‘Adhadhu’ journalist Mohamed Shahzan was released on Wednesday after finishing a prison term assigned by the Criminal Court for contempt of court.

His coworker, Leevan Ali Nasir, was also freed earlier after completing his jail term for contempt of court. The Criminal Court imposed a 15-day prison sentence on Shahzan and a 10-day prison sentence on Leevan.

The charges against the two reporters arose from an alleged breach of a court order related to criminal cases involving senior executives of Adhadhu, accused of Qazf – an Islamic offense for false allegations of adultery – associated with a documentary the outlet published on March 28. The hearings for both cases took place in private.

Regarding the journalist's imprisonment, Adhadhu's CEO Hussain Fiyaz Moosa remarked that the journalists were convicted without having a chance to defend themselves against the charges. The High Court has accepted the appeal against the sentences, but hearings have not been scheduled yet.

The detention of the two journalists raised concern among various international organizations. The International Federation of Journalists and the Committee to Protect Journalists criticized the verdict and urged for their swift release.

Furthermore, the Maldives Human Rights Commission has initiated an inquiry into the issue. Commission representatives met with the journalists while they were detained to evaluate their condition and clarify the details of the situation.

Both journalists were freed after completing their court-ordered prison terms.