Yameen Rasheed Murder Suspects Re-detained by Criminal Court
Murder suspects of the blogger Yameen Rasheed.
The Criminal Court has ordered the re-detention of two men accused of murdering blogger Yameen Rasheed, following a ruling by the High Court that overturned their convictions and sent the case back for review.
The Prosecutor General’s Office said the Criminal Court ordered Ismail Haisham Rasheed and Ahmed Zihan Ismail to be held in custody until the conclusion of their retrials. The decision came after the state requested their detention during proceedings at the lower court.
ޔާމީން ރަޝީދު މަރާލި މައްސަލަ އަލުން ބެލުމަށް ތަޙުވީލު ކުރުމާ ގުޅިގެން ތުހުމަތުކުރެވޭ މީހުން ޝަރީޢަތް ނިމެންދެން ބަންދުކުރުން
އިތުރަށް ވިދާޅުވުމަށް: https://t.co/ioy3lc1cT1— Prosecutor General’s Office (@PGO_MV) December 31, 2025
Earlier on Wednesday, the High Court of Maldives unanimously overturned the life sentences imposed on the two men and referred the case back to the Criminal Court for reconsideration. While the state sought a detention order at the High Court, the judges declined to issue one at that stage.
In its ruling, the High Court ordered a fresh review of the convictions and sentences of Haisham and Zihan, citing concerns raised during the appeals process. The court also directed the Criminal Court to review the cases of Ismail Rasheed and Mohamed Dhifran, who had previously been acquitted.
Yameen Rasheed, a prominent blogger and activist, was killed in 2017. Six individuals were charged in connection with his murder: Ismail Haisham Rasheed, Ahmed Zihan Ismail, Mohamed Dhifran, Hassan Shifaz, Thaif Ismail Rasheed and Hussain Ziyad.
In January 2022, the Criminal Court found Haisham and Zihan guilty and sentenced them to life imprisonment, while acquitting the remaining four defendants. The prosecution later appealed the acquittals of Ismail Rasheed and Dhifran, while Haisham and Zihan appealed their convictions and sentences.
The High Court instructed the Criminal Court to re-examine the evidence presented in the case, including testimony given by a secret witness, which was a central issue raised on appeal.
