Family of Zakiyya Calls for Presidential Commission to Investigate Her Death
Holhudhoo in Noonu Atoll, captured from above | Photo: MV+
The sister of Zakiyya Moosa, Aminath Shaziyya, has called on President Dr Mohamed Muizzu to establish a commission to investigate the circumstances surrounding Zakiyya’s death.
Zakiyya was found dead with severe wounds to her neck inside her residence in Noonu atoll Holhudhoo on 10 September last year. Her family maintains that she was killed, and protests have been held on the island demanding justice.
advertisement
advertisement
advertisement
In a statement, Shaziyya urged President Muizzu to form a commission under the powers granted to him by the Constitution to review the Police’s handling of the investigation.
Police previously stated that their investigation concluded Zakiyya’s death was self-inflicted. A police team travelled to India, where a virtual autopsy was carried out. According to Police, the autopsy results supported the finding that Zakiyya had died from self-inflicted injuries.
However, Zakiyya’s family has consistently rejected these conclusions. They have raised doubts about the credibility of the virtual autopsy report, parts of which were shown to them. They have also requested that Zakiyya’s body be exhumed to conduct a full autopsy. The family further claimed that their repeated requests to the Ministry of Homeland Security and Technology for a full copy of the virtual autopsy report, and for information regarding the investigation, have gone unanswered.
In the statement, the family said that residents of Holhudhoo would not simply accept the Police’s findings without a rational and transparent explanation.
The family outlined several concerns regarding the investigation into Zakiyya’s death. They expressed dissatisfaction that, from the date of her death until now, no sufficient investigation has been conducted to uncover the truth. They also highlighted that the Minister of Homeland Security and Technology had acknowledged it was a mistake to allow Zakiyya’s burial before an autopsy was performed, describing it as a significant error in the investigation process.
The family criticised the Police for only indirectly informing the media, six months and 29 days after Zakiyya’s death, that a virtual autopsy had been conducted. They noted the Police’s failure to provide them with a copy of the virtual autopsy report, or, if the report could not be shared, to allow them to review it with an independent expert.
Concerns were also raised regarding the lack of clarity about whether any scans were conducted in preparation for a virtual autopsy. The family appealed for the release of details regarding any foreign expert opinions obtained, including the names, qualifications, and findings of doctors or other specialists consulted.
The family further requested confirmation of whether any forensic or medico-legal autopsy had been conducted by investigative authorities, and, if so, for the report and the date it was completed to be disclosed. They also appealed for information on whether a medical toxicology report had been prepared and for it to be shared publicly.
Finally, the family called for disclosure of any actions taken in response to an internal investigation into possible Police negligence in failing to conduct an autopsy and requested documentation detailing any psychological assessments made concerning Zakiyya’s condition prior to her death.
