The investigative report on the abduction of Miniwan News journalist Ahmed Rilwan has revealed that he was decapitated before his body was disposed at sea.
The summary report prepared by the Presidential Commission investigating Murders and Enforced Disappearances which was publicized by the Parliament stated that Rilwan was abducted and taken to a 'dhoni' belonging to Mohamed Rashid of Aa. Ukulhas. A secret witness revealed that two boats were operated by Rashid and an individual named Alvis to generate funding for 'Jihadi' operations.
The report said the two boats were arranged by a man from S. Feydhoo named Agleel, better known as 'Kid', who is the operations manager of a religious extremist group. After Rilwan was made to board one of the boats, he was decapitated before his body was wrapped and tied with weights and sunk into the ocean.
The witness said Rilwan was first abducted near his home and taken away in a red car to the beach area where he was then transported to the boat in question on a dinghy vessel.
Three individuals known as 'Munaakko', Alif and Shaffaf were in the red car, said the witness. While Munaakko was driving the car, Aalif was in the front passenger seat while Shaffaf was in the backseat. Individuals named Mohamed Suwaid and Solah from S. Hulhudhoo, and a man named Ismail Sobih from Gh. Fuvahmulah followed behind the car in motorcycles, revealed the witness.
Rilwan was shadowed by Mohamed Suwaid and Mohamed Hamid on the night of his abduction, said the witness, and both individuals had followed Rilwan until he reached Hulhumale' from Male'.
At a press conference held on Sunday to reveal the findings of the commission's investigation into Rilwan's disappearance, the President of the Commission Husnu-Al-Suood said Rilwan's death stemmed from a dispute between an extremist religious organization and a group of people with 'progressive' ideologies who advocated for human rights in the Maldives.
While the accounts of the witness statements on how he was killed has some discrepancies, one account states Rilwan was wrapped in a net before he was killed while the other states he was made to utter the 'shahada', the Islamic testimony of faith before he was murdered, said Suood.
Miniwan News journalist Ahmed Rilwan
