Ibthihaal's grandmother rejects compensation for toddler's murder
Three-year-old Ibthihaal was found beaten to death in Vaavu Rakeedhoo, in January 2015
Afiya Mohamed
Grandmother of three-year-old Mohamed Ibthihaal, who was found beaten to death in Rakeedhoo island of Vaavu atoll, has told the court that she will not be seeking compensation for his death.
Ibthihaal’s mother, Afiya Mohamed is charged with her son’s murder, and has confessed to killing him. He was found beaten to death at home in Rakeedhoo, with signs of physical abuse, in January 2015.
At the hearing held at the Criminal Court on Tuesday, Afiya’s mother and Ibthihaal’s grandmother, Saafiya Mohamed appeared before the judges, as his next of kin. The Court noted that death penalty is not applicable in such cases, where a child is killed by their birth mother, according to the Islamic Shariah.
The state protested the court’s decision to hear Saafiya’s testimony due to the fact that the death penalty was not applicable, but was overruled with the court saying that “compensation is,” and proceeded to take Saafiya’s testimony.
When questioned, Shaafiya said that she did not wish to take compensation from her daughter, in a rushed answer according to journalists present during the hearing. Journalists also noted that Saafiya’s voice had been shaky throughout, while Afiya was sitting with her head bowed down.
When Saafiya rejected compensation for Ibthihaal’s killing- which in the Maldives is MVR 100,000- the judge continued to question her further, in order to confirm that matter.
Tuesday’s hearing concluded after the judges decided to schedule an additional hearing, in order to present more relatives of Ibthihaal. The Court had asked Saafiya if Ibthihaal had any other relatives, to which she replied that she is not aware if he does, or who his father is. Noting that while she knows Afiya has two other children, Saafiya said that she does not know their names and that they live with their father.
The Court decided to summon three Rakeedhoo citizens to the next hearing, their names were provided by Saafiya.
She was seen holding her daughter’s hand and speaking to her, as Afiya was being taken out of the courtroom at the end of the hearing.
