The Maldives Media and Broadcasting Commission (Control Commission) has banned the circulation of Volume 22 of the political cartoon published on the Facebook page and X account of Adhadhu on January 22.

In an announcement today (January 25), the commission banned the circulation of the cartoon as it had ordered Adhadhu to remove it due to an ongoing investigation connected to the cartoon.

The government previously claimed that the commission would not have the power to regulate content on the internet. But the Maldives Journalists Association (MJA) and the local journalist community staged protests in Male' because the law allowed the commission to control content published on the internet.

The commission informed Adhadhu about an investigation into the cartoon after official working hours ended at 5:30 pm on January 22.

It also told Adhadhu to respond within five days and claimed that the cartoon contravenes the principles of Islam.

In its response, Adhadhu asked the commission to explain the legal reasons for the decision to declare that the cartoon violates the principles of Islam. Adhadhu has also informed the commission that it will decide whether to temporarily remove the content when the commission responds.

This is the first time the commission has ordered the removal of content published on Adhadhu under the new law to dismantle the free press. This is also the first time the commission has banned the circulation of a social media post.