Report: Dr. Afrasheem murdered by Jihadists

The Presidential Commission on Deaths and Disappearance’s (DDCOM) report into the murder of religious scholar Dr. Afrasheem Ali has confirmed that a jihadist group operating in the Maldives was behind the murder. This was affirmed as the report was summarized on live TV by the Speaker of the Parliament during today’s session.

The DDCOM had sent the report on Dr. Afrasheem’s murder to the President on November 8, 2019. The President then shared the contents of the report with the relevant authorities and institutions such as the Parliament, Attorney General’s office, Prosecutor General’s office, Counter-Terrorism Center of Police last week.

Contents of the report were read on live TV today by the Speaker of the Parliament Mohamed Nasheed. According to the findings of the report, the murder of Dr. Afrasheem Ali was planned by Azlif Raoof from H. Hilton.

Speaker Nasheed also revealed that Mohamed Mazeedh, Dhafthar no. 471 and Saamith Mohamed from Athireege, Th. Omadhoo as the men leading the jihadist extremist movement in the Maldives.

“Difficulties are faced in pursuing the investigation into Azlif Raoof from H. Hilton, Male city, Hussain Humaam Ahmed from H. Lobby, Male’ city, Ali Shaan (Sato) from H. Hicoast, Male’ city, and an underage child involved in the attack, after obtaining evidence on them, due to the fact that they traveled abroad for war, after the murder of Dr. Afrasheem.” cited the report.

The investigative report into the murder of Dr. Afrasheem has a striking resemblance in content to the report by the DDCOM into the murder of journalist Ahmed Rilwan Abdulla as well. The two men Mazeedh and Saamith were named by the DDCOM as the leaders of the group that were involved in the murder of Ahmed Rilwan as well.

The report also noted that there were people who were trying to create anger among the public towards Dr. Afrasheem. The Salaf organization was singled out in the report as one such organization.

Dr. Afrasheem was also harassed and assaulted on several occasions and some religious scholars stated that “everything will be fine if you repent” according to the findings of the report.

The reasons for the enmity created towards Dr. Afrasheem was also explained in the report. Controversial views on promises or oaths made to the deceased in return for favors or blessings and on women’s intimate body parts created rifts between Dr. Afrasheem and other religious scholars in the country.

“Dr. Afrasheem was murdered for things that he was speaking about. Dr. Afraasheem stated that if there were disagreements between scholars on topics, the topic cannot be classified as obligatory, innovative (Bid’ah), apostasy and cannot be decided in a specific manner. So, it is not a good deed for Muslims to call out and challenge each other on such matters.” the Speaker quoted the report as he was summarizing it.

Several attempts were made to attack Dr. Afrasheem before his murder. Some of these attempts were made in mosques. Dr. Afrasheem was murdered on October 2, 2012, near the stairwell of his residence in H. Funviluge. The report by the DDCOM has already been rejected by Dr. Afrasheem's family, who have stated that they firmoly believed the murder was motivated by politics.