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Yameen Rasheed
ޔާމީން ރަޝީދު
Picture of Yameen Rasheed
Born(1988-04-10)10 April 1988
Feydhoo, Addu City, Seenu Atoll, Maldives
Died23 April 2017(2017-04-23) (aged 29)
Malé
Cause of deathStabbed 16 times to the neck and chest
EducationBachelor of Computer Applications
Alma materBangalore Presidency College
PartnerCeline Peroni
Parents
  • Hussain Rasheed (father)
  • Mariyam Shafeega (mother)
Websitethedailypanic.com

Yameen Rasheed (Dhivehi: ޔާމީން ރަޝީދު; 10 April 1988 – 23 April 2017) was a Maldivian liberal blogger and IT professional who was stabbed 16 times in his staircase. His death received international news coverage and condemnation among world leaders and had sparked protests.

Early life and education

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Yameen Rasheed was born on 10 April 1988 to Hussain Rasheed and Mariyam Shafeega. He was born in Feydhoo, Addu City.[1] He moved to Trivandrum, India before he was 2 years old and studied in Sarvodaya Vidyalaya School.[1] He studied in Bangalore Presidency College and received a Best Outgoing Student Award and did his Bachelor of Computer Applications (BCA) there as well.[1]

Career

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He started blogging in India and over time became friends with Maldivian bloggers.[1] After he studied BCA, he came back to Maldives and applied to Dhiraagu and Ooredoo Maldives, where he worked as a software developer for Dhiraagu.[1] While he was a software developer he wrote for magazines such as Minivan News, Himal Southasian, and The Indian Express.[1] While he was working at the Maldives Stock Exchange, he started his own blog called The Daily Panic, where overtime he amassed a large following for his "droll reporting and biting satire" of Maldivian politics.[2][3]

He was previously arrested during the 2015 May Day protests in the Maldives and was held as a political prisoner in Dhoonidhoo Prison for 21 days.[4]

Yameen was one of many people who led the 'Find Moyameeha' campaign to find Ahmed Rilwan Abdulla, his friend and journalist who was abducted and murdered.[5] Yameen was one of two people who made an award-winning app to drive blood donations for Thalassemia patients.[2][6] He had also been targeted as well as been receiving death threats by radical groups because he spoke out against extremists which he reported to the Maldives Police Service and has posted screenshots of the threats on social media.[7][8]

Death

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On 23 April 2017, Yameen Rasheed was found dead in his apartment staircase with multiple stabs on his neck, and chest.[3][7][9] His throat was slit and parts of his skull was missing.[10] He was later rushed to IGMH, where he was pronounced dead around 3 am.[11][12]

Condemnation

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The government, including then-President of the Maldives Abdulla Yameen, condemned his death and had called upon independent state institutions to bring the perpetrators to justice.[7][13] The then-Director General of UNESCO Irina Bokova condemned the attack and called on the Maldivian government to investigate.[14] Sandya Eknelygoda, a human rights activist, protested along with others at the Embassy of the Maldives in Colombo where she held a red balloon and a placard.[15]

Investigation

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Yameen's parents called upon the police to include international investigators in their investigation, and Yameen's father, Hussain Rasheed went to Sri Lanka to meet foreign diplomats to put pressure onto the Maldivian government.[10][16] It was later found out that the Police refused foreign forensic help.[17] Jared Genser, an international human rights lawyer, sent an urgent appeal to the United Nations to demand the Maldivian government for an independent international investigation by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights into his murder.[18] Yameen's family also accused the police for destroying forensic evidence.[19] Police later released three names of the suspects involved in his murder, Ismail Rasheed, Ismail Haisham Rasheed, and Ahmed Zihan Ismail, and were later named as the prime suspects.[20][21] Police blocked a march held for Yameen which was organized by Yameen's friends and family, they signed a petition urging for an independent investigation to which the People's Majlis (parliament) rejected the emergency motion.[22][23][24][25]

