Murder of Anas: Meedhoo dims lights, voices out for justice

July 31, 2024 - The island of Meedhoo in Raa Atoll, where murder victim Mohamed Anas hailed from, blacked out all street lights for 15 minutes last nights.

The island fell into darkness last night in remembrance of the darkness, fear and grief that had fallen on the community seven years ago on the same day, at approximately the same time - between 21:00 hrs and 21:15 hrs - when a group of assailants had followed Anas and murdered him in Male'.

The people of Meedhoo then took to social media last night, demanding justice.

Meedhoo Island Council, which organized this to mark seven years since the murder of Anas, said that the people still remain in darkness as despair as justice evades them even this many years on. They said that the memories of the shock and fright they felt on the day still remain vivid in people's minds.

The Criminal Court acquitted all suspects in the murder of Anas. Last May, the Prosecutor General has appealed this at the High Court.

Anas, a speedboat captain, was brutally stabbed to death on 31st July 2017, by a group of eight people in the Litus Service Center in Malé, where he attempted to hide after being chased on the streets by the assailants.

Seven individuals were charged and tried in the Criminal Court in connection with the July 2017 attack on Anas inside the Litus Service Centre.

Charges of intentional homicide were filed against Usman Shareef of M. Dhimishq, Male', Afrah AbdulRazzaq of M. Lonumidhilige, Male', and Ahmed Zayan of Asurumaage, Lhaviyani atoll Kurendhoo in connection with the case.

Junaih Abdulla of Nannaarige, Laamu atoll Gan Thundi, Hassan Mahfooz of Weston Villa, Addu atoll Feydhoo, Simah Moosa of Male' Register no. 1746, and Mohamed Shaz from Gulfaamuge, Thaa atoll Kinbidhoo were indicted as accomplices in the crime.

The Criminal Court acquitted all seven, ruling that it could not be determined beyond a reasonable doubt that any of the seven individuals were involved in the crime.