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March for open trial of slain blogger Yameen Rasheed

Family, friends and acquaintances of popular blogger Yameen Rasheed who was discovered gruesomely murdered at the stairwell of his residence a year ago, has decided for a public march urging authorities for an open-trial on his murder case.

Under the slogan "A year without justice" the march is scheduled at 16:30hrs on Monday afternoon, starting from Rasfannu beach. Apart from the deceased writer's family and friends some of the locally active NGOs are set to take part in the event as well.

Though a peaceful march urging for Rasheed's open trial is scheduled for Monday, several previous attempts for such causes have been intervened by Maldives Police over varying reasons.

While April 23, 2018 would officially mark a year since Yameen Rasheed's murder and his family has been concerned over the clandestine manner his murder trial has been proceeding at Criminal Court.

The slain blogger's family had on multiple occasions attempted to meet with various government entities regarding Rasheed's murder, however they have been able to formally meet with officials of Humans Rights Commission of Maldives (HRCM) so far.

The state is prosecuting Ismail Haisham Rasheed (Annaarumaage, Maafannu, Male'), Hussain Ziyad (Kolhufushi-East, Maafannu, Male'), Ismail Rasheed (Thaaif, Maafannu, Male'), Hassan Shifaz (Kudhehimaage, Maafannu, Male'), Mohamed Dhifran (Sindhubaadhuge, Gaaf Dhaal Thinadhoo) and Ahmed Zihan Ismail (Iraamisku, Maafannu Male').

All are tried with the murder using sharp implements.