The Criminal Court has announced that the trial of Adhadhu CEO Hussain Fiyaz Moosa and Editor Hassan Mohamed, who are facing charges of criminal defamation (Qazf), will be conducted behind closed doors.
The charges against Fiyaz and Hassan stem from the publication of a documentary containing sexual misconduct allegations against President Mohamed Muizzu.
"These types of cases are trials that can be conducted without public access in order to maintain public morality as stipulated under Article 42(c)(1) of the Constitution," stated the order issued by Criminal Court Judge Muzammil Nasir.
The Criminal Court also issued a gag order regarding the case today. The order mandates that the documentary must not be circulated within the community until the conclusion of the trial. Furthermore, the court ordered a prohibition on the dissemination of any information related to the documentary.
The charges against Fiyaz and Hassan were filed 14 days after the investigation into the documentary titled "Aisha" commenced. The investigation was ordered directly by Muizzu during a press conference, following questions posed by Adhadhu regarding the allegations.
On the same night the investigation was ordered, police raided the Adhadhu office and seized 20 electronic devices, including laptops and hard drives.
The following day, Fiyaz and Hassan were slapped with travel bans and summoned to the police station for questioning. A former President's Office employee featured in the documentary was also summoned and barred from traveling.
The prosecution of Fiyaz and Hassan comes despite calls from seven international organizations to drop the criminal charges and conduct an independent investigation into the allegations made against the Muizzu.
