Travel bans in ‘Adhadhu’ crackdown expands to include editor Hassan

The Criminal Court has issued a travel ban order against a second senior official from online news outlet ‘Adhadhu’ over its documentary ‘Aisha’.

The documentary, which aired in late March, was based on the interview from a unanimous source and makes serious allegations against President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu.

On Monday night, the police stormed the office of ‘Adhadhu’ over the documentary and seized multiple electronic devices. The police also produced a travel ban order against the news outlet’s CEO and chief editor Hussain Fiyaz Moosa.

‘Adhadhu’ reported on Tuesday that the Criminal Court has also issued a travel ban order against the publication’s managing editor Hassan Mohamed.

The travel bans against both Fiyaz and Hassan cite an intelligence report suggesting they were attempting to flee the country.

Both bans were issued for the three-month period from April 27 to July 26.

Criminal Court, at the govt's request, has placed another travel ban on @AdhadhuMV Managing Editor Hassan Mohamed. The govt is crossing a clear red line. We demand an immediate end to the intimidation of journis and the suppression of press freedom. pic.twitter.com/1yeX4NP4hm

— Maldives Journalists Association (@mjamaldives) April 28, 2026

The case has sparked condemnation the Maldives Journalists Association (MJA), which accused the government of crossing a clear red line, and demanded an immediate end to the intimidation of journalists and the suppression of press freedom.

Meanwhile, the Maldives Media and Broadcasting Commission (MMBC) remains silent over the incident. The commission’s president Mohamed Farushath has been unresponsive to repeated phone calls and messages seeking a comment.