President Calls on Journalists to Uphold Ethics and Accuracy on Press Freedom Day

President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has called on journalists to uphold accurate, impartial and ethical reporting in his message marking World Press Freedom Day, while reaffirming the government’s commitment to supporting a free and independent media sector.

In a post shared on X, President Muizzu highlighted the importance of recognising the role of media professionals and organisations in protecting press freedom and the right to information. He said these efforts were central to democratic governance, sustainable development, and the promotion of peace.

“We commend media professionals for their professionalism, courage, and dedication to serving the public interest with integrity, and call on all journalists to exercise this freedom responsibly through accurate, impartial, and ethical reporting that informs and serves the public,” he said.

The President stated that the government continued to strengthen an enabling environment for journalism through investment in the media sector, expansion of access to information, and encouragement of open public dialogue. He said these measures were aimed at building public trust, increasing civic engagement, and reinforcing transparency and accountability.

He also commended media professionals for their professionalism, courage and dedication to serving the public interest. At the same time, he urged journalists to exercise press freedom responsibly through reporting that is accurate, impartial and ethical, ensuring information serves the public effectively.

President Muizzu reiterated the government’s commitment to supporting a free and independent media, describing it as an essential pillar of democratic governance.

First Lady Sajidha Mohamed also shared a message marking the occasion, emphasising the role of independent journalism in protecting human rights, preventing corruption, and upholding democratic principles.

“We must create an environment that supports more responsible journalism that adheres to the core principles of the profession, including seeking the truth, ensuring accuracy in disseminating information, and upholding fairness and impartiality,” she said.

The messages come amid criticism over recent actions taken by the Maldives Police Service against Adhadhu News, after police raided the outlet’s office and seized equipment following questions directed at President Mohamed Muizzu regarding a documentary published by the news outlet.

Since the raid, the government has defended the police action. Minister of Homeland Security, Labour and Technology Ali Ihusan said MPS acted within its legal authority in investigating media outlets accused of making false adultery allegations against the President.

Meanwhile, the Maldives dropped four places in the latest World Press Freedom Index published by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), ranking 108th this year compared to 104th last year, while its overall score declined from 52.46 to 49.23. The organisation also condemned the recent police raid on Adhadhu News, describing it as an act of “criminalising journalism” and calling for it to stop immediately. In a post on X, RSF said Maldivian authorities had raided the outlet’s office, seized newsroom equipment including hard drives and laptops, and imposed travel restrictions on its editor-in-chief and CEO following the broadcast of a documentary critical of the authorities.