Former President Mohamed Nasheed has stated that the personal affairs of President Dr Mohamed Muizzu is inconsequential, but that the concern is about the arrests of journalists and the narrowing of press freedom and freedom of expression. 

Nasheed held a meeting in Sri Lanka last night as part of his campaigns for the June 12 MDP Chairperson election. 

Speaking at the meeting, Nasheed said that his view of the question asked of President Muizzu at the press conference changed after the journalist who posed the question was later arrested. 

"Issues like that aren't things we should concern ourselves with, those are personal matters. We are not going to focus on those," Nasheed said. 

"The concern, however, is that journalists are being arrested. We are concerned because freedom of expression, freedom of assembly are being encroached upon. We are not concerned about anything else."

Adhadhu journalists Mohamed Shahzan and Leevan Ali Naseer were sentenced to jail yesterday for contempt of court. 

Shahzan received a 15 day sentence for posing a question relating to the documentary to President Muizzu during his weekly press conference after the court had issued a gag order, while Leevan received 10 days for his reporting on the Criminal Court's gag order. 

Nasheed said last night that freedom of expression and freedom of assembly directly relate to the people's prosperity. He said that it is through criticism that the people secure the rights they get. 

"When there is no criticism, the wrong project is conducted at the wrong time at the wrong place by the wrong contractor. It is our money that will be wasted through this," Nasheed explained. 

The gag order issued on the media and public by the Criminal Court prohibits:

The order states that violating any of these restrictions could amount to contempt of court.