Saleem appeals Civil Court ruling in Dhiyares defamation case
The High Court has not yet decided whether to accept the case for hearing.
Former Deputy Speaker of the People’s Majlis, Ahmed Saleem, has filed an appeal at the High Court challenging a ruling of the Civil Court that dismissed his case against the newspaper Dhiyares and its editor-in-chief Heena Waleed.
According to the High Court registry, Saleem’s lawyer submitted the appeal on the 30th of last month. The High Court has not yet decided whether to accept the case for hearing.
The case relates to an article published by Dhiyares on 25 June 2022 titled “Journalist Naseer has a homosexual video released”. The article stated that while the face of the second individual in the video was not visible, rumours identified the person as Ahmed Saleem, then the Member of Parliament for Hoarafushi.
Saleem filed a civil case seeking compensation for defamation against Dhiyares and Heena Waleed, who also serves as Chief Executive Officer of the National Social Protection Agency and spokesperson for the President’s Office.
The Civil Court ruled that the case could not proceed, citing Saleem’s earlier complaint to the Maldives Media Council. The court noted that Saleem had signed an affidavit required by the Media Council, waiving his right to pursue the matter in court.
Under Media Council procedures, complainants must waive their right to judicial proceedings in order for the council to investigate complaints. The Civil Court held that this waiver barred Saleem from filing a defamation lawsuit over the same matter.
The court therefore dismissed the case and ordered Saleem to pay MVR 15,000 to cover legal costs incurred by Heena Waleed and Dhiyares.
