High Court convenes Monday for gag order appeal tied to Aisha documentary

The High Court is scheduled to hear the case seeking to quash the Criminal Court’s gag order on Monday morning.

A three‑judge bench will preside over the hearing. The bench comprises Justices Abdul Rauf Ibrahim, Hussain Mazeed, and Fatimath Farheeza.

The Maldives Journalists Association (MJA) first moved to overturn the gag order issued by the Criminal Court. However, the High Court dismissed MJA’s appeal, after which Adhadhu CEO Hussain Fiyaz Moosa filed a fresh appeal challenging the order.

MJA’s petition was dismissed by High Court Registrar Maryam Hoorshidha, who ruled that the association lacked legal standing to appeal. MJA argued that the Criminal Court’s order applies broadly to the public and infringes upon the fundamental rights of citizens and journalists.

The gag order, issued in connection with the Aisha documentary, which makes allegations involving the president, prohibits circulating specific content and bans any direct or indirect discussion of the narratives contained in it. It also bars making any statement about the judge, the parties involved, or the victim.

Criminal Court Judge Muzammil Nasir issued the order while Fiyaz and Adhadhu editor Hassan Mohamed were charged with qazf under Section 612 of the Penal Code. Their trial is being conducted behind closed doors.

Two Adhadhu journalists, Leevan Ali Naseer and Mohamed Shahzan, were previously jailed for allegedly violating the gag order. Their imprisonment was condemned by Transparency Maldives, which described it as an attack on the foundations of democratic governance.