Independent news outlet Adhadhu has lodged a complaint with the Maldives Police Service, alleging that President Mohamed Muizzu threatened its CEO and journalist Hussain Fiyaz Moosa in a phone call.
In a statement on Saturday, Adhadhu said the president called Moosa at 19:04 on 14 March in anger over remarks made by a political activist at a Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) rally. The news outlet said that it had never reported on the remarks in question and had only become aware of them after senior government officials condemned them.
According to Adhadhu, Muizzu threatened to take the “harshest action” against both the journalist and the outlet. The statement alleged that the president reiterated the threat three times before abruptly ending the call. Adhadhu described the incident as an “undeserved outburst of frustration” and said the president’s actions reflected a “complete departure” from the conduct expected of a head of state.
The outlet reaffirmed its commitment to independent journalism, saying it would not bow to threats or intimidation.
Following Adhadhu’s complaint, the Maldives Journalists Association (MJA) issued a statement calling on the authorities to conduct an urgent and transparent investigation. The association described the allegation — that the country’s most powerful public official directly threatened a journalist — as “extremely serious and alarming.”
MJA said such actions create a climate of fear for journalists and undermine constitutional rights to press freedom and free expression. The organisation also criticised authorities for failing to take action on previous threats reported by Adhadhu journalists.
MJA urged the Maldives Police Service to conduct a swift and open investigation into the complaint. It also called on the government to address concerns about media content through proper legal channels instead of resorting to intimidation.
The association said it had reached out to the President’s Office for a response but had not received one as of Saturday.