Maldives / Asia

  
Mohamed Shahzan and Leevan Ali Nasir

Maldives jails 2 journalists over documentary about President Muizzu

New Delhi, May 12, 2026—Maldivian authorities must immediately release journalists Mohamed Shahzan and Leevan Ali Nasir and end judicial harassment of their news outlet, Adhadhu, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday. According to a report by Adhadhu and a post on X by the Maldives Journalists Association, a court in the capital Malé sentenced…

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Maldives' President Mohamed Muizzu attends the United Nations climate change conference in Baku, Azerbaijan, on November 12, 2024. (Photo: Reuters/Maxim Shemetov)

CPJ, partners urge Maldives president to end legal action against Adhadhu News

The Committee to Protect Journalists and six other press freedom and human rights organizations have written to Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu, urging his government to cease using the criminal justice system against independent news outlet Adhadhu News. On April 27, police from the Serious and Organized Crime Department raided Adhadhu’s office in Malé, seizing journalists’…

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Maldives police raid Adhadhu newsroom

Maldives police raid Adhadhu newsroom, travel bans imposed on editor and CEO

New Delhi, April 28, 2026—Maldivian authorities must immediately return seized equipment to the independent news outlet Adhadhu, lift travel bans on its staff, and cease using criminal allegations to silence reporting on the president, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday. On April 27, police raided Adhadhu’s headquarters in the capital city, Malé, and seized electronic devices,…

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Civil society groups are calling on Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu to withdraw the proposed Maldives Media and Broadcasting Regulation Bill.

CPJ, partners urge Maldives president to drop restrictive media bill

Editor’s note: Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu signed the Maldives Media & Broadcasting Bill into law on September 18, 2025. The Committee to Protect Journalists joined 20 other civil society groups calling on Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu to withdraw the proposed Maldives Media and Broadcasting Regulation Bill, warning it poses a grave threat to press freedom…

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Maldives' President Mohamed Muizzu attends the United Nations climate change conference in Baku, Azerbaijan, on November 12, 2024. (Photo: Reuters/Maxim Shemetov)

CPJ urges Maldives president to reject ‘regressive’ media bill

Editor’s note: Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu signed the Maldives Media & Broadcasting Bill into law on September 18, 2025. New Delhi, August 21, 2025—Maldives president Mohamed Muizzu should reject a bill that was recently introduced in the country’s parliament that would dismantle press freedom and place the media under government control, the second such bill…

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Maldives blogger Yameen Rasheed (left) was stabbed to death in 2017 and journalist Ahmed Rilwan Abdulla's family never received his body after his 2014 disappearance.

CPJ joins call for Maldives commission to reveal findings to victims’ families, public

The Committee to Protect Journalists joined 11 partner organizations on Tuesday in calling on the Maldives’ Presidential Commission on Deaths and Disappearances (DDCom), newly elected President Mohamed Muizzu, and the country’s Human Rights Commission to ensure that the findings of DDCom’s investigations are revealed to the victims’ families and made public before its expected dissolution…

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CPJ calls on Maldives authorities to swiftly investigate threats against 2 Dhauru journalists

New York, April 11, 2023–Maldives authorities must swiftly and impartially investigate the recent threats of violence and death sent to journalists Ahmed Naaif and Ahmed Zahir and ensure their safety, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday. Beginning on April 7, four unidentified numbers messaged threats to Naaif following the publication of an article by…

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Maldives journalist Hussain Juman arrested, assaulted by police while covering opposition rally

New York, March 17, 2023– Maldives authorities should investigate the police assault of journalist Hussain Juman, refrain from filing any charges against him in retaliation for his work, and ensure members of the press can cover protests freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday. On the evening of Thursday, March 16, Maldives police assaulted…

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Maldives parliament considers amendment restricting journalists’ coverage of elections

New York, March 15, 2023—Maldives legislators should reject or revise a recently proposed legislative amendment restricting journalists’ ability to cover elections, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Wednesday. On Monday, March 13, the Maldives parliament opened debate regarding an amendment to the country’s General Elections Act proposed in mid-February by a lawmaker with the ruling…

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Police assault 2 journalists covering political protest in the Maldives

New York, February 7, 2023 – Maldives authorities must swiftly investigate the recent assaults of journalists Hassan Shaheed and Ahmed Misbaah and ensure that members of the press can report on public events without fear of violence by police, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday. On the morning of Monday, February 6, police officers…

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