Laamu Maavah Magistrate’s Court has dismissed a case seeking to declare Ali Mushfiq Mohamed Shareef deceased, as the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) confirmed that the search for him remains ongoing.
Mushfiq went missing in early April following a fire aboard a cargo boat en route to Thaa and Laamu atolls.
Of the roughly 18 people on board at the time, he remains the only individual unaccounted for.
According to Maavah Council President Ahmed Moosa, Mushfiq’s family had requested a funeral in absentia, with prayers initially planned at Masjid al-Bilal. However, the council postponed the event after consultations with religious scholars, legal experts, and advice from the Fatwa Committee, citing the need for court resolution before any prayer could be held.
Mushfiq’s father subsequently submitted a case to the Maavah Court to legally declare his son’s death. However, the court noted that when it contacted the MNDF on April 15 to confirm whether the search had been terminated, the MNDF responded on April 23 stating that the operation was still ongoing.
In its ruling, the court stated that it does not appear to be in the best interest of the authorities to declare Ali Mushfiq Mohamed Shareef dead while search for him is still underway. The case has therefore been dismissed until further notice.
The search continues as Mushfiq’s family and community await closure.
Mushfiq, an architecture student at the Polytechnic, had traveled home to Maavah to spend the last 10 days of Ramadan with his family. When the fire broke out, all those aboard the boat jumped into the sea. Mushfiq, who could not swim, disappeared shortly after jumping in with his brother.
Extensive searches were conducted by sea and air, but he has not been found.
