A lawsuit has been filed in the Civil Court seeking to overturn the President's Office's decision to bar Adhadhu and its journalists from attending press conferences organised by the office, alleging the move is a violation of fundamental rights.
In its claim, Adhadhu requested the court to declare the restriction a violation of the freedom of the press and the right to information. The lawsuit contends that these rights were withheld in breach of Article 16 of the Constitution.
The claim further asserts that the President's Office imposed these restrictions beyond the extent permissible in a free and democratic society.
The President's Office barred Adhadhu journalists from press briefings following a question posed by one of its reporters during a press conference attended by President Mohamed Muizzu on May 11.
At the time the question was asked, Muizzu determined that the inquiry violated a "gag order" issued by the Criminal Court regarding the documentary "Aisha" and had the journalist removed from the briefing.
At 11:01 pm that same night, the President's Office announced via a message to the official media WhatsApp group that Adhadhu would no longer be permitted to attend its briefings.
Since then, the President's Office has established a new media WhatsApp group, excluding all journalists from Adhadhu. Media officials at the office have remained unresponsive to inquiries regarding the exclusion, failing to even acknowledge receipt of messages.
A week after the restrictions were imposed, on May 18, Adhadhu sent a formal letter to the President's Office requesting a written explanation for the measure. To date, the office has not responded to the letter.
