Holhudhoo residents demand answers on one-year anniversary of Zakiyya’s death

The residents of N. Holhudhoo held a protest demanding answers on Friday, as they marked one year since a middle-aged woman from the island was found dead in her home with deep neck wounds – promoting a police investigation that remains open.

Zakiyya Moosa, 50, was found dead on the floor inside the storeroom of her home New Life on the morning of September 10, 2024, with a knife beside her body. While the police have said they found no evidence of foul play, many in Holhudhoo believe she did not die from self-inflicted wounds but was brutally murdered.

Residents of the island held a protest on Friday evening to solemnly commemorate one year to Zakiyya’s death, demanding justice.

Protestors accused the police of misconduct in the investigation into the case, alleging that the police officers who first responded tampered with the crime scene and failed to properly document evidence before the forensic team’s arrival.

The protestors, most of them wearing black, urged the police to expedite the investigation and give them answers.

They also called for action against the police officers who were negligent in handling the case.

“These people are negligent because of the loopholes in the law that gives them a free pass. We do not believe that delivering justice in one or two murder cases means there’s any permanent solution unless these loopholes is closed,” said one protestor.

The protestors demanded the resignation of Homeland Security Minister Ali Ihusan, and also accused rights watchdogs such as the National Integrity Commission (NIC) and the Human Rights Commission of Maldives (HRCM) of failure to uphold justice.

The NIC, which investigated police conduct in the case, found that the police had been negligent in the investigation into Zakiyya’s death, citing inappropriate conduct in the execution of their official duty, abuse of power, obstruction of justice and obstruction of the rule of law.

The NIC had discussed possible criminal charges against individual officers with the Prosecutor General’s Office (PGO).

However, it is unclear if any decision has been made.

Zakiyya’s body was discovered by street sweepers, who alerted the family and the police. She is survived by her husband, two sons and one grandchild.