Former Chief Justice Dr. Ahmed Abdulla Didi has said that there is no judicial and legal basis to say that the cartoon published by Adhadhu on Thursday (January 22) violates the principles of Islam.

In a post on social media X, Didi said the two articles of the Constitution cited in the Control Commission's letter to Adhadhu state that the religion of the Maldives is Islam and everyone has the right to express their views without violating the principles of Islam.

“In light of the stated constitutional texts, it is clear that the Media Commission’s conclusion of the cartoon as content against Islam or the principle of Islam is not based on any valid judicial and constitutional or legal basis,” he wrote.

Didi wrote about the principles of Islam and stressed that the Islamic Shariah strongly emphasizes enjoining good and forbidding evil. He added that journalists have the freedom to expose corruption and fraud among the heads of state and government institutions within the limits of Articles 27 and 28 of the Constitution.

The cartoon, which was posted on Facebook and X, has drawn criticism, including from some political figures in the government. But some others have said the cartoon depicts the state of society.

The Maldives Journalists Association (MJA) has strongly condemned an order by the Media Control Commission on Adhadhu to remove the cartoon immediately.