Ahmed Rilwan Explained

Ahmed Rilwan Abdulla
Native Name:އަހުމަދު ރިލްވާން ޢަބްދުﷲ
Native Name Lang:dv
Other Names:Moyameehaa
Birth Name:Ahmed Rilwan Abdulla
Birth Date:18 January 1986
Birth Place:Malé, Maldives
Disappeared Date:8 August 2014
Disappeared Place:Hulhumalé ferry terminal, Malé, Maldives
Disappeared Status:Dead
Death Cause:Decapitated and drowned
Occupation:Journalist
Known For:Blogging, reporting, journalist
Height Ft:5
Height In:10
Mother:Aminath Easa
Father:Abdulla Moosa
Relatives:9 siblings

Ahmed Rilwan Abdulla (; 18 January 1986 – 8 August 2014)[1] was a Maldivian journalist, reporter and blogger who was abducted and killed in 2014. His disappearance received international recognition and sparked protests.

Early life and education

Ahmed Rilwan Abdulla was born on 18 January 1986 to Aminath Easa and Abdulla Moosa. He was born in Malé. He started his Preschool in Maafannu Madharsa and then later studied at Thaajuddeen School. He started his higher education in the Maldives College for Higher Education (now known as Maldives National University) in Foundation courses, different Information and Technology courses. He later did Communications and journalism as well as his English literature degree at the University of Mysore.

Career

Rilwan was a journalist working for Minivan News.[2] 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.[3]

Disappearance

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.[4] 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. Maldivian journalists expressed concern for Rilwan's disappearance and has said that its a threat for freedom of press.[5] [6]

A protest took place in September 2014 titled the '#suvaalumarch' (Question March) to protest, after the police not being able to answer key questions.[7] 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.[8] [9] [10] In October 2014, his family accused the police of negligence and filed a complaint with the Police Integrity Commission (PIC).[11]

In August 2015, a march was held to mark one year of Rilwan going missing where police pepper sprayed Rilwan's family.[12] 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.[13] 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.”[14] [15]

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.[16] [17] [18] In April 2016, Alif Rauf and Mohamed Nooradeen were arrested by police and were named suspects, later they were moved to house arrest.[19] [20] The Prosecutor General's Office (PGO) appealed that decision to the High Court and won, leading Alif and Nooradeen back to a remand facility.[21] 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.[22] [23] The Maldivian government later denied that it was responsible or that it had involvement in his disappearance.[24] 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.[25] [26] Police arrested politicians as well as staff members of Transparency Maldives, an NGO. In September 2017, PGO charged the three suspects with terrorism.[27] 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.[28] [29]

In November 2018, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih formed the Commission on Investigation of Murders and Enforced Disappearances (DDCom) to solve cold cases like Rilwan.[30]

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.[31] [32] [33] It was found out in the investigative report by DDCom that Rilwan was decapitated and drowned by local Al-Qaeda affiliates.[34] 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.[35] [36] In December 2019, DDCom presented charges against the perpetrators to the PGO which they denied, citing inadequate investigations.[37] [38]

As of September 2024, DDCom hasn't published their findings on Ahmed Rilwan's abduction.[39]

Moyameeha Campaign

Find Moyameeha is a campaign led by Rilwan's family, friends and supporters.[40] 'Moyameeha' is Rilwan's Twitter account handle.[41] 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. The question mark (? or ❓) is affiliated to Rilwan due to the question march where people had placards showing question marks.

