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Jail Sentences for Journalists
Sentence duration for the detained journalists in the Maldives
Primary Sources
CPJ condemns jailing of 2 Journalists linked to Maldives President ...
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has condemned the jailing of two Maldivian journalists linked to an investigative documentary about President Mohamed Muizzu, calling it an attack on press freedom in the Maldives. According to CPJ, journalists Mohamed Shahzan and Leevan Ali Nasir from independent outlet Adhadhu were sentenced by a court in Malé over matters connected to a documentary titled “Aisha”, which contained allegations involving President Muizzu. Reporter Mohamed Shahzan was sentenced to 15 days in jail after questioning President Muizzu during a press conference regarding allegations raised in the documentary, while Leevan Ali Nasir received a 10-day jail term over reporting related to a court-issued gag order on the case. CPJ said the rulings marked an escalation in action against Adhadhu, noting that authorities had earlier raided the outlet’s newsroom, seized equipment, and imposed travel bans on senior staff members. “The jailing of Mohamed Shahzan and Leevan Ali Nasir is a punitive attempt to criminalize investigative journalism,” CPJ Asia-Pacific Program Coordinator Kunal Majumder said in a statement. President Muizzu has denied the allegations made in the documentary, with Maldivian authorities defending the actions against Adhadhu as lawful investigations into what they described as false claims. International media rights groups and press freedom advocates have meanwhile urged the Maldivian government to end legal action against the outlet and allow journalists to operate freely. (Newswire) 2026-05-12
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 Shahzan, a reporter with Adhadhu, to 15 days in jail after he was removed from a May 11 press conference for questioning President Mohamed Muizzu about allegations of sexual misconduct and abuse of power raised in the outlet’s documentary, “Aisha.” Authorities later barred Adhadhu from briefings, citing a criminal court gag order on discussing the film. In a separate case, Nasir, a journalist with the same publication, received a 10-day sentence over a report on the same gag order, which the court deemed a violation, Adhadhu reported. The rulings represent an escalation of the government’s campaign against the outlet, which included an April 27 police raid, equipment seizures, and travel bans on senior staff, as documented by CPJ. “The jailing of Mohamed Shahzan and Leevan Ali Nasir is a punitive attempt to criminalize investigative journalism and shield the presidency from scrutiny,” said CPJ Asia-Pacific Program Coordinator Kunal Majumder. “The authorities must free both journalists, return seized equipment from the Adhadhu news room, and allow the press to operate without fear in Maldives.” On May 8, CPJ and six other groups wrote to President Muizzu calling for an end to criminal proceedings against Adhadhu. The Maldives Police Service and the President’s Office did not immediately respond to CPJ’s requests for comment sent via email.
CPJ, partners urge Maldives president to end legal action against ...
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'...
CPJ, partners urge Maldives president to end legal action against ...
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.
