The case submitted by the CEO of Adhadhu news Hussain Fiyaz Moosa to appeal a gag order issued by the Criminal Court whereby it bans speaking about the newspaper's video documentary has been accepted by the court.
Fiyaz's side went to court to appeal the order just after the High Court Registrar decided on 17th May not to accept the case submitted by the Maldives Journalist Association (MJA) requesting to invalidate that order.
Fiyaz's case has since been registered by the court.
The decision issued by the High Court Registrar on that matter stated that since MJA is not a party involved in the case to which the order pertains, the association does not hold the right to appeal that case, with the only parties having that right being Fiyaz or Adhadhu's Managing Editor Hassan Mohamed.
The MJA has submitted that decision to the High Court Council of Judges.
The Criminal Court issued the order in that manner after the state raised charges of Qazf (false accusation of unchastity) against Fiyaz, as well as Adhadhu news Managing Editor Hassan Mohamed, and requested the issuance of such an order. Therefore, as highlighted in the High Court's decision, Fiyaz is a party to whom the case pertains.
The matters directed in the order issued generally upon everyone by the Criminal Court:
- Not to circulate "Adhadhu" news' video documentary within the community
- Not to speak about the narrative in the documentary, directly or indirectly
- Not to speak about any narrative of a litigant in the case or the victim of the crime in connection with the documentary
- Not to disseminate documents submitted in the case and information related to the trial.
The order also states that each of those matters will be considered as contempt of court.
While the Criminal Court's order was submitted for appeal, that court had previously sentenced two "Adhadhu" journalists, Mohamed Shahuzan and Leevan Ali Naseer, to jail after determining that they violated the order.
Condemning that, a statement issued by MJA noted that the Criminal Court's order has obstructed journalists from disseminating news and deprived citizens of the right to seek and receive information.