Police established that the motive behind Yameen's killing was due to the perpetrators thinking he was "mocking Islam."[26]

In August 2017, Police confirms that religious extremists killed Yameen.[27] In September 2017, Yameen's murder trial began with a secret hearing.[28] In October 2018, the preliminary hearings were concluded and all the evidences were sealed.[29]

In April 2018, a march was held by Yameen's family and friends which called on the authorities to open trials and not a secret trial.[30][31] Police tried to disperse the crowd and detained two activists.[30] Yameen's family have tried multiple times to meet Prosecutor General (PG) as well as police but have been turned away.[32] In November 2018, then-President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih established the Commission on Investigation of Murder and Enforced Disappearances (DDCom) to investigate cold cases such as Yameen's murder.[33][34]

On 10 April 2019, Ahmed Rilwan and Yameen Rasheed's family established the "Rilwan and Yameen Foundation", it will work to advocating for human rights, democracy, freedom of speech, tolerance, justice and the right to a dignified life.[35][36] It was established on Yameen's birthday.[37]

A secret witness has said that Yameen's murder was funded by people in Maldives and nobody has been investigated, arrested or charged for financing his death.[38][39] In 2022, Ahmed Ismail, Ahmed Muaz, Ismail Abdul Raheem were arrested for Yameen's disappearance and later the Criminal Court released Ahmed Ismail into house arrest.[40][41]

In 2023, the Criminal Court released the three suspects due to lack of evidence.[42][43]

