Aisha (2026 film)
2026 documentary film
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Aisha (Dhivehi: އައިޝާ) is a 2026 Maldivian documentary film released by Adhadhu. Aisha is about a woman who had an alleged affair between a woman—whose real name is unknown and referred to as Aisha—and President Mohamed Muizzu.
Description
The documentary talks about the events that occurred during the affair between Aisha and Muizzu.
Aisha contacted President Mohamed Muizzu in December 2024 to request a job, citing her work relationship with him at the People's National Congress.[1] Following a meeting, she started working at the President's Office as an Executive Administrator.[1]
Aisha alleged that Muizzu and her had sex three times on a sofa in the President's cabin, and the main table.[2][3] She had also alleged that she received a budget of MVR 50,000, at one instance receiving MVR 70,000, with the money being handed by Muizzu's personal secretary Hassan. From 6 January to 29 April 2025, Muizzu had called Aisha fifty times on Signal, additionally calling her four times a day.[2] Muizzu had even texted her outside of working hours and used the timer feature to hide messages.[3]
According to Aisha, Muizzu's intentions weren't professional from the outset and their relationship turned into a sexual relationship, with she alleging Muizzu promised to marry her as his second wife and take care of her two-year-old child.[1][2]
When Aisha and Muizzu's affair was discovered by Muizzu's wife Sajidha Mohamed, she was transferred to the Ministry of Social and Family Development and later to the Ministry of Higher Education, Labour and Skills Development.[1]
Reception
Death threats were made against Adhadhu CEO Hussain Fiyaz Moosa and journalist Mohamed Shahuzan following the release of the documentary.[4] The pair stated that they plan to file a police complaint over the death threat.[4]
Government response
When asked for comment, the President's Office's Spokesperson Heena Waleed denied the allegations, stating that the allegations are "baseless and blatant lies".[3]
A complaint was filed by Adhadhu to the Maldives Police Service to verify the claims told in the documentary.[5]
The Maldives Media and Broadcasting Commission announced that it would be investigating the documentary and formally notified Adhadhu.[6] On 27 April 2026, President Mohamed Muizzu denied all allegations about the documentary.[7] Shortly after, the Maldives Police Service raided Adhadhu's office under a court order and seized many electronics.[8][9] The court warrant accused Adhadhu and its staff of qazf – the criminal charge of falsely accusing someone of unlawful sexual intercourse – which they deny.[8]
A wave of backlash was met against the police and the government following the raid with Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) President Abdulla Shahid condemning the raid into the office and describing it as an attack into press freedom along with former MDP chairperson Fayyaz Ismail.[10] Former presidents Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and Abdulla Yameen expressed concern about the police's actions with the latter saying that Muizzu should reform his administration.[10]
Defending the police's actions, Homeland Minister Ali Ihusaan said that the police has a right to investigate false claims of zina against the President.[11] Many of the ministers in Muizzu's cabinet tweeted on X in support of him.[8] Former Chief Justice of the Maldives Ahmed Abdulla Didi alleged that Homeland Minister was influencing the investigation into the documentary, which he denied.[12]
Adhadhu's CEO Hussain Fiyaz Moosa and Editor Hassan Mohamed had their passports seized in connection with the investigation into the documentary.[13] A travel ban was also issued on Aishath Eesha Ashraf as she was accused of being part of the production of the documentary.[14]
The Committee to Protect Journalists called on the Maldivian government to return seized equipment and to lift travel bans on all Adhadhu staff.[15] The International Federation of Journalists and the Maldives Journalists Association echoed similar concerns and condemened the actions taken by the government.[16] The British Ambassador to the Maldives Nick Low expressed concern and that such actions are inconsistent with the Maldives has placed in upholding Commonwealth standards.[17] An emergency motion was submitted by MDP Galolhu South MP Meekail Ahmed Naseem seeking an investigation into the police raid into the Adhadhu office but the motion was denied.[18]
On 29 April 2026, Adhadhu Editor Hassan Mohamed along with CEO Hussain Fiyaz Moosa had been summoned to police and questioned over the documentary, with the summons chit saying that Qazf was committed.[19] The police had also presented five charges against the pair, with both of them being charged with vicarious liability and complicity (Section 30 of the Penal Code), vicarious liability and complicity (Section 30(a)(2) of the Penal Code), defamation (Qazf), dolicitation to commit an offense, and conspiracy to commit an offense.[20][21]
On 30 April 2026, The President's Office's spokesperson Mohamed Hussain Shareef revealed that the Police initiated the criminal investigation into Adhadhu at the direction of the Prosecutor General's Office.[22]
The International Press Institute and Transparency Maldives condemned the raid into Adhadhu's office and the latter called for the withdrawal of criminal charges against the journalists.[23][24]
On 10 May, the Criminal Court charged Moosa and Mohamed with Qazf and issued a gag order to restrict the circulation of the documentary until the case is concluded.[25] The court had also decided to hold the trial under a closed door trial to uphold community moral standards.[26]