Abdulla Shahid, President of the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and former Foreign Minister, has condemned the police raid on Adhadhu office. Shahid expressed his condemnation in a post shared on social media.
Shahid stated that the government's efforts to intimidate independent journalism constitute a direct assault on press freedom and the public's right to information. He further characterized the move as a dangerous attempt by the administration to dismantle independent media.
Emphasizing that press freedom is a fundamental pillar of democracy, Shahid noted that it is not a privilege to be granted or revoked at the whim of those in power. His post warned that fostering a culture of intimidation against independent institutions and journalists would inevitably lead to democratic backsliding in the country.
Police entered the Adhadhu office under a court warrant tonight. Many have alleged that the raid is an attempt to obstruct journalistic work and silence critics of the government.