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Ismail . Shahindha . Shahindha Ismail . ގެއްލުވާލީ މައުސޫމް ދިވެހި ދަރިއެއް . Lost an innocent Maldivian child . 22 September 2024 . Association for Democracy in the Maldives . dv.
  2. Web site: Ahmed Rilwan Abdulla . 18 September 2024 . Committee to Protect Journalists.
  3. News: Rasheed . Zaheena . 22 September 2014 . MDN investigation implicates radicalised gangs in Rilwan’s disappearance . 17 September 2024 . Minivan News.
  4. News: 8 August 2015 . A year ago today, our brother, friend and fellow reporter disappeared . 17 September 2024 . Maldives Independent.
  5. News: Rasheed . Zaheena . 23 August 2014 . Rilwan’s abduction is a threat to all, says Maldives media . 17 September 2024 . Minivan News.
  6. News: 2 August 2018 . The disappearance of Ahmed Rilwan: A timeline . 17 September 2024 . Maldives Independent.
  7. News: Mohamed . Mariyath . 18 September 2014 . Nasheed urges President Yameen to take charge of Rilwan investigation . 17 September 2024 . Minivan News.
  8. News: Bosley . Daniel . 4 September 2024 . Family of Rilwan submit petition with 5000 signatures to People’s Majlis . 17 September 2024 . Minivan News.
  9. News: Rasheed . Zaheena . 28 October 2014 . Majlis throws out 5055 signature petition on Rilwan’s disappearance . 17 September 2024 . Minivan News.
  10. News: 24 December 2015 . Missing journalist’s family delivers 500 paper cranes to president . 17 September 2024 . Maldives Independent . 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..
  11. News: Rasheed . Zaheena . 29 October 2014 . Missing journalist’s family accuses police of negligence, files complaint . 17 September 2024 . Minivan News.
  12. News: 8 August 2015 . Missing journalist’s family pepper sprayed at ‘Question March’ . 17 September 2024 . Maldives Independent.
  13. News: 19 August 2015 . Complaint filed over pepper spray use, obstruction of Find Moyameehaa walk . 17 September 2024 . Maldives Independent.
  14. News: 31 August 2015 . RSF refers case of missing Maldives journalist to UN . 17 September 2024 . Maldives Independent.
  15. Web site: 28 August 2015 . Cases of missing journalists in ten countries referred to UN . 17 September 2024 . Reporters Without Borders.
  16. News: 19 January 2016 . Missing journalist’s family fears inquiry ‘may turn out like MP Afrasheem’s murder probe’ . 17 September 2024 . Maldives Independent.
  17. 682497862542868480 . HomeMinistrymv . Rilwan aaila in RY ah fonuvi sity aka gulhigen Rilwan hodhumuge maskkathah sarukarun kureveyne hurihakameh kohdhinumah MU ah RY dhannavaifi . . 31 December 2015 . 17 September 2024 . dv . 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. . dmy. RY meaning Raees Yameen (President Yameen)
  18. News: 2 January 2016 . President orders investigation into missing journalist’s disappearance . 17 September 2024 . Maldives Independent.
  19. News: 6 April 2016 . Notorious gangster arrested over Rilwan’s abduction . 17 September 2024 . Maldives Independent.
  20. News: 25 April 2016 . Suspects in Rilwan’s abduction transferred to house arrest . 17 September 2024 . Maldives Independent.
  21. News: 1 May 2016 . Suspects in Rilwan’s abduction moved back to police custody . 17 September 2024 . Maldives Independent.
  22. News: 4 May 2016 . Government accused of involvement in journalist’s disappearance . 17 September 2024 . Maldives Independent.
  23. News: 8 May 2016 . UN summons Maldives over journalist’s disappearance . 17 September 2024 . Maldives Independent.
  24. News: 10 May 2016 . Maldives government denies involvement in journalist’s disappearance . 17 September 2024 . Maldives Independent.
  25. News: 8 August 2017 . Police crack down on march for abducted journalist . 17 September 2024 . Maldives Independent.
  26. News: Maahaa . Aishath . 8 August 2017 . ރިލްވާނަށް ވީގޮތް ބުނެދޭން އާދޭސް ކުރުމުން ޖެހީ ޕެޕާ ސްޕްރޭ . 17 September 2024 . Avas . dv.
  27. News: 17 September 2017 . Three suspects charged with terrorism over Rilwan’s abduction . 17 September 2024 . Maldives Independent.
  28. News: Shaahunaz . Fathmath . 2 August 2018 . Suspects charged with abduction of missing journo Rilwan walk free . 17 September 2024 . The Edition.
  29. News: Abdulla . Shaina . 2 August 2018 . Will appeal verdict on missing journo case: PG . 17 September 2024 . The Edition.
  30. News: Aiham . Ahmed . 14 January 2019 . Case of missing journalist will be solved: Suood . 18 September 2024 . The Edition.
  31. News: Malsa . Mariyam . 1 September 2019 . Evidence points to murder of missing journalist Rilwan: Suood . 18 September 2024 . The Edition.
  32. News: 3 September 2019 . 14 under travel ban over missing journo case: media . 18 September 2024 . The Edition.
  33. News: Rasheed . Zaheena . 2 September 2019 . Missing Maldives journalist killed by al-Qaeda affiliate . 18 September 2024 . Al Jazeera.
  34. News: 3 September 2019 . Al Qaeda affiliates decapitated, drowned missing journalist Rilwan: Commission Report . 18 September 2024 . The Edition.
  35. News: Aiham . Ahmed . 3 September 2019 . PSC to take action against officers over Rilwan's abduction . 18 September 2024 . The Edition.
  36. News: Mohamed . Shahudha . 15 September 2019 . Police to sack two officers involved in Rilwan's case . 18 September 2024 . The Edition.
  37. News: Aiham . Ahmed . 3 December 2019 . Murder commission pushes for charges against culprits behind Yameen, Rilwan, Afrasheem's murders . 18 September 2024 . The Edition.
  38. News: Aiham . Ahmed . 31 December 2019 . PG rejects DDcom cases, sends back for further investigation . 18 September 2024 . The Edition.
  39. News: Shahid . Malika . 22 May 2024 . DDCom findings will be disclosed once they are received: government . 18 September 2024 . The Edition.
  40. News: Rasheed . Zaheena . 9 August 2015 . Find Moyameehaa – we persevere because we love . 17 September 2024 . Maldives Independent.
  41. News: 15 August 2014 . Few clues in search for missing journalist Ahmed Rilwan . 17 September 2024 . Minivan News.

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