Homeland Security Minister Ali Ihusaan has defended the police decision not to conduct an autopsy on Zakiyya Moosa, who was found dead with severe wounds in Noonu Holhudhoo island last year.

Appearing on the Ahaa (Ask) forum on Monday night, Ihusaan said the police decision was based on the advice of a pathologist in the country at the time.

"After Zakiyya's incident, a special investigation team went there and decided to bring her to Male' for an autopsy. Coincidentally, a foreign pathologist was in the Maldives at the time to teach medical students. This person had done thousands of autopsies. So we consulted this person because they were in the country. Technically, he sought his technical advice," Ihusaan stated.

Zakiyya's family earlier said that Ihusaan had told them that the police made a mistake by not conducting an autopsy. Police even transported Zakiyya's body to Male' for an autopsy. But they later conducted a "digital autopsy." Police said it's results show that Zakiyya committed suicide.

Zakiyya, 50, was a native of Holhudhoo island. She was found dead with stab wounds to the neck on the morning of September 10, 2024.

Police said Zakiyya had three deep wounds on her right side, two deep wounds on her left side and one shallow wound in the middle of her neck.

However, there were no signs of any other injuries and no signs of an assault at the warehouse where Zakiyya was found dead. The warehouse is located at her home.

Speaking further at the forum on Monday, Ihusaan said the doctor who provided consultation to the police had said that an autopsy result would not find anything different.

“This is the professional advice from that person after checking the injuries on Zakiyya's body and based on his experience. The person said they do not believe the cause of death and the professional opinion would be different even if an autopsy is done after taking the body overseas," he said.

Zakiyya's family has called on President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu to conduct an independent inquiry into her death. The family has rejected police statements as "illogical."