The Criminal Court of the Maldives has the trial on the murder of blogger Yameen Rasheed will be concluded and a ruling will be issued within a month.
During the hearing held to present the summary statements by both sides, the Criminal Court judge overseeing the case noted this was the final hearing of the trial. The judge added a ruling is expected to be issued in the case within the next 30 days.
Yameen Rasheed was brutally stabbed to death on April 23, 2017, at the stairwell of his residence in Male’. The state pressed charges against six people believed to have been involved in the murder, including Ismail Haisham Rasheed and Ahmed Zihan Ismail who are alleged to have carried out the stabbing and Ismail Rasheed who is alleged to have stayed outside for cover.
During the trial, the Prosecutor General’s Office (PGO) stated Yameen Rasheed was killed by a group of religious extremists. The PGO said Yameen Rasheed was killed based on a belief among the group that he mocked Islam and Prophet Muhammad.