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Disappearance and murder of Ahmed Rilwan

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Ahmed Rilwan Abdulla
އަހުމަދު ރިލްވާން ޢަބްދުﷲ
Picture of Rilwan
Born
Ahmed Rilwan Abdulla

1986
Malé, Maldives
Disappeared8 August 2014
Hulhumalé ferry terminal, Malé, Maldives
StatusDead
Cause of deathKilled by Al-Qaeda affiliated locals
Other namesMoyameeha
OccupationJournalist
Known forBlogging, reporting, journalist
Height5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
MotherAminath Easa
Relatives9 siblings

Ahmed Rilwan Abdulla (Dhivehi: އަހުމަދު ރިލްވާން ޢަބްދުﷲ; 1986 – 8 August 2014) was a Maldivian journalist, reporter and blogger who was abducted and killed in 2014. His disappearance received international recognition and sparked protests.

Background

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Rilwan was a journalist working for Minivan News.[1] Prior to his disappearance, Rilwan had been regularly receiving death threats from gangs and religious extremists for advocating religious tolerance and an open critic of government policy and radical Islam.[2]

Disappearance

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On 8 August 2014, Rilwan was last seen at the Hulhumale' Ferry Terminal in Malé at 12:44 am and an eyewitness later said that he never boarded the bus when he arrived to Hulhumalé.[3] Around 1:30–2:30 am, Rilwan's neighbors reported to the police after seeing a man being forced into a car with a knife in front of his apartment building.[3] Maldivian journalists expressed concern for Rilwan's disappearance and has said that its a threat for freedom of press.[4][5]

A protest took place in September 2014 titled the '#suvaalumarch' (Question March) to protest, after the police not being able to answer key questions.[5][6] Rilwan's family submitted a petition with more than 5000 signatures to the People's Majlis' national security committee which was later thrown out on a technicality and stalled.[7][8][9] In October 2014, his family accused the police of negligence and filed a complaint with the Police Integrity Commission (PIC).[5][10]

In August 2015, a march was held to mark one year of Rilwan going missing where police pepper sprayed Rilwan's family.[11] A complaint was later filed by his mother, Aminath Easa, to the Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (HRCM) over the use of pepper spray.[12] On 28 August 2015, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) sent a letter to the UN Working Group against Enforced and Involuntary Disappearances (WGEID) and the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention which urged the UN to “initiate the relevant procedures with the countries that are breaking international law in this area.”[13][14]

In January 2016, Rilwan's family sent letters to the National Integrity Commission and the HRCM requesting their help for an independent inquiry, later President Abdulla Yameen ordered the Ministry of Home Affairs to investigate Rilwan's disappearance.[15][16][17] In April 2016, Alif Rauf and Mohamed Nooradeen were arrested by police and were named suspects, later they were moved to house arrest.[18][19] The Prosecutor General's Office (PGO) appealed that decision to the High Court and won, leading Alif and Nooradeen back to a remand facility.[20] In May 2016, Rilwan's family later accused the government of being involved in his disappearance, which the WGEID later summoned the Maldivian government in its 109th session for a response about the disappearance of Rilwan.[21][22] The Maldivian government later denied that it was responsible or that it had involvement in his disappearance.[23] In June 2016, suspects of Rilwan's abduction was transferred to home arrest.

In 2017, to mark 3 years of Rilwan's abduction a march was held and was met by pepper spray and arrests made by police officers.[24][25] Police arrested politicians as well as staff members of Transparency Maldives, an NGO.[24][25] In September 2017, PGO charged the three suspects with terrorism.[26] After hearing ended, suspects charged with terrorism was acquitted by the Criminal Court, however, the PGO has said that they will appeal the Criminal Court's verdict.[27][28]

In November 2018, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih formed the Commission on Investigation of Murders and Enforced Disappearances (DDCom) to solve cold cases like Rilwan.[29]

In September 2019, Husnu Al Suood, the then-President of DDCom said that evidence states that Rilwan was murdered, and 14 people are under a travel ban as well as that Rilwan was killed by local affiliates to Al-Qaeda.[30][31][32] It was found out in the investigative report by DDcom that Rilwan was decapitated and drowned by local Al-Qaeda affiliates.[33] The Maldives Police Services' Professional Standard Command (PSC) has also stated that they would take action against officers affiliated with Rilwan's abduction, which they sacked two officers.[34][35] In December 2019, DDCom presented charges against the perpetrators to the PGO which they denied, citing inadequate investigations.[36][37]

As of September 2024, DDCom hasn't published their findings on Ahmed Rilwan's abduction.[38]

Moyameeha Campaign

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Find Moyameeha is a campaign led by Rilwan's family, friends and supporters.[39] 'Moyameeha' is Rilwan's Twitter account handle.[40] This campaign held organized protests, lobbied politicians, held marches and placed missing person posters in the streets of Male. It's also revealed that people working in the campaign received death threats. including his employer, Minivan News.[39]

