date_range
Friday 22 Nov 2024
LOCAL EDITION
close
LOCAL EDITION
Yameen Rasheed's mother Mariyam Shafeega. (Photo/ RaajjeMv)
Mariyam Shafeega, the mother of blogger Yameen Rasheed stated that despite finding two men guilty of her son's brutal murder, she believes justice will be served when those who funded the attack are found.
She expressed satisfaction at the overall trial, she accuses there to be additional people hiding behind the attack.
"The truth is, more than those who actively participated in the murder, we hoped to punish those who funded the attack."
"As Yameen's mother, I still cannot believe that these kids are the ones behind this. I still believe that there are people who made them do this."
She reasoned that there is no proof that any of the accused had a problem with Yameen and nothing ever occurred between them and her son that would cause them to challenge him.
"Yameen is in different areas in terms of employment and a completely different age group from them. So I still believe there have to be some others behind this."
Additionally, she also noted the accused having 'high-paid lawyers' to be another reason why she believes the attack to have been funded.
"Once they are found, will feel truly satisfied. What is more important is finding those who funded and planned the murder."
"When this government came, the biggest family's biggest request was to get justice. Only when those truly behind the attack are found, we will get justice."
Six men were put on trial for his murder; Ismail Haisham Rasheed (H. Annaarumaage, Male’ City), Ahmed Zihan Ismail (M.Iraasmikge, Male’ City), Mohamed Dhifran (Simbadge, G. Dh. Gadhdhoo), Hassan Shifaz (M. Kudhehige, Male’ City), Ismail Rasheed (M. Thaaif, Male’ City), and Hussain Ziyad (M. Kolhufushi East, Male’ City).
They were charged with murder with intent using a sharp-edged weapon.
While Haisham and Zihan were accused of active involvement in the murder, Ismail Rasheed was accused of transporting them to Yameen’s residence and waiting for them outside as they did the killing.
The Criminal Court on January 19, ruled that both Haisam and Zihan were guilty of murder. The remaining four suspects were acquitted.
Both were sentenced to imprisonment for life and also ordered to pay MVR 1.3 million as 'Diya' (financial compensation.
Notably, when asked if she wanted Qisas – the death penalty – for Haisham and Zihan, Shafeega declined and stated that she wanted Diya instead, which can be used to do something good to honour her son’s memory.
“When he was alive, my son believed the right to life as a basic human right. Therefore, I don’t want Qisas,” she said.
However, Yameen father, Hussain Rasheed asked for the death penalty, stating that his son’s death had been a pre-planned murder and that he cannot forgive his son’s killers.
