Adhadhu has submitted a formal complaint to President Mohamed Muizzu over the President’s Office’s continued failure to respond to inquiries regarding the decision to bar the outlet and its journalists from official press conferences.
In a letter signed by Adhadhu CEO Hussain Fiyaz Moosa and submitted today, the outlet noted that it has twice requested official written documentation regarding the decision to exclude its journalists from presidential press briefings.
Adhadhu stated that after receiving no response to an initial letter sent on May 18, a follow-up was sent on July 9 to Dr. Mohamed Mahid Shareef, head of the Citizens’ Complaints Bureau—a department established to manage and respond to public grievances across various platforms.
The letter characterized the ban on Adhadhu journalists as an unjust and extra-legal measure. It further noted the outlet's intention to escalate the matter to relevant national and international bodies.
The news organization emphasized that the President’s Office’s refusal to respond to any formal correspondence constitutes an obstruction of justice.
The President’s Office initiated the ban following a question posed by an Adhadhu journalist during a press conference attended by President Muizzu on May 11.
At the time, President Muizzu unilaterally decided that the question violated a "gag order" issued by the Criminal Court regarding the "Aisha" documentary produced by the outlet. The journalist was removed from the briefing.
Later that night, at 11:01 pm, a message was sent to a WhatsApp group designated for media communications stating that Adhadhu would no longer be permitted to attend.
Since then, the President’s Office has established a new media WhatsApp group, excluding all Adhadhu journalists. Inquiries directed to media officials regarding this exclusion have gone unanswered, with officials failing to even acknowledge receipt of the messages.
A week after the ban, Adhadhu sent a formal letter on May 18 requesting written clarification of the measures taken against them. To date, no response has been provided.
Expressing concern over the silence, CEO Hussain Fiyaz Moosa stated that the lack of written documentation has effectively blocked the outlet from pursuing necessary legal remedies.
"We have requested the documentation for this action via letters, verbal inquiries, and messages. However, we have received no response so far. This is a deliberate attempt to obstruct journalism and hinder Adhadhu’s work," Fiyaz said.
The President’s Office previously indicated that the "suspension" would remain in effect until the conclusion of a Criminal Court case involving Fiyaz and the outlet’s editor, Hassan Mohamed.
The court proceedings are currently in the preliminary stages. During the last hearing, both Fiyaz and Hassan denied the charges of criminal defamation (qazf) brought against them.
The "Aisha" documentary features allegations regarding an extramarital affair involving President Muizzu and a President’s Office employee. The President has denied the claims made in the documentary.
