Dhuleh Nukuraanan
| Dhuleh Nukuraanan | |
|---|---|
| Date | 24 April 2025 – present (3 months and 2 weeks) |
| Location | Maldives |
| Caused by |
|
| Goals |
|
| Methods | Internet activism Picketing Protest marches and demonstrations |
| Status | Ongoing |
| Casualties | |
| Arrested | 2 |
Dhuleh Nukuraanan (Dhivehi: ދުލެއް ނުކުރާނަން, lit. 'Won't stay silent') are a series of ongoing youth-led demonstrations that began in Malé, Maldives, in April 2025. The protests were sparked by the suspicious fall of a young woman, Hawwa Yumn, from the ninth floor of the Fenetony building in the Henveiru district.
Background
[edit]On 18 April, Hawwa Yumn Rasheed, a 21-year old, was found severely injured on a rooftop in a warehouse adjacent to the Fentenoy building where she fell from. Despite her condition, emergency services weren't alerted for three hours which after that she stayed in the intensive care unit of Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital.[1]
These circumstances sparked concern after it was revealed that the person who last saw Yumn, Raud Ahmed Zilal, had connections to politically high people in the Maldivian government.
Protest
[edit]Nightly protests had started on 24 April 2025 at Sergeant Adam Haleel Criminal Investigations Building lasting several hours, even during bad weather conditions.[2][3] After five consecutive days of protesting on Majeedhee Magu, protesters have staged a digital protest, some on Minecraft, X Space, TikTok Live.[4]
Demands
[edit]Protesters demand the government to do the following:[5][6]
- Maldives Police Service (MPS) to conduct a transparent investigation
- Arresting and prosecuting everyone involved in the case
- Police to explain the inconsistencies of the video footage that don't match with the incident
- Disclosing all the evidence obtained in the investigation
- Police apologizing to both the general public and the family for lying about the investigation
- Conducting an inquiry into the police investigation
- Resignation of Police Commissioner Ali Shujau, Homeland Minister Ali Ihusaan, Transport Minister Mohamed Ameen
- President Mohamed Muizzu to make a public apology for remarks he made that encourages victim blaming and defending the police.
- Dismissal of Chief Inspector of Police Mohamed Samih.[7]
Arrests and pepper spray
[edit]On 1 May, police had separated and pepper sprayed many protesters.[8] Two organizers of the nightly protests, Aishath Shiman Ahmed and Abdulla Mahzoom Majid were arrested, which was condemned by many.[9] Notables include Mohamed Nasheed, Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), The Democrats.[10][11][12] The Criminal Court remanded Shiman and Mahzoom for three days.[13]
Following this, police banned protests to happen on Majeedhee Magu and threatened to use force on those who do.[14] Rasfannu Beach, Malé Industrial Zone, and Usfasgandu were allowed by police for protesters to protest.[15] MDP and The Democrats has called on people from their party to join the nightly protests.[16][17]
On 3 July, the Prosecutor General's Office (PGO) decided to file charges agaisnt both Mahzoom and Shiman, for assault and obstructing a law enforcement officer respecively.[18] Although the PGO said that they can avoid prosecution if they enter a diversion agreement, which they had declined before.[19] MDP Chairperson Fayyaz Ismail called the charges political and condemned the charges.[20]
Government response
[edit]On 26 April 2025, Mohamed Muizzu called on young people to stop the nightly protests and senior government officials contacted organizers to invite them to discuss demands.[21] The organizers in response has said that Muizzu must apologize for his remarks before discussing demands.[21]
Both Ihusaan and Ameen rejected any resignation demands claiming no police negligence in the investigation while the latter claims he was out of the country.[22][23]
In response to the demands made by protesters, Police Commissioner Ali Shujau resigned from his post.[24]
President Muizzu has also established the Special Presidential Commission of Inquiry into the Incident that Occurred in Malé on 18 April 2025 in response to growing demand.[5] However, Yumn's family didn't endorse the commission lacking trust and confidence in it.[25] The family also sought representation on the commission.[26] The commission was also criticized for originally being all male until two women were later appointed as members.[27][28]
On 5 May, Samih was removed as the head of the Homicide and Death Investigation Unit and reassigned to another department withtin the MPS.[29] On 13 May, Ali Ihssaan defended MPS's handling of the investigation and has said that the police acted accordingly to the rules and regulations.[30]
Commission's report
[edit]The Presidential Commission submitted its report to President Muizzu, who ordered to publish the entirety of the report to the public.[31][32] The report revealed that Daud was dismissed over a false statement provided to the police, Raud's negligence contributed to Yumn's fall, both Ihusaan and Ameen's conduct were inappopriate but didn't interfere in the investigation, police were negligent in collecting evidence and securing the scene.[33][34][35] The report concluded with saying that Yumn didn't appear to have been pushed from the Fentenoy, and that the commission didn't find evidence of foul play.[35] Muizzu later instructed the Ministry of Homeland Security and Technology and the Ministry of Health to implement the recommendations that were in the report, although no action was taken against Ihusaan or Ameen.[36][37]
References
[edit]- ^ Mohamed, Mariyath (21 April 2025). "Woman who fell from building remains in ICU". The Edition. Retrieved 1 May 2025.
