Online Petition Accusing Moodhu Bulhaa of Sexual Misconduct Closed, 238 Signatures Collected
The beach at Hulhumale’ | Photo: MV+
The online petition accusing the Moodhu Bulhaa Dive Center of sexual misconduct and calling for their removal from the Vacations Expo has been closed today, with the organisers assuring that they will send the collected signatures and testimonies to High Rise International, the event management company organising the Vacations Expo.
On Friday, April 11, a user registered as Boxfish Files started a petition on Change.org, calling to remove Moodhu Bulhaa Dive Center as an exhibitor from the Vacations Expo, set to start this Thursday. Today, along with 238 verified signatures, the petition was closed.
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“We believe that any business or organisation (especially ones that present themselves as empowering women and for women) should not be silent in the face of sexual misconduct and must take swift action to ensure no further harm is perpetrated to existing and further potential victims,” the petition on Change.org said.
Petition to remove Moodhu Bulhaa Dive Center from VacationsExpo: https://t.co/rA7qHKuGDi pic.twitter.com/j5vJ53ihSj— Moodhu Bulhaa Files (@boxfishfiles) April 11, 2025
Posts on X, which provide additional details regarding the case, claim that 14 individuals aged under 15 to 35 faced various levels of sexual harassment and assault from employees of the dive center. They assert that when this issue was previously raised with Zoona Naseem, the Owner and Co-Founder of Moodhu Bulhaa Dive Center ignored their claims and did not take any action.
“We condemn the actions taken by Moodhu Bulhaa Dive Center against multiple victims, the large ignorance of Zoona Naseem, the attitude by the divers of Moodhu Bulhaa Dive Center and PADI as an organisation for not taking these issues seriously,” the post on X said.
Three of the victims backing the petition are underage.
BoxFish Files aims to hold the dive center accountable for their lack of response, inaction, and dismissive attitude regarding the allegations. Their desired outcome is that Moodhu Bulhaa does not have a public platform when they have such allegations against them.
When MV+ reached out to BoxFish Files yesterday, they said only one of their victims had reported their case to the police. According to them, due to the failure of authorities in delivering justice, most of the victims are reluctant to go forward with their accusations to the police.
“Many victims are afraid that the police will continue protecting Moodhu Bulhaa Dive Center due to the outcomes of that case,” they said.
They plan to provide the collected signatures and testimonies from the petition to High Rise International today, they had said.
Moodhu Bulhaa Denies Allegations
When MV+ contacted Zoona Naseem yesterday about the petition and the allegations against its divers, she denied all accusations and stated that they still intend to participate in the Vacations Expo.
“This is all fabricated news, and Insha Allah, we will join the Vacation Expo,” she said.
Regarding the allegations, High Rise International said yesterday that they had not received any formal complaint from any party regarding these allegations previously and have informed Moodhu Bulhaa Dive Center to talk to the party accusing them of sexual misconduct and talk to the relevant authorities as well.
“We are not a law enforcement authority, and we are against any wrongdoing and encourage everyone to sort the matters through appropriate and relevant mediums,” High Rise International said.
They pointed out that Zoona Naseem is a well-known ambassador for many organisations, such as Dhiraagu and the Bank of Maldives (BML).
“However, we respect all parties and the decision of any authority on the matter, which we will properly follow.
All parties are welcome to their expo until then, they said.
