MDP: Journalists must be able to report without fear of retaliation

The opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has emphasized that journalists must be allowed to investigate and report on matters freely, without fear of retaliation.

This statement follows the police raid on the office of the online news outlet ‘Adhadhu’ and the Criminal Court travel ban order against the media outlet’s CEO Hussain Fiyaz Mohamed, on Monday night.

The police probe comes after the media outlet released a documentary last month, which raised serious allegations against President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu.

In a statement, MDP strongly condemned the police raid on ‘Adhadhu’ office, asserting that it is directly linked to the outlet’s publication of the documentary concerning the President.

While acknowledging that law enforcement authorities acted pursuant to a court order, MDP expressed grave concern regarding the opacity surrounding the warrant, cautioning that such lack of clarity constitutes a significant threat to press freedom. The party noted that, based on information provided by journalists, the warrant failed to clearly articulate the nature of the investigation or delineate the scope of the search. It has further been reported that several electronic devices belonging to the news outlet were confiscated during the operation.

MDP alleged that the police actions appear to be a direct response to the documentary, which raised serious allegations against President Muizzu.

The party underscored that in a democratic society, allegations of this nature should be addressed through transparent and independent legal mechanisms, rather than through measures that could be perceived as intimidation of the press.

Additionally, MDP expressed concern that these developments come as the Parliament has passed the Media Council Bill, which allows significant control over the media.  The opposition warned that such actions hinder independent journalism and weaken mechanisms for holding the government accountable. It reiterated that a free press is fundamental to democracy and that journalists must be able to carry out investigative reporting without fear.

MDP called on state institutions to uphold press freedom, ensuring that all actions remain within the bounds of the law and are proportionate to the matters under investigation. The party also urged authorities to avoid actions that could diminish public trust in democratic governance.

Despite these concerns, the government’s chief spokesperson Mohamed Hussain Shareef (Mundu), stated that President Muizzu had not personally lodged any complaint with the police regarding the documentary.