- ^ "Photo: Young people demand justice for woman injured in fall". Adhadhu. 24 April 2025. Retrieved 1 May 2025.
- ^ "Protesters Brave Heavy Rain to Call for Justice and Accountability". MV+. 28 April 2025. Retrieved 1 May 2025.
- ^ "Protest on Minecraft to demand justice for Yumnu". Adhadhu. 30 April 2025. Retrieved 1 May 2025.
- ^ a b "Presidential commission appointed to probe woman's fall as protests continue in Malé". Maldives Independent. 27 April 2025. Retrieved 1 May 2025.
- ^ ""Dhuleh Nukuraanan" Protesters Reveal Their Demands to the Police". MV+. 26 April 2025. Retrieved 1 May 2025.
- ^ Zalif, Zunana (29 April 2025). "Yumnu's "fall": family demands Samih's dismissal over false information claims". Raajje TV. Retrieved 14 May 2025.
- ^ "ފުލުހުން ޒުވާނުންގެ މުޒާހަރާ ރޫޅާލައި ދެ މީހަކު ހައްޔަރުކޮށްފި" [Police separates youth protest and arrests two]. Dhauru (in Divehi). 1 May 2025. Retrieved 2 May 2025.
- ^ Aaidh, Ahmed (1 May 2025). "ޒުވާނުންގެ މުޒާހަރާއާ ދެކޮޅަށް ބާރުގެ ބޭނުންކޮށް ލީޑުކުރާ ދެ މީހަކު ފުލުހުން ހައްޔަރުކޮށްފި" [Police arrests two in youth protest for using force]. Adhadhu (in Divehi). Retrieved 2 May 2025.
- ^ "ސުލްހަވެރި މުޒާހަރާއިން ބާރުގެ ބޭނުންކޮށްގެން ހައްޔަރު ކުރި ޝިމަން އާއި މަހްޒޫމް މިނިވަން ކުރަން ނަޝީދު ގޮވައިލައްވައިފި" [Nasheed calls for release of protesters who were arrested for using force]. Adhadhu. 2 May 2025. Retrieved 2 May 2025.
- ^ "ޒުވާނުންގެ މުޒާހަރާއިން ދެ މީހަކު ހައްޔަރު ކުރީ ގައިރު ގާނޫނީކޮށް ކަމަށް ބުނެ އެމްޑީޕީ އިން ފުލުހުން ކުށްވެރިކޮށްފި" [MDP condemns police for arresting two people unlawfully at youth protest]. Adhadhu. 2 May 2025. Retrieved 2 May 2025.
- ^ "ޒުވާނުންގެ ސުލްހަވެރި މުޒާހަރާއިން ހައްޔަރު ކުރި ޝިމަން އާއި މަހްޒޫމް މިނިވަން ކުރަން ޑިމޮކްރެޓްސް އިން ވެސް ގޮވާލައިފި" [Democrats call for the release of Shiman and Mahzoom who were arrested at the youth protest]. Adhadhu. 2 May 2025. Retrieved 2 May 2025.
- ^ Shahzaan, Mohamed (2 May 2025). "ފުލުހުންގެ ބަޔާންތަކަށް ބެލުމަށްފަހު ޝިމަން އާއި މަހުޒޫމް ތިން ދުވަހަށް ބަންދު ކުރަން އަމުރުކޮށްފި" [After considering police statements Shiman and Mahzoom ordered to be remanded for three days]. Adhadhu (in Divehi). Retrieved 3 May 2025.
- ^ "މަޖީދީ މަގަށް އެއްވެއްޖެ ނަމަ ބާރުގެ ބޭނުންކޮށްގެން އެއްވުން ރޫޅާލާނެ ކަމުގެ އިންޒާރު ފުލުހުން ދީފި" [Police threatens to use force to disperse protest on Majeedhee Magu]. Adhadhu (in Divehi). 2 May 2025. Retrieved 3 May 2025.
