Adhadhu CEO Fiyaz exercises right to silence over ‘Aisha’ documentary

Adhadhu CEO and Chief Editor Hussain Fiyaz Moosa exercised his right to remain silent during police questioning on Wednesday in connection with the ongoing investigation into the documentary ‘Aisha’.

The move follows a police raid on the newspaper’s office on Monday, where authorities seized a significant amount of electronic and journalistic equipment under a court order. The newspaper’s Managing Editor, Hassan Mohamed, similarly exercised his right to remain silent when summoned on Tuesday.

Following his session with investigators this evening, it was revealed that Fiyaz is facing five criminal charges under the Penal Code:

•  Article 30: Liability for participation in an act committed by another.

•  Article 30(h)(2): Secondary liability for participation.

•  Article 81: Solicitation to commit an offense.

•  Article 82: Conspiracy to commit an offense.

•  Article 612: Qazf (False accusation of adultery).

Speaking to the media after the interrogation, Fiyaz’s lawyer, Ali Hussain, stated that the police line of questioning was designed to uncover confidential sources.

"Fiyaz decided to remain silent for several reasons. The most important priority for my client to date is to protect his sources," Ali Hussain said.

The lawyer further characterized the investigation as "political" and "baseless," labeling the police actions as an attempt to intimidate journalists and prevent reporting on government conduct.

The police investigation into the documentary, which targets President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, is being treated as a high-priority case. As part of the probe, travel bans have been imposed on Fiyaz, Hassan Mohamed, and Aishath Easha Ashraf, a former government political appointee.

The seizure of equipment from Adhadhu’s office has reportedly caused severe disruptions to the outlet's daily operations. 

The Maldives Journalists Association (MJA) has condemned the raid, while several journalists held a peaceful protest in front of the newspaper’s office to voice concerns over deteriorating press freedom. International media watchdogs have also begun monitoring the situation, as critics argue the case should be handled by the relevant media commissions rather than through criminal police intervention.