Chief Government Spokesperson at the President's Office Mohamed Hussain Shareef (Mundhu) has canceled his "Presser with the Spox" briefing due to the attendance of a journalist from Adhadhu News, who has been prohibited from attending press conferences at the President's Office.
In a video message that was made after the cancellation, Shareef said that the press conference series held at Public Service Media's (PSM) studio is a press briefing under a gazetted basis by the President's Office and held by inviting a special group of media.
Today's briefing was set to be held at 4:00 pm today at PSM's studio.
However, Shareef said that Adhadhu News has been removed from the President's Office's list of media that are invited to the briefing due to the media organization's connection to the ongoing criminal case against them regarding the "illegal acts" that occurred at the President's Office two to three months ago.
According to Shareef, today's press conference was set to be held after having invited the media that is in the President's Office's media group.
Shareef went on to say that Adhadhu News journalist Leevan Ali Naseer texted his name today to the number where names are noted down so that he could attend the President's Office's press conferences, and that the President's Office did not respond to the journalist.
"Leevan went to PSM's studio as the news conference was about to begin, sat down and refused to leave, which is why the press conference is being delayed," said Shareef.
Shareef stated that they were losing live air time as Leevan "continued to interfere" with the press conference that was about to be held, and decided to cancel the conference. He also said that another press briefing will be held at a later date.
The President's Office temporarily barred Adhadhu journalists from its press briefings in May, citing the outlet's alleged breach of a Criminal Court gag order related to its documentary. This was due to Adhadhu journalist Mohamed Shahuzan being removed by security from a presidential press briefing after he asked a question related to the outlet's documentary.
Judge Muzammil Nasir at the Criminal Court issued a gag order regarding the documentary after prosecutors sought specific measures against Adhadhu CEO Hussain Fiyaz Moosa and editor Hassan Mohamed on qazf charges.
The President's Office said previously that under its media-access policies and the standards of respect required at its events, it has decided to bar Adhadhu journalists, as well as anyone representing the outlet, from attending its press briefings from 11th May 2026.