- ^ "ރައީސްގެ ވައުދާ އެއްގޮތަށް ގާނޫނުއަސާސީގައި ހުއްދަ ކުރާ މިންވަރަށް އެއްވެ އުޅެން ފުރުސަތު ނުދީ އެއްވެވޭނެ ބައެއް ތަންތަން ކަނޑަައަޅައިފި". Adhadhu (in Divehi). 2 May 2025. Retrieved 3 May 2025.
- ^ Naseer, Leevan Ali (2 May 2025). "ޒުވާނުންގެ މުޒާހަރާގައި ބައިވެރިވެ އެއްބާރުލުން ދޭން އެމްޑީޕީން ނިންމައިފި" [MDP to join youth protest]. Adhadhu (in Divehi). Retrieved 3 May 2025.
- ^ Naseer, Leevan Ali (2 May 2025). "ޕާޓީގެ ކުލަ ބޭނުން ނުކޮށް ޒުވާނުން ކުރާ މުޒާހާރާގައި ބައިވެރިވާން ޑެމޮކްރެޓްސްއިން ނިންމައިފި" [Without using party colors Democrats to join youth protest]. Adhadhu (in Divehi). Retrieved 3 May 2025.
- ^ Ijaza, Fathmath (3 July 2025). "Charges filed against two youth protest leaders in Yumn Rasheed case". The Edition. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
- ^ Ijaza, Fathmath (3 July 2025). "PG Office says protest leaders can still avoid prosecution through diversion agreement". The Edition. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
- ^ Shafeeq, Umar Shan (4 July 2025). "Charges against Shiman and Mahzoom are political: Fayyaz". The Edition. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
- ^ a b "Protesters say Muizzu must apologize before discussing demands". Adhadhu. 26 April 2025. Retrieved 1 May 2025.
- ^ "Ihusaan claims no police negligence as he rejects resignation demands". Adhadhu. 26 April 2025. Retrieved 2 May 2025.
- ^ Mohamed, Mariyath (27 April 2025). "Out of country on night of Yumnu fall incident: Ameen". The Edition. Retrieved 2 May 2025.
- ^ "Shujau Resigns as CP, Deputy Commissioner Naveen Appointed as Acting Commissioner". MV+. 27 April 2025. Retrieved 1 May 2025.
- ^ "We do not endorse the President's commission, says Yumnu's family". Adhadhu. 30 April 2025. Retrieved 1 May 2025.
- ^ "Family seeks representation on inquiry commission as fall victim undergoes spinal surgery". Maldives Independent. 30 April 2025. Retrieved 1 May 2025.
- ^ "Appointment of all-male inquiry commission in sensitive case involving female victim sparks criticism". Sun. 27 April 2025. Retrieved 1 May 2025.
- ^ Mohamed, Naizak (29 April 2025). "Two females appointed to commission formed to probe Yumnu's fall following public scrutiny". Sun. Retrieved 1 May 2025.
- ^ Shahid, Malika (5 May 2025). "Samih removed as head of Homicide and Death Investigation Unit, transferred to another department". The Edition. Retrieved 14 May 2025.
- ^ Shahid, Malika (13 May 2025). "Police not at fault in Yumnu fall investigation: Minister Ihusan". The Edition. Retrieved 14 May 2025.
- ^ "Final report by the Special Presidential Commission into the incident that occurred in Malé on April 18, 2025 published". The President's Office. 17 June 2025. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
- ^ Zalif, Zunana (18 June 2025). "Presidential Commission submits report, Pres. instructs to make it public". Raajje TV. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
- ^ Zalif, Zunana (19 June 2025). "Daud dismissed over false statement in Yumnu case". Raajje TV. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
- ^ Zalif, Zunana (18 June 2025). "Commission finds Raud's negligence contributed to Yumnu's fall". Raajje TV. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
- ^ a b Naish, Ahmed (18 June 2025). "Commission rules out foul play in Yumn Rasheed fall". Maldives Independent. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
- ^ "The President instructs implementation of Special Presidential Commission's recommendations on the incident that occurred in Malé on April 18, 2025". The President's Office. 23 June 2025. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
- ^ Zalif, Zunana (25 June 2025). "Yumnu's fall: report implementation ordered, no action against Ihusaan". Raajje TV. Retrieved 8 July 2025.