 2026—Maldivian authorities must immediately release journalists Mohamed Shahzan and Leevan Ali Nasir and end judicial harassment of their news outlet, Adhadhu, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday.
According to a report by Adhadhu and a post on X by the Maldives Journalists Association, a court in the capital Malé sentenced Shahzan, a reporter with Adhadhu, to 15 days in jail after he was removed from a May 11 press conference for questioning President Mohamed Muizzu about allegations of sexual misconduct and abuse of power raised in the outlet’s documentary, “Aisha.” Authorities later barred Adhadhu from briefings, citing a criminal court gag order on discussing the film.
In a separate case, Nasir, a journalist with the same publication, received a 10-day sentence over a report on the same gag order, which the court deemed a violation, Adhadhu reported.
The rulings represent an escalation of the government’s campaign against the outlet, which included an April 27 police raid, equipment seizures, and travel bans on senior staff, as documented by CPJ.
“The jailing of Mohamed Shahzan and Leevan Ali Nasir is a punitive attempt to criminalize investigative journalism and shield the presidency from scrutiny,” said CPJ Asia-Pacific Program Coordinator Kunal Majumder. “The authorities must free both journalists, return seized equipment from the Adhadhu news room, and allow the press to operate without fear in Maldives.”
On May 8, CPJ and six other groups wrote to President Muizzu calling for an end to criminal proceedings against Adhadhu.
The Maldives Police Service and the President’s Office did not immediately respond to CPJ’s requests for comment sent via email.