The High Court has scheduled the appeal hearing against a Criminal Court gag order that banned the circulation of the "Aisha" documentary and prohibited the public from discussing any content featured in the production.
The appeal, filed by Adhadhu CEO Fiyaz Moosa is set to commence at 09:00 am on Monday, June 29.
Issued on May 10 by Criminal Court Judge Muzammil Nasir, the gag order applies to Fiyaz, editor Hassan Mohamed, the Prosecutor General’s Office, and the general public. The order was issued as Fiyaz and Hassan currently face Qazf charges (an Islamic criminal offence of falsely accusing someone of adultery or fornication) under Section 612 of the Penal Code in an ongoing Criminal Court case.
The Maldives Journalists Association (MJA) first attempted to appeal the order. However, the High Court Registrar rejected the filing on the grounds that the association was not a direct party to the case.
Following this, Fiyaz filed a separate appeal. Meanwhile, the MJA has petitioned the High Court’s Board of Judges to overturn the Registrar’s decision and allow their involvement.
The "Aisha" documentary details allegations regarding an extramarital affair between President Mohamed Muizzu and a staff member at the President’s Office. Muizzu has denied the allegations presented in the film.
