Media Commission orders Adhadhu to withdraw political cartoon, urges public not to circulate it during investigation

The Maldives Media and Broadcasting Commission has ordered Adhadhu to withdraw a political cartoon published in its SiyaaseeCartoon segment, and has urged the public not to circulate it while the case is investigated.

In a notice issued the same day, the commission instructed Adhadhu to remove the cartoon, which was posted between 09:25 and 09:30 hours on Thursday morning. The commission further stated that no one should share or redistribute the cartoon until its inquiry is complete.

The cartoon shows a prayer congregation, with President Dr Mohamed Muizzu depicted as stealing banknotes from the imam’s pocket.

In a letter sent the same day to Adhadhu CEO Hussain Fiyaz Moosa, Media Commission Secretary-General Hamdhy Ageel said the cartoon allegedly contradicts the fundamentals of Islam and could potentially incite conflict. The commission said it is investigating the matter under media and broadcasting regulations.

The Maldives Media Control Commission has ordered Adhadhu to remove the latest political cartoon published on our #SiyaaseeCartoon segment.

The commission’s letter does not feature any clear description of wrongdoing, and we believe our comic is in full accordance with Maldivian… https://t.co/sWXslFijwD pic.twitter.com/UYF1XEjhHC

— Adhadhu (@AdhadhuMV) January 22, 2026

In his written response, Fiyaz said the cartoon portrays a man stealing money from an imam’s pocket and is intended to highlight the rise in thefts in Maldivian society. He stressed that the cartoon was not published as an insult to Islam or Islamic slogans, and that there is no reasonable basis to interpret it as such.