Red balloon

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The red balloon emoji 🎈 was Yameen's last tweet before he was stabbed.[44] It's now used as a tribute for Yameen's fight for freedom of expression as well as being used to spread joy among his friends and family as well as awareness.[45][46]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f "Remembering Yameen". Maldives Independent. 29 April 2017. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Last month we gave Yameen Rasheed a prize for his social startup. On Sunday he was killed". WIRED. 25 April 2017. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  3. ^ a b Safi, Michael (23 April 2017). "Maldives blogger stabbed to death in capital". The Guardian. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
  4. ^ Rasheed, Yameen (29 June 2015). "Dhoonidhoo Diaries: Part 1 – Arrest and Incarceration". The Daily Panic. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  5. ^ "Yameen Rasheed: An introduction". Maldives Independent. 18 April 2018. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
  6. ^ "Remembering Yameen: part two". Maldives Independent. 30 April 2017. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  7. ^ a b c "Yameen Rasheed, blogger and activist, stabbed to death". Maldives Independent. 23 April 2017. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  8. ^ "Yameen Rasheed". Murders in Maldives. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  9. ^ "Prominent blogger stabbed to death in Maldives capital". Al Jazeera. 23 April 2017. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  10. ^ a b "Slain Maldivian blogger Yameen Rasheed's father seeks foreign probe". Firstpost. Agence France-Presse. 28 April 2017. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  11. ^ "Murder of human rights activist and blogger Yameen Rasheed". World Organisation Against Torture. 25 April 2017. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  12. ^ Moosa, Hassan; Schultz, Kai (23 April 2017). "Outspoken Maldives Blogger Who Challenged Radical Islamists Is Killed". The New York Times. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  13. ^ "President sends message of condolence to Yameen Rasheed's family". The President's Office. 23 April 2017. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  14. ^ "Director-General condemns the murder of blogger Yameen Rasheed in the Maldives". United Nations. 26 April 2017. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  15. ^ Shaahunaz, Fathmath (9 May 2017). "Wife of missing Sri Lankan journalist in defence of Yameen Rasheed". The Edition. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  16. ^ "Yameen Rasheed's parents ask for international investigators in murder probe". Maldives Independent. 25 April 2017. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  17. ^ "Police refused foreign forensic help in Yameen case". Maldives Independent. 1 February 2018. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  18. ^ Genser, Jared (11 May 2017). "A tribute to Yameen Rasheed – and a call for justice and accountability". Maldives Independent. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  19. ^ "Yameen's father accuses police of destroying forensic evidence". Maldives Independent. 9 July 2017. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  20. ^ "Police reveal Yameen Rasheed's murder suspects". Maldives Independent. 19 June 2017. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  21. ^ "Police seek charges against Yameen Rasheed murder suspects". Maldives Independent. 23 July 2017. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  22. ^ "Police block march for murdered blogger". Maldives Independent. 24 May 2017. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  23. ^ "Hundreds sign petition calling for credible investigation of Yameen's murder". Maldives Independent. 1 May 2017. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  24. ^ "CALL TO URGENT ACTION: #WeAreYaamyn". Transparency Maldives. 29 April 2017. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  25. ^ Shaahunaz, Fathmath (4 June 2017). "Parliament rejects emergency motion over Yameen Rasheed murder". The Edition. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  26. ^ "Maldives blogger killed for 'mocking Islam', say police". Maldives Independent. 10 August 2017. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  27. ^ "Religious extremists killed blogger, Maldives police confirm". Avas. 9 August 2017. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  28. ^ "Yameen Rasheed murder trial begins with secret hearing". Maldives Independent. 11 September 2017. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  29. ^ "Court approves secret testimony in Yameen Rasheed murder trial". Maldives Independent. 18 October 2018. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  30. ^ a b "Family and friends of slain blogger march for open trial". Maldives Independent. 24 April 2018. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  31. ^ "RSF calls for open trial of Maldivian blogger's accused murderers". Reporters Without Borders. 23 April 2018. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  32. ^ "Yameen's family turned away by police and Prosecutor General". Maldives Independent. 19 April 2018. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  33. ^ Iftikhar, Aliya (18 March 2019). "Maldives commission renews hope of justice for Rilwan and Rasheed". Committee to Protect Journalists. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  34. ^ Mohamed, Hassan (19 November 2018). "މަރުގެ މައްސަލަތަކުގެ އެންމެ ފުނަށް ދެވޭނެ ކަމުގެ ޔަގީންކަން އެބަ އޮތް: ސުއޫދު" [Certainty we can solve murder cases: Suood]. Mihaaru (in Divehi). Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  35. ^ "Foundation launched in memory of Rilwan and Yameen". Maldives Independent. 11 April 2019. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  36. ^ Hassan, Nazim (10 April 2019). ""ރިލްވާން އެންޑް ޔާމީން"ގެ ނަމުގައި ޖަމިއްޔާއެއް އުފައްދަނީ" [Foundation created with the name "Rilwan and Yameen"]. Avas (in Divehi). Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  37. ^ Aiham, Ahmed (11 April 2019). "Families to establish 'Rilwan and Yameen Foundation'". The Edition. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  38. ^ "Yameen Rasheed". Committee to Protect Journalists. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  39. ^ "Press Statement: Yameen Rasheed's murder trial verdict (Eng)". Association for Democracy in the Maldives. 20 January 2022. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  40. ^ Zalif, Zunana (26 June 2022). "Three arrested in connection to murder probes of Rilwan, Yameen". Raajje TV. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  41. ^ Zalif, Zunana (5 July 2023). "Criminal Court's verdict to release Ahandhu, will not be appealed". Raajje TV. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  42. ^ Abdulla, Lamya (14 October 2023). "Suspect involved in Yameen and Rilwan's cases released due to insufficient evidence". The Edition. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  43. ^ Shareef, Fathimath Ahmed (22 November 2023). "Court dismisses charges against 2 over Yameen, Rilwan's murders". Atoll Times. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  44. ^ Rasheed, Yameen [@yaamyn] (22 April 2017). "🎈" (Tweet). Retrieved 23 September 2024 – via Twitter.
  45. ^ Shaany, Aishath (29 April 2017). "Girlfriend's last message to Yameen: "Loabi. Seriously worried now. Please let me know you are okay"". Raajje TV. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  46. ^ "Yameen Rasheed: Timeline of a murder". Maldives Independent. 20 April 2018. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
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