One of the most experienced journalists currently in the Maldives, Hiriga Ahmed Zahir, has resigned from his post as the president of Maldives Editors Guild, comprising of editors of mainstream media outlets in the Maldives.
Hiriga, who has previously served as editor at both Haveeru and Sun Online, cited the reason behind his resignation as the fact that association is currently “paralyzed” with the majority of the steering committee members in senior posts of the current administration.
“It is a huge concern of mine that the association has not spoken out against the obstructions currently faced by Maldivian journalists and the whole media sector in a whole,” Hiriga, who currently serves as Dhauru’s managing director, said in a statement on X.
As such, Hiriga said he resigned because his conscience does not allow him to remain in the post any longer.
Effective today, I have resigned as President of the Maldives Editors Guild. pic.twitter.com/zybS0KpLhk
— Ahmed Zahir (@hirigazahir) September 15, 2025
Hiriga was elected Maldives Editors Guild’s president in 2021. The vice presidents of the association is Sinaan Ali, the editor of One Online, who is currently serving as Maldives Transport and Contracting Company’s COO and Ali Shamman, the editor of ‘The Press’, who is serving as a State Minister at Youth Ministry.
Individuals elected to other posts in the association include Sun Siyam Media’s CEO Mohamed Asif (Mondhu), Mihaaru’s Managing Editor Ismail Naseer and Ras Online’s Editor Midhuhath Adam who is serving in a government post and former journalist Ibrahim Umar Manik.
Hiraga is among individuals who have been leading efforts against the controversial media bill that has been submitted to the bill which would grant the government significant control over the media if passed. He is noted as an individual who has always advocated for press freedom no matter what administration is in place.
Hiriga, who has won ‘Alimas Galan’ in journalism, is one of the founders of Maldives Journalist Association (MJA) and the first president of the association.