Parliament Media Director Hassan Ziyau Dismissed, Plans to File Tribunal Case

Hassan Ziyau, the Media and Communications Director for the Maldives Parliament, has been dismissed from his position. The Parliament Secretariat confirmed the removal, citing violations of the Parliamentary Service Code of Conduct. However, they did not provide specific details about the alleged violations.

Incident Leading to Dismissal

Ziyau's dismissal came shortly after he shared his last update in the Parliament's media WhatsApp group, where he informed journalists about an opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) press conference. Following his removal, Ziyau left the group and claimed that his dismissal was in breach of Parliamentary Service regulations. He also expressed frustration that no clear reasons were provided for his termination.

Allegations of Misconduct by Senior Officials

Ziyau further elaborated that his role as Media Director was not politically influenced. He alleged that his dismissal stemmed from conflicts with four senior officials within the Parliament Secretariat. Specifically, Ziyau accused these individuals of pressuring him to sign backdated procurement requests—something he refused to do. While Ziyau did not reveal the nature of these procurement requests, he suggested that this refusal was the key factor in his removal.

Plans to Challenge Dismissal

Ziyau has announced plans to challenge his dismissal by submitting his case to the Employment Tribunal, the Human Rights Commission, and the General Purpose Committee of Parliament. He aims to have his termination reviewed and believes that his rights as an employee were violated.

Background and Career

Hassan Ziyau joined the Parliament Secretariat in 2019 after spending over 13 years at Public Service Media (PSM), where he served as the station manager at Television Maldives (TVM). During his time at Parliament, he played a crucial role in managing media relations, preparing press releases, and overseeing the publication of parliamentary materials.