“Murdered blogger had worried about lacking probe into death threats”

Transparency Maldives on Monday revealed that Yameen Rasheed, the social media activist and blogger who was found murdered early Sunday, had shared concerns with the association over lack of response from Police after Yameen reported receiving numerous death threats,

Yameen Rasheed, 29, of Addu atoll Feydhoo island was found dead with 14 stab wounds by the staircase of his house in capital Male in the early hours of Sunday morning. He had received numerous death threats in connection with the articles and posts he shared on social media regarding politics and social issues in the Maldives.

In a statement released Monday, Transparency Maldives disclosed that Yameen had informed them that he had filed reports of the threats with Police but expressed worry over lack of investigations. Yameen had shared similar sentiments on his social media platforms.

Transparency declared that Yameen’s murder specifically indicates that it was an attack on freedom of speech. The association further stated that the authorities’ failure to discern the truth behind such attacks is indicative of the low priority given to such issues by the state.

Despite Transparency’s statement, Police have claimed that they had taken some action in connection with the cases Yameen filed with them. Police said that they had questioned some suspects in regards to the latest case Yameen submitted, and that they had kept him informed of progress. However, Police did not reveal if any arrests had been made over the death threats.

Transparency went on to say that failure to serve justice for such major crimes serves only to encourage the perpetrators. Highlighting the murder of lawmaker Dr Afrasheem Ali in 2012 and the abduction of journalist Ahmed Rilwan who has been missing since August 2014, Transparency noted that both cases remain unsolved and the culprits unknown. The association declared that the rights of each citizen must be protected and justice ensured to establish a peaceful and fair community.

The association called on authorities to conduct a full investigation into Yameen’s murder and discern the reason and culprits behind it.

Meanwhile, Police said that a special team has been put together to investigate the case.