Adhadhu
 Logo used since 2021 | |
Editor-in-chief | Hussain Fiyaz Moosa[1] |
|---|---|
Associate editor | Hassan Mohamed & Azzam Alifulhu[2][3] |
| Founded | 22 February 2021 |
| Language | Dhivehi and English |
| Headquarters | 4th floor, Maaram, Henveiru, Malé, Maldives |
| Website | adhadhu |
Adhadhu is an online news website based in Malé, Maldives. Adhadhu's journalists has received many awards from the Maldives Media Council.
History
[edit]Adhadhu was registered with the Ministry of Home Affairs on 22 February 2021.[4]
On 20 March 2023, Editor-in-chief Hussain Fiyaz Moosa was sent text messages which contained death threats after publishing an article about organised crime and religious extremism.[5]
In 2024, Adhadhu won the politics, sports, video documentary, investigative journalism (audio and video) categories at the Journalism Awards.[6]
On 16 March 2025, Adhadhu filed a police complaint after president Mohamed Muizzu called Adhadhu's CEO Hussain Fiyaz Moosa and threatened him.[7][8] This was condemned by the Maldives Journalists Association and Transparency Maldives.[9][10]
On 27 April 2026, the Serious and Organised Crime Department raided Adhadhu's offices in Malé, seizing journalists' laptops and hard drives. A travel ban was subsequently issued on Hussain Fiyaz Moosa and managing editor Hassan Mohamed and charged them with qazf, a false accusation of adultery under Islamic law.[11][12]
Controversies
[edit]Adhadhu produced a documentary called "Skeelan", which is about president Mohamed Muizzu's stepmother. The documentary has been based on a false narrative according to multiple sources that came in defence of Muizzu. The documentary says that Skeelan was deported and blacklisted from the Maldives and that Muizzu's family had cut ties with her.[13] Muizzu denied all the allegations.[14]
Adhadhu produced a documentary called "Bailakka", where it shows that Congress MPs of the People's Majlis were getting monthly payouts by Mohamed Muizzu.[15] The government and the MPs denied this and threatened legal action and the President's Office filed a complaint with the Maldives Media Council about the documentary.[16][17]
On 29 March 2026, Adhadhu released "Aisha", revealing a woman whose name has been redacted who had an alleged affair with President Mohamed Muizzu.[18] On 10 May, the Maldivian Criminal Court issued a gag order prohibiting public discussion of the documentary. On 12 May, Adhadhu journalists Leevan Ali Naseer and Mohamed Shahzan were sentenced to 10 and 15 days in prison respectively, as well as fines of 26, 000 MVR, for reporting on the gag order.[11][19]
References
[edit]- ↑ "ހުސެއިން ފިޔާޒް މޫސާ" [Hussain Fiyaz Moosa]. Adhadhu (in Divehi). Retrieved 28 February 2025.
- ↑ "ހަސަން މުހައްމަދު" [Hassan Mohamed]. Adhadhu (in Divehi). Retrieved 28 February 2025.
- ↑ "އައްޒާމް އަލިފުޅު" [Azzam Alifulhu]. Adhadhu (in Divehi). Retrieved 28 February 2025.
- ↑ "About us". Adhadhu. Retrieved 28 February 2025.
- ↑ "Maldives: Journalists issued threats for story on politician and tourism mogul". International Federation of Journalists. 11 April 2023. Retrieved 28 February 2025.
- ↑ Mohamed, Mariyath (31 October 2024). "Journalism Awards: Mihaaru wins Best Journalist, Best Coverage and more". The Edition. Retrieved 28 February 2025.
- ↑ "Police complaint filed after President Muizzu threatened Adhadhu CEO Fiyaz". Adhadhu. 16 March 2025. Retrieved 4 April 2026.
- ↑ Shujau, Abdulla (17 March 2025). "Adhadhu Accuses President Muizzu of Issuing Threats; MJA Calls for Investigation". Maldives Republic. Retrieved 19 March 2025.
- ↑ Mohamed, Naizak (16 March 2025). "MJA condemns alleged threats by Pres. Muizzu against Adhadhu Editor Fiyaz". Sun. Retrieved 19 March 2025.
- ↑ "Press Statement: Call for a Fair and Transparent Investigation into Allegations of Threats Against Journalists". Transparency Maldives. 18 March 2025. Retrieved 19 March 2025.
- 1 2 "Maldives: Attacks on Media Escalate". Human Rights Watch. 20 May 2026. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ Thaufeeq, Shazma (10 May 2026). "Journalists Fiyaz and Hassan charged with Qazf". The Edition. Archived from the original on 21 May 2026. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
- ↑ "Adhadhu wins journalism awards in politics, sports, video and investigative categories". Adhadhu. 31 October 2024. Retrieved 4 April 2026.
- ↑ Zalif, Zunana (6 November 2024). "Pres. Muizzu opens up about controversial 'Skeelan' documentary, in interview". Raajje TV. Retrieved 28 February 2025.
- ↑ "MVR 75,000 to each PNC MP from the President this month". Adhadhu. Retrieved 4 April 2026.
- ↑ "Government threatens action against Adhadhu for reporting cash handouts to MPs". Adhadhu. Retrieved 4 April 2026.
- ↑ Shihab, Ibrahim H. "President's Office Files Complaint Against Adhadhu Over 'Bailakka' Documentary". Maldives Republic. Retrieved 28 February 2025.
- ↑ "Woman in Adhadhu Documentary Claims Romantic Relationship with President Muizzu". MV+. 29 March 2026. Retrieved 29 March 2026.
- ↑ "Maldives: Journalists jailed for the first time in democratic era as state intensifies media crackdown". International Federation of Journalists. 14 May 2026. Archived from the original on 21 May 2026. Retrieved 25 May 2026.