President’s Office Reaffirms Press Conference Dress Code Following Incident

The Spokesperson for the President’s Office, Heena Waleed, has clarified that all journalists are informed of the required dress code to attend press conferences hosted by the President’s Office before the event. 

In a post on X today, she stated that the invitation to each event includes the dress code, and once a journalist registers to attend, the office issues a reminder. If a journalist arrives at the venue in attire that does not meet the dress code, they are offered the opportunity to change and return, she added.

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Heena also pointed out that the current dress code for entering and exiting the President’s Office has been in place since 2017.

ރައީސުލްޖުމްހޫރިއްޔާގެ އޮފީހުގައި ބާއްވާ ނޫސްވެރީންގެ ބައްދަލުވުންތަކަށް ދަޢުވަތުދޭ އިރު، އެ ބައްދަލުވުމަކަށް ޙާޒިރުވާނެ ޑްރެސްކޯޑް، ދަޢުވަތުގައި ހިމަނާފައި ވާނެއެވެ.

އަދި ބައްދަލުވުމަށް ނަންނޯޓު ކުރައްވާ ނޫސްތަކަށް އެކަން ދަނީ ހަނދާންވެސް ކޮށް ދެމުންނެވެ.

ޑްރެސްކޯޑާ ޚިލާފަށް،…— Heena Waleed (@MvSpokesperson) May 25, 2025

“Any journalist dressed in accordance with the prescribed dress code for an event hosted by the President’s Office will be allowed to attend without discrimination,” she said in Dhivehi.

Her remarks followed an incident earlier today in which the President’s Office denied entry to Mohamed Aaidh, a journalist from Adhadhu, after he arrived at a press conference without wearing a tie — a violation of the dress code, which requires male journalists to wear a shirt and tie. 

Adhadhu’s relationship with the current administration remains strained. In March, the publication’s editor and journalist, Hussain Fiyaz, accused President Dr Mohamed Muizzu of threatening him during a phone call. However, the Prosecutor General’s Office (PGO) decided not to pursue charges against President Muizzu, citing the absence of a legal framework that would allow the case to proceed based on the complaint filed.