#findmoyameehaa

Ahmed Rilwan (@moyameehaa)

Ahmed Rilwan Abdulla (@moyameehaa) a Maldivian Journalist has been missing since 8 August 2014. He was last seen on CCTV at the Hulhumale' ferry terminal.

He was wearing a black shirt, black trousers, black shoes with white soles and carrying a black backpack.
Rilwan is 28 years old, of medium build and 5 feet 10 inches tall, sporting a short beard and moustache.

Maldivians say #FindMoyameehaa in search for missing journalist

September 5, 2014

While Rilwan did not receive threats in the weeks prior to his disappearance, he was considered a target following the stabbing of a secularist blogger in 2012. Musa Rilwan, his brother shared a screenshot with The Stream of what he said was a Facebook post by Bilad al Sham Media, a Maldivian group operating in Syria, accusing Ahmed of “mocking Islam”. The message, according to Musa, was posted around August 18, ten days after he was last spotted.
Moyameehaa threats
Moyameehaa threats

FLICKR.COM·AN HOUR AGO
While the police questioned nearly 200 people about the disappearance, many groups, including the Human Rights Commission of Maldives and Reporters Without Borders, are concerned the authorities are not doing enough.
His family and friends started a campaign using #FindMoyameehaa (named after his Twitter handle) and submitted a petition with 5000 signatures to Parliament. Another petition was started on avaaz.org, urging the government and police to do more to find the journalist.

Help find Rilwan: Plea from Family

DKPCL8ORTEVN8PQT7FMRNQ·11 DAYS AGO

Rilwan’s colleagues Zaheena Rasheed and Daniel Bosley at Minivan News shared their thoughts with The Stream:

Ahmed Rilwan’s colleagues talk to The Stream

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Using #FindMoyameehaa, many expressed solidarity with the missing journalist:
MILKANDPEPPERSPRAY.TUMBLR.COM·5 HOURS AGO
MILKANDPEPPERSPRAY.TUMBLR.COM·5 HOURS AGO
MILKANDPEPPERSPRAY.TUMBLR.COM·5 HOURS AGO
Many, including Ahmed’s brother Musa Rilwan, shared their memories with him and hoped for his safe return:

A reporter for the independent news site Minivan News (link is external) in Maldives has been missing since August 7. Ahmed Rilwan Abdulla (link is external), one of Maldives’ first (link is external) bloggers, was critical of local politicians and radical religious groups in his articles. He recently published a report (link is external) on death threats sent to local journalists via text messages.

Others criticised the government’s response to the disappearance:

 

The Maldivean Minister of Foreign Affairs Dunya Maumoon released a statement on the disappearance.
foreign.gov.mv
Ms Maumoon noted the extensive search efforts of the Maldives Police Services and other authorities expressing her wish for success in their efforts. The Minister also expressed concern on the act of intimidation and reprisals to journalists in general. ‘Freedom of media facilities a greater degree of interconnectedness and awareness in the community, and is the cornerstone of any democratic society. Therefore, the protection and safety of journalists is fundamental not only at an individual level, but at a national and international level as well’.

4 HOURS AGO
The Stream spoke to Musa Rilwan, Ahmed’s elder brother, who said there were no clues as to his whereabouts. After they conducted a search around the island, a member of their search party received an anonymous call telling them to stop looking. However, they are still hoping for the best.