Chief Government Spokesperson Muhammad Hussain Shareef has said that no party will be given the opportunity to obstruct the government’s efforts to communicate its policies or to undermine press freedom.

Shareef made the remarks following a disturbance at a press briefing scheduled for 4:00pm yesterday at the studios of the state broadcaster, Public Service Media (PSM). The briefing was part of the “Presser with the Spokes” series held by the President’s Office. A journalist from Adhadhu newspaper forced his way into the venue and refused to leave, prompting the cancellation of the event.

According to the Spokesperson, the individual who entered the PSM studio and refused to leave was Leevan Ali Naseer, who had previously served a prison sentence for violating a court order. Shareef said that carrying out unlawful acts in the name of journalism is unacceptable, and expressed hope that PSM would take the appropriate legal steps against the unauthorised entry into the state broadcaster’s premises.

He added that invitations to the President’s Office press briefings are extended through an official, screened group of journalists, and that around 20 reporters had officially registered to attend yesterday’s session.

The government’s decision to exclude Adhadhu from these briefings, Shareef explained, followed an earlier incident in which a reporter from the newspaper, during a briefing attended by President Dr Mohamed Muizzu, allegedly breached professional ethics, violated a court order, and levelled unsubstantiated allegations against the President.