References

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  1. ^ "Ahmed Rilwan Abdulla". Committee to Protect Journalists. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
  2. ^ Rasheed, Zaheena (22 September 2014). "MDN investigation implicates radicalised gangs in Rilwan's disappearance". Minivan News. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  3. ^ a b "A year ago today, our brother, friend and fellow reporter disappeared". Maldives Independent. 8 August 2015. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  4. ^ Rasheed, Zaheena (23 August 2014). "Rilwan's abduction is a threat to all, says Maldives media". Minivan News. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  5. ^ a b c "The disappearance of Ahmed Rilwan: A timeline". Maldives Independent. 2 August 2018. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  6. ^ Mohamed, Mariyath (18 September 2014). "Nasheed urges President Yameen to take charge of Rilwan investigation". Minivan News. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  7. ^ Bosley, Daniel (4 September 2024). "Family of Rilwan submit petition with 5000 signatures to People's Majlis". Minivan News. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  8. ^ Rasheed, Zaheena (28 October 2014). "Majlis throws out 5055 signature petition on Rilwan's disappearance". Minivan News. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  9. ^ "Missing journalist's family delivers 500 paper cranes to president". Maldives Independent. 24 December 2015. Retrieved 17 September 2024. A petition with 5,500 signatures calling for a speedy investigation was submitted to the parliament last year, but remains stalled at a pro-government-majority committee.
  10. ^ Rasheed, Zaheena (29 October 2014). "Missing journalist's family accuses police of negligence, files complaint". Minivan News. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  11. ^ "Missing journalist's family pepper sprayed at 'Question March'". Maldives Independent. 8 August 2015. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  12. ^ "Complaint filed over pepper spray use, obstruction of Find Moyameehaa walk". Maldives Independent. 19 August 2015. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  13. ^ "RSF refers case of missing Maldives journalist to UN". Maldives Independent. 31 August 2015. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  14. ^ "Cases of missing journalists in ten countries referred to UN". Reporters Without Borders. 28 August 2015. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  15. ^ "Missing journalist's family fears inquiry 'may turn out like MP Afrasheem's murder probe'". Maldives Independent. 19 January 2016. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  16. ^ Ministry of Home Affairs [@HomeMinistrymv] (31 December 2015). "Rilwan aaila in RY ah fonuvi sity aka gulhigen Rilwan hodhumuge maskkathah sarukarun kureveyne hurihakameh kohdhinumah MU ah RY dhannavaifi" [In a letter sent to RY, in relation to the disappearance of Rilwan. RY asked the Home Minister to do everything the government can to find him.] (Tweet) (in Divehi). Retrieved 17 September 2024 – via Twitter. RY meaning Raees Yameen (President Yameen)
  17. ^ "President orders investigation into missing journalist's disappearance". Maldives Independent. 2 January 2016. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  18. ^ "Notorious gangster arrested over Rilwan's abduction". Maldives Independent. 6 April 2016. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  19. ^ "Suspects in Rilwan's abduction transferred to house arrest". Maldives Independent. 25 April 2016. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  20. ^ "Suspects in Rilwan's abduction moved back to police custody". Maldives Independent. 1 May 2016. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  21. ^ "Government accused of involvement in journalist's disappearance". Maldives Independent. 4 May 2016. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  22. ^ "UN summons Maldives over journalist's disappearance". Maldives Independent. 8 May 2016. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  23. ^ "Maldives government denies involvement in journalist's disappearance". Maldives Independent. 10 May 2016. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  24. ^ a b "Police crack down on march for abducted journalist". Maldives Independent. 8 August 2017. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  25. ^ a b Maahaa, Aishath (8 August 2017). "ރިލްވާނަށް ވީގޮތް ބުނެދޭން އާދޭސް ކުރުމުން ޖެހީ ޕެޕާ ސްޕްރޭ". Avas (in Divehi). Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  26. ^ "Three suspects charged with terrorism over Rilwan's abduction". Maldives Independent. 17 September 2017. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  27. ^ Shaahunaz, Fathmath (2 August 2018). "Suspects charged with abduction of missing journo Rilwan walk free". The Edition. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  28. ^ Abdulla, Shaina (2 August 2018). "Will appeal verdict on missing journo case: PG". The Edition. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  29. ^ Aiham, Ahmed (14 January 2019). "Case of missing journalist will be solved: Suood". The Edition. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
  30. ^ Malsa, Mariyam (1 September 2019). "Evidence points to murder of missing journalist Rilwan: Suood". The Edition. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
  31. ^ "14 under travel ban over missing journo case: media". The Edition. 3 September 2019. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
  32. ^ Rasheed, Zaheena (2 September 2019). "Missing Maldives journalist killed by al-Qaeda affiliate". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
  33. ^ "Al Qaeda affiliates decapitated, drowned missing journalist Rilwan: Commission Report". The Edition. 3 September 2019. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
  34. ^ Aiham, Ahmed (3 September 2019). "PSC to take action against officers over Rilwan's abduction". The Edition. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
  35. ^ Mohamed, Shahudha (15 September 2019). "Police to sack two officers involved in Rilwan's case". The Edition. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
  36. ^ Aiham, Ahmed (3 December 2019). "Murder commission pushes for charges against culprits behind Yameen, Rilwan, Afrasheem's murders". The Edition. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
  37. ^ Aiham, Ahmed (31 December 2019). "PG rejects DDcom cases, sends back for further investigation". The Edition. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
  38. ^ Shahid, Malika (22 May 2024). "DDCom findings will be disclosed once they are received: government". The Edition. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
  39. ^ a b Rasheed, Zaheena (9 August 2015). "Find Moyameehaa – we persevere because we love". Maldives Independent. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  40. ^ "Few clues in search for missing journalist Ahmed Rilwan". Minivan News. 15 August 2014. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
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