Shaheeb shifted from Spokesperson to Foreign ministry

Mohamed Shaheeb, who was appointed the government’s chief spokesperson on December 13^th, has been removed from the post and appointed a state minister at the Foreign Ministry instead.

Shaheeb’s appointment as the spokesperson prompted heavy criticism from the journalists.

Although his removal from the post has not been formally announced by the government – Shaheeb is presently stated as a state minister at the Foreign Ministry. He was initially appointed the chief spokesperson on a state ministerial level at the President’s Office.

It is unclear whether Shaheeb was removed as chief spokesperson due to the backlash.

Shaheeb, who entered journalism through Haveeru media outlet, had worked as a journalist for multiple years. He has filled senior positions at various media outlets, including acting-editor at Haveeru and COO at Sun Media.

He was appointed to Maldives Broadcasting Commission (BroadCom) in 2011, where he has served as the president and vice president.

Decisions he had taken during his time at BroadCom were highly criticized. The most fines against media outlets were imposed during his tenure as BroadCom’s president. Subsequently, he received huge backlash from journalists and people and organizations advocating for freedom of press.

The fines were imposed under the highly controversial Defamation Act passed during former president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayyoom’s administration.

Shaheeb resigned from BroadCom in 2019 after the parliament’s Committee on Independent Institutions passed a no-confidence motion against him. The no-confidence motion underscored that Shaheeb scheduled meetings of the commission unlawfully and shaped the commission’s decisions in a manner that violates the basic rights guaranteed by the constitution.

Shaheeb was appointed the current administration’s spokesperson amid concerns from journalists over the lack of a spokesperson.