Adhadhu journalist Leevan Ali Nasir was barred from attending a press conference held by the President’s Office Spokesperson Mohamed Hussain Shareef (Mundhu) and was forcibly removed from the venue yesterday.
The journalist was removed from the press briefing, which was scheduled to take place at Public Service Media (PSM), on the grounds that his name was not on the list of authorized attendees. However, Leevan had followed standard protocol by submitting his name to the President’s Office prior to the event.
In a video message sent to media outlets regarding the incident, Mundhu stated that Adhadhu has been denied the opportunity to participate in press conferences. He further claimed that the briefing had to be cancelled because it could not proceed while Leevan remained inside the venue.
The President’s Office maintains that Adhadhu and its journalists are prohibited from attending any press briefings organized by the office. To date, the President’s Office has failed to provide Adhadhu with any official written notification regarding this ban.
Adhadhu has formally requested the President’s Office in writing on two separate occasions to provide the official decision barring its journalists from press briefings. Having received no response to these letters, the news outlet sent a new letter to President Mohamed Muizzu last Thursday seeking clarification.
The President’s Office began blocking Adhadhu journalists from press events following a question posed by one of its reporters during a press conference attended by President Muizzu on May 11.
At that time, Muizzu decided that the question violated a "gag order" issued by the Criminal Court regarding the documentary "Aisha" produced by this outlet. Adhadhu journalist Mohamed Shahuzan was expelled from that briefing.
Later that same night, at 11:01 pm, a message was shared in the official President’s Office media WhatsApp group stating that Adhadhu would no longer be allowed entry.
When the President’s Office created a new WhatsApp group for media communications, all journalists from this outlet were excluded.
Regarding the measures taken against Adhadhu, the President’s Office stated that the "suspension" would remain in effect until the conclusion of the ongoing Criminal Court case against CEO Hussain Fiyaz, and its editor, Hassan Mohamed.
The "Aisha" documentary features allegations concerning an extramarital affair involving Muizzu and a President’s Office employee. Muizzu has denied the claims made in the documentary.
