Time has come for Nasheed, Solih and Yameen to rise together to ‘save’ the country, says Fayyaz

The time has come for former presidents Mohamed Nasheed, Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom to set aside their differences and rise together to save the country, says Fayyaz Ismail, the former chairperson of the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP).

In a post on X on Wednesday afternoon, Fayyaz accused President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu of “hijacking the entire state” and violating his oath of office.

“We need to set aside differences and stage anti-government protests across the country to make the anger of the people heard. This is the time for opposition leaders, especially President Mohamed Nasheed, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, and President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom to rise up together and save this country,” he wrote.

“We are ready to do this with the three presidents without any hesitation.”

Fayyaz also demanded the immediate release of two journalists from Adhadhu, Mohamed Shahzan and Leeval Ali Naseer, who were imprisoned on Tuesday on charges of contempt of court for violating a blanket gag order issued by the Criminal Court.

Shahzan was imprisoned for 15 days, while Leevan was imprisoned for 10.

The gag order was issued in a criminal case against Adhadhu CEO Hussain Fiyaz Moosa and editor Hassan Mohamed on charges of making false accusations of adultery in a documentary the news outlet published on March 28.

“I call on fair judges and independent institutions to work to secure the immediate release of the journalists,” he wrote.

މުޅި ދައުލަތް ހިސޯރުކޮށްގެން ހުންނެވި މ. ދިމްޔާތު މުހައްމަދު މުއިއްޒު އެ ހުންނެވީ ރައީސުލްޖުމްހޫރިއްޔާގެ މަގާމާ ހަވާލުވާން ކުރެއްވި ހުވަޔާ ހިލާފުވެ ބުއްދި ފިލައި ގޮސްފައި. ތަފާތު ވިސްނުންތައް އެއްފަރާތްކޮށް ސަރުކާރާ ދެކޮޅަށް މުޅި ރާއްޖޭގައި މުޒާހަރާކޮށް ރައްޔިތުންގެ ނުރުހުމުގެ…

— Fayyaz Ismail (@faya_i) May 13, 2026

The blanket gag order issued on Sunday explicitly prohibits any party from circulating the documentary, from directly or indirectly discussing the contents of the video, or making any comments linking any of the defendants or the victim with the documentary.

Both Leevan and Shahzan were accused of violating the gag order, Leevan with an article published regarding the issuance of the gag order and Shahzan over the questions he directed at President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu on Monday.

Shahzan was kicked out of the press briefing on Monday over the questions, and the President’s Office has banned ‘Adhadhu’ from all future press conferences.

Meanwhile, both Fiyaz and Hassan have travel bans issued against them, and are set to appear at court on Wednesday for preliminary hearings in the case against them.