Carefully following hearings in Yameen Rasheed's murder trial: DDCom
Yameen Rasheed's murder trial has been ongoing at the Criminal Court for over three years
Friday, 23 April 2021, marks four years since the death of blogger and activist Yameen Rasheed
The Presidential Inquiry Commission on Enforced Disappearances and Deaths (DDCom) has stated that they are carefully following hearings in the murder trial of social media activist and blogger Yameen Rasheed.
The Commission on Enforced Dissappearances and Deaths released a press statement on Friday, which marked four years since Yameen Rasheed was stabbed and killed. In the statement, the DDCom stated that despite it being an ongoing trial, the commission had been working to uncover who orchestrated the murder.
The DDCom also revealed their wish to have the murder trial conclude as soon as possible so justice can be served for Yameen Rasheed, who is survived by a loving, devoted family and dedicated friends.
The state charged six individuals with first-degree murder over Yameen's death on 30th July 2017; Ismail Haisham Rasheed, Hussain Ziyad, Ismail Rasheed, Hassan Shifaz, Mohamed Dhifran, and Ahmed Zihan Ismail.
Yameen Rasheed was stabbed to death in the early hours on 23rd April 2017. His body was found in the staircase of his home, with over 30 stab wounds. While his attackers were caught on CCTV footage, no justice or believable progress has been served in the case in almost two years with the DDCom, despite it being a major electoral pledge for incumbent President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and main-ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP).
While Yameen Rasheed’s murder is among the nearly 30 cases being investigated by the presidential commission on murders and enforced disappearances, the commission back in April 2020, admitted that the investigation was at a standstill.
Fareesha Abdulla, who was recently appointed commission chair, had in April said that the trial at court was hindering the commission’s work.
Former president of the inquiry commission Husnu Suood had in December 2018 revealed that investigations showed links between Yameen’s murder and two other high-profile murders; 2012 murder of lawmaker Dr. Afrasheem Ali and 2014 disappearance and murder of journalist Ahmed Rilwan.
