Azaan Files Defamation Case Against Dhauru Editor Moosa Latheef

People’s National Congress (PNC) MP for Central Hithadhoo, Ahmed Azaan Marzooq, has filed a defamation lawsuit at the Civil Court against Moosa Latheef, editor of Dhauru, and Next Media Group, which operates the outlet, over a rep ortpublished by Dhauru last month.

The case relates to an article published on 28 April titled Adhadhu ah Fuluhun Vadhegathumaai Azaan Kuri Thajuribaa, which discussed the police raid on Adhadhu and referred to Azaan’s previous experience as a journalist.

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According to Dhauru, Azaan claims the article defamed him and is seeking compensation for damages caused by the publication. He has asked the court to rule that the article was defamatory and order either its deletion or correction.

Azaan is also seeking MVR 5,000 in non-pecuniary damages for defamation, along with MVR 28,670 in legal costs and reimbursement of the court registration fee.

In addition, he requested the court to order the article’s status on Dhauru be changed to “draft”, making it inaccessible to the public until the conclusion of the case.

The article written by Moosa Latheef referred to an incident involving Azaan during the previous administration, when he questioned former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih at the President’s Office while working as a journalist. The article compared that incident to the recent police raid on Adhadhu.

The case comes amid ongoing legal proceedings involving journalists from Adhadhu. Criminal charges were previously filed against the outlet’s CEO, Hussain Fiyaz Moosa, and Managing Editor Hassan Mohamed over a documentary alleging misconduct by President Mohamed Muizzu.

Although the court ordered that the matter not be discussed publicly, two journalists from Adhadhu were sentenced to prison on Wednesday over reporting related to the case and for questioning the President about it.

Protests were held in Malé last night by members of the public, journalists and opposition figures calling for the release of the jailed journalists. The Maldives Police Service was present at the protests, and videos circulated online appeared to show officers using force against demonstrators.