The family of abducted journalist Ahmed Rilwan Abdulla has revealed that despite repeated requests to meet with President Mohamed Muizzu, they have yet to be granted an audience.
The family further noted that four months have passed since they formally requested a meeting with Attorney General (AG) Ahmed Usham without receiving a response.
These concerns were brought to light by Rilwan’s sister, Fathimath Shehenaz, during the "Ahaa" forum held last night, where members of the public are allowed to question government ministers.
Shehenaz stated that the family has been making persistent efforts to meet with Muizzu since he assumed office, but those attempts have been unsuccessful. She noted that after the President confirmed in a press conference that the Attorney General is now in possession of the Presidential Commission on Deaths and Disappearances' report on Rilwan’s case, she submitted a formal request for an appointment with the Attorney General over four months ago.
Shehenaz emphasised that because the letter went unanswered, the family wants to access the findings of the report.
"In response to a journalist's question, President [Muizzu] stated that the report compiled by the Death Commission established by Ibrahim Mohamed Solih is now with Usham. I immediately requested an appointment to meet with Usham. However, it has been more than four months since I submitted that letter, and I have not received any response," Shehenaz said.
Responding to Shehenaz’s inquiry, Usham apologised for the lengthy delay in meeting with the family. He assured them that he would make arrangements to meet with the family within the current week.
"I will work very hard to ensure I meet with the family members this week," Usham said.
Usham explained that while the current administration had extended the term of the commission established by the previous government, the President’s Office has since handed over the finalised reports of the commission’s investigations to him.
Regarding the public release of the report on Rilwan’s disappearance, the Attorney General noted that the document contains sensitive intelligence information from the police and security forces. He stated that a specialised team at the Attorney General’s Office is currently reviewing the report to determine the extent of information that can be disclosed. Usham expressed hope that this review would be completed within the next month, after which he would provide his recommendations to the President.
Usham further committed to sharing as much information as legally permissible with the family during their upcoming meeting. However, he clarified that the final decision regarding the official handover of the report to the family rests with the President.
The disappearance of Ahmed Rilwan in August 2014 remains one of the most high-profile cases in the Maldives, with his family continuing their tireless pursuit of justice nearly a decade later.
