A journalist from Adhadhu was asked to leave a press conference at the President’s Office today after raising a question linked to a documentary that is currently subject to a Criminal Court order restricting its publication and discussion.
The journalist, Mohamed Shahzan, who also serves as Vice President of the Maldives Journalists Association (MJA), raised a question during the briefing regarding the documentary produced by Adhadhu.
However, the Criminal Court had issued an order yesterday prohibiting the dissemination of claims contained in the documentary. The order also instructed that the documentary should not be circulated publicly and that its contents should not be discussed directly or indirectly.
Following the question, President Mohamed Muizzu requested Shahzan to leave the press hall, while also rejecting the allegations made against him in the documentary as false and baseless.
According to the court order, the case falls under proceedings that may be conducted in camera under Article 42(c)(1) of the Constitution in order to maintain public morals. The court further stated that documents and information related to the case must not be publicized, warning that violations could amount to contempt of court.
The order noted that the restrictions were imposed to protect reputations, the rights of the accused, and the interests of the alleged victim. It also emphasized the legal principle that an individual cannot be considered guilty unless proven so beyond reasonable doubt by a court of law.
