Presidential Commission Investigating Murders and Enforced Disappearances has reported that the killing of former Ungoofaaru MP and religious scholar Dr. Afrasheem Ali was the act of an extremist religious group.
Dr. Afrasheem was assassinated on September 30, 2012 by about 1:30 a.m. in the stairwell of his home.
The presidential commission reviewed his murder and sent its reports to President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, the Attorney General, the Anti-Terrorism Department and the Attorney General in the form of a document last week.
A summary of the investigative report of the commission on the murder of Dr. Afrasheem was presented on Sunday at the Parliament floor.
Citing the study, Speaker Mohamed Nasheed said two individuals identified as Mohamed Mazeed and Saamith Mohamed were leading the religious organisation that orchestrated the assassination of Dr. Afrasheem.
Both Mazeed and Saamith are also accused of being involved in the abduction and murder of Miniwan News journalist Ahmed Rilwan. The report said Mazeed was involved in the Sultan Park bombing incident that took place in 2007 and said Mazeed traveled to Pakistan and met with senior members of Al-Qaeda following the bombing. Mazeed was indicted of carrying out Al-Qaeda’s work and spreading their ideologies and propaganda in Maldives.
The report further named Azlif Rauf of H. Hilton as the main perpetrator behind MP Afrashim’s murder.
While one person has been convicted thus far on Dr. Afrasheem’s murder, the verdict on Hussain Humaam of H. Lobby was upheld by the Supreme Court.
In addition to Humaam and Azlif, an individual named Ali Shan, a minor from H.Coast, and seven other individuals were actively involved in the execution of the murder, according to the commission’s report.
Although Shan could not be prosecuted for lack of evidence, it was not possible to seek inquiry into the remaining people as they fled to Syria the morning after the assassination, the document stated.
The report noted that Dr. Afrasheem has been abused and tormented on multiple occasions and that some religious scholars have claimed that, in relation to Dr. Afrasheem, “it is desirable if he repents.”
It also noted that the group behind the assassination strongly disagreed with the religious opinion of Dr. Afrasheem on performing a good deed on a deceased person on condition that something pleasant happens, and his opinion on the Muslim women’s dress code.
The report further named several individuals who spoke on public platforms in a manner that could incite hatred against Dr. Afrasheem. The report highlighted the Salaf Organization, and noted that a Youtube video posted by ‘Habeys TV’ in 2011 described Dr. Afrasheem as a dangerous individual.
It also said that while several politicians knew about the activities and involvement of Azlif, political figures had tried to conceal his activities.
