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Dedicated to Evan Naseem

By Nile, 18^th of September 200 4

Evan Naseem was killed on 19th
Sept. 2003 by Maldives Police

19^th of September 2003 was a depressing day for Maldivians. It was the day Maumoon and his NSS force brutally murdered one of our brothers, Evan Naseem. This inhuman act was purely carried out by Maumoon's NSS force because one night the officers were bored, had nothing to do, so why not torture an inmate to pass time? After all who cares the inmates are there for NSS officers to do whatever they feel fit.

Evan Naseem was slaughtered with no fault of his own, actually other inmates recall Evan Naseem as a considerate friend who bravely stepped out to the hands of NSS officers to save a fellow inmate. NSS officers came to Evan Naseem's cell looking for his friend, however Evan Naseem stopped the officers asking them not to take his friend but instead to take him. The officers' response was this is much better now we will have both of you, "aadheh funden"

Evan Naseem was attached to two coconut trees like a hammock, while NSS officers boot kicked him like a football. As all inmates Evan has previously experienced in many occasions the cruelty of NSS officers so he knew that him and his friend was in for a rough ride that night to say the least, however the only way they could protect themselves from these monsters was to wear thick jeans. Evan nevertheless gave his pair of jeans to his friends as he lacked a pair, which gave these officers a chance to slash and shred Evan Naseem’s raw flesh until his last breath. Actually no they did not stop here, when there was no sign of life from him they continued to beat him saying "kaley artu jahsanee dho" To test this they wrapped him in a sack and beat him against the wall, but they did not stop here; a hot iron rod was dug into his limps repeatedly.

If you can't comprehend this being done to a fellow human then, just ask yourself, how you would feel if Evan Naseem were your brother, your son, or your friend. This vicious act was just one of the times that we all know about, imagine how many more of these sessions must go on everyday inside the jails of the Maldives. And yet we just stand by and let this fierce regime to continue. The First Lady's reaction to this was "well Evan was not a saint" so what? That gives them the right to murder? We must stand together and put a hold to this cruel doings, we must save our country and our people from the hands of this ferocious Maumoon, his family and his NSS officers.

Us Maldivians live in fear of being thrown into jail; we dread to be the next victim. We all saw what happened to the innocent pro-democratic demonstrators on black Friday the 13th of August. But we must stand up again and fight for human rights, our rights as citizens of a country.

In remembrance of late Evan Naseem:

Please wear black in remembrance of Evan Naseem on the 19^th of September.