The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has condemned the jailing of two Maldivian journalists linked to an investigative documentary about President Mohamed Muizzu, calling it an attack on press freedom in the Maldives.
According to CPJ, journalists Mohamed Shahzan and Leevan Ali Nasir from independent outlet Adhadhu were sentenced by a court in Malé over matters connected to a documentary titled “Aisha”, which contained allegations involving President Muizzu.
Reporter Mohamed Shahzan was sentenced to 15 days in jail after questioning President Muizzu during a press conference regarding allegations raised in the documentary, while Leevan Ali Nasir received a 10-day jail term over reporting related to a court-issued gag order on the case.
CPJ said the rulings marked an escalation in action against Adhadhu, noting that authorities had earlier raided the outlet’s newsroom, seized equipment, and imposed travel bans on senior staff members.
“The jailing of Mohamed Shahzan and Leevan Ali Nasir is a punitive attempt to criminalize investigative journalism,” CPJ Asia-Pacific Program Coordinator Kunal Majumder said in a statement.
President Muizzu has denied the allegations made in the documentary, with Maldivian authorities defending the actions against Adhadhu as lawful investigations into what they described as false claims.
International media rights groups and press freedom advocates have meanwhile urged the Maldivian government to end legal action against the outlet and allow journalists to operate freely. (Newswire)