Adhadhu CEO Hussain Fiyaz Moosa has appealed a Criminal Court order at the High Court, which bans the circulation of the "Aisha" documentary and prohibits the public from discussing any content featured in the film.
The order, issued by Criminal Court Judge Muzammil Nasir, is directed at Fiyaz, Editor Hassan Mohamed, and the Prosecutor General’s (PG) Office. The "gag order" was issued as the Criminal Court presides over Qazf charges filed against Fiyaz and Hassan under Section 612 of the Penal Code.
The High Court had previously declined to accept an appeal filed by the Maldives Journalists Association (MJA) regarding the same matter. The High Court ruled that while the order mandates public compliance, only the direct parties to the case have the legal standing to appeal.
The MJA filed its appeal on May 14, contending that the order obstructs press freedom and the right to freedom of expression. Efforts are currently underway to appeal the Registrar’s decision to reject the case before the High Court’s Board of Judges.
The court order has drawn widespread criticism, with experts questioning its legal validity. Legal professionals have noted that extending such a restrictive order to the entire population, beyond the immediate litigants, directly conflicts with the freedom of expression guaranteed by the Constitution.
