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May 21, 2026 – Maldives –
Human Rights Watch has raised alarm over what it describes as a rapid deterioration of press freedom in the Maldives, warning that journalists and independent media outlets are increasingly facing arrests, legal intimidation, censorship, and harassment under President Mohamed Muizzu’s government. The organization said recent actions against journalists marked the first time reporters had been jailed on criminal charges since the Maldives adopted its democratic constitution in 2008.
According to Human Rights Watch, authorities arrested two journalists from the independent outlet Adhadhu during the second week of May 2026 after the publication of reporting and documentary content critical of the government. Rights groups argued that the arrests reflected a wider campaign targeting independent journalism and dissenting voices in the country.
The controversy intensified following the release of a documentary titled “Aisha,” which reportedly included allegations concerning senior government figures. After the documentary’s publication, police raided Adhadhu’s offices, confiscated electronic devices, questioned editors and executives, imposed travel bans on journalists connected to the project, and pursued criminal defamation-related charges under Islamic qazf laws.
Human Rights Watch also criticized the Maldives Media and Broadcasting Regulation Act passed in 2025, describing it as legislation that grants authorities broad powers to regulate and punish media organizations. Critics argued the law allows officials to suspend media registrations, impose heavy fines, and block websites during investigations, raising fears that it could be used to silence critical reporting.
Journalists and opposition figures in the Maldives have increasingly protested against what they describe as growing government pressure on the press. Demonstrations by reporters outside parliament and government buildings were met with police intervention, while local and international press freedom organizations condemned what they called attempts to criminalize journalism.
The crackdown has also drawn international concern from organizations including the Committee to Protect Journalists, the International Federation of Journalists, and Reporters Without Borders. Human Rights Watch warned that the arrests and legal actions against journalists threaten democratic reforms achieved in the Maldives over the past two decades and contribute to a climate of fear among independent media workers.
Online debate surrounding the issue has intensified, with critics accusing the government of undermining democratic institutions and suppressing scrutiny of public officials. Supporters of the government, however, argued authorities were acting within the law and defending reputations against false accusations and politically motivated reporting.
Reference –
https://www.hrw.org/news/2026/05/21/maldives-attacks-on-media-escalate
Escalating Attacks on Media Freedom in the Maldives: HRW Raises Alarm
