Hassan Evan Naseem
Encyclopedia
Hassan Evan Naseemo(1984 - September 19, 2003), commonly referred to as Evan Naseem, is the person whose death became a lever for the current, open, political reform
activities in the Maldives
. He was serving at Maafushi Jail for drug offences, when he was beaten to death, by the NSS personnel of the Security unit.
for his secondary education
. He was jailed several times for drug offences and other related crimes.
a person named Ali Didi who was detained in a different cell. This incident was reported to Maafushi Jail Office by the security unit in writing, along with two separate lists of people who crossed the partitions. Evan's name was not on either of the lists. Later the same day Evan's fellow inmates were throwing objects at other cells. The Officer-in-Charge of the Maafushi Jail Security Unit, Captain Adam Mohamed, exaggerated the matter to police headquarters at Malé
. Adam Mohamed was given permission to remove the "troublemakers" from the cell (where Evan was) and to keep them handcuffed.
Later the same night a team of five security personnel came to Evan's cell with a list of people who were involved in assaulting Ali Didi and throwing objects at other cells. Though Evan's name was not on the list submitted earlier to Maafushi Jail Office, the new list included his name. As their names were read out, the men came out from the cell. When Evan's name was called out he refused to come out, saying he was not involved in any of the previous unrest or disputes. Upon his refusal one of the security personnel went into the cell and asked him to come out. He still refused to walk out and warned the security person not to come closer or touch him. The security man was attacked twice with a wooden plank as he went towards Evan. Soon after this incident, numerous members of the unit stormed into the cell. Evan then yieldingly walked out of the cell.
because of continuous beatings.
When he no longer responded, he was taken to Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital
in the early morning of September 20, 2003. According to the medical reports he died on September 19, 2003, 2320hrs due to injuries sustained to his lungs.
Inmates of Evan Naseem learned of his death
the same day. This resulted in a protest which then lead to unrest in Maafushi Prison. To control this unrest NSS personnel at Maafushi shot several unarmed prisoners killing 3 and injuring 17 others.
News of the death of Evan broke out quickly in the capital city Malé
. A large number of people gathered at his burial service. While people were at the cemetery, news of the shooting incident reached the already angry public
. Civil unrest in Malé grew with this news. Several police stations were set on fire, government
buildings were attacked, and government vehicles were set on fire or destroyed by the angry mob. The government controlled the unrest by around 2300hrs and declared a State of Emergency
, for the first time in the country's history, in Malé and nearby islands. A curfew
was imposed in Malé.
established a Presidential Commission on September 20, 2003 to investigate the death of Evan Naseem and the shooting incident at Maafushi Prison. The findings of the commission were released to the public with the title "Report on the Death of Hassan Evan Naseem". However, several sections from the public report were omitted due to national security concerns.
Reform movement
A reform movement is a kind of social movement that aims to make gradual change, or change in certain aspects of society, rather than rapid or fundamental changes...
activities in the Maldives
Maldives
The Maldives , , officially Republic of Maldives , also referred to as the Maldive Islands, is an island nation in the Indian Ocean formed by a double chain of twenty-six atolls oriented north-south off India's Lakshadweep islands, between Minicoy Island and...
. He was serving at Maafushi Jail for drug offences, when he was beaten to death, by the NSS personnel of the Security unit.
Early life
Evan attended Majeediyya SchoolMajeediyya School
Majeediyya School is the first Maldivian government school, located in Malé, Maldives. It is a single gender school that teaches male students to the secondary level of education. English medium is followed in teaching with the exception of Dhivehi and Islam...
for his secondary education
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
. He was jailed several times for drug offences and other related crimes.
Dispute between inmates
On September 19, 2003, inmates of Evan Naseem's cell crossed the partitions, on two different occasions, to assaultAssault
In law, assault is a crime causing a victim to fear violence. The term is often confused with battery, which involves physical contact. The specific meaning of assault varies between countries, but can refer to an act that causes another to apprehend immediate and personal violence, or in the more...
a person named Ali Didi who was detained in a different cell. This incident was reported to Maafushi Jail Office by the security unit in writing, along with two separate lists of people who crossed the partitions. Evan's name was not on either of the lists. Later the same day Evan's fellow inmates were throwing objects at other cells. The Officer-in-Charge of the Maafushi Jail Security Unit, Captain Adam Mohamed, exaggerated the matter to police headquarters at Malé
Malé
Malé , is the capital and most populous city in the Republic of Maldives. It is located at the southern edge of North Malé Atoll . It is also one of the Administrative divisions of the Maldives. Traditionally it was the King's Island, from where the ancient Maldive Royal dynasties ruled and where...
. Adam Mohamed was given permission to remove the "troublemakers" from the cell (where Evan was) and to keep them handcuffed.
Later the same night a team of five security personnel came to Evan's cell with a list of people who were involved in assaulting Ali Didi and throwing objects at other cells. Though Evan's name was not on the list submitted earlier to Maafushi Jail Office, the new list included his name. As their names were read out, the men came out from the cell. When Evan's name was called out he refused to come out, saying he was not involved in any of the previous unrest or disputes. Upon his refusal one of the security personnel went into the cell and asked him to come out. He still refused to walk out and warned the security person not to come closer or touch him. The security man was attacked twice with a wooden plank as he went towards Evan. Soon after this incident, numerous members of the unit stormed into the cell. Evan then yieldingly walked out of the cell.
Death
After being removed from the cell, Evan was taken to a place called "Range" where he was kept separate from other inmates. There he was beaten up by 12 Security personnel. He was beaten up with bare hands, wooden planks and riot batons. On various occasions he lost consciousnessConsciousness
Consciousness is a term that refers to the relationship between the mind and the world with which it interacts. It has been defined as: subjectivity, awareness, the ability to experience or to feel, wakefulness, having a sense of selfhood, and the executive control system of the mind...
because of continuous beatings.
When he no longer responded, he was taken to Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital
Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital
The Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital , is a state owned hospital, and one of the two hospitals in Malé, Republic of Maldives. The hospital is located at the west end of Malé. The hospital is a gift from the Indian Government and is dedicated to Indira Gandhi. IGMH replaced the previous sole...
in the early morning of September 20, 2003. According to the medical reports he died on September 19, 2003, 2320hrs due to injuries sustained to his lungs.
Unrest
- Main article 2003 Maldives civil unrest2003 Maldives civil unrestOn Saturday September 20, 2003 civil unrest broke out in Malé, the capital city of the Maldives. This unrest was provoked by the death of Hassan Evan Naseem at Maafushi Prison - located on a separate inhabited island - and the subsequent shooting at the same prison, that killed 3 and injured 17...
Inmates of Evan Naseem learned of his death
Death
Death is the permanent termination of the biological functions that sustain a living organism. Phenomena which commonly bring about death include old age, predation, malnutrition, disease, and accidents or trauma resulting in terminal injury....
the same day. This resulted in a protest which then lead to unrest in Maafushi Prison. To control this unrest NSS personnel at Maafushi shot several unarmed prisoners killing 3 and injuring 17 others.
News of the death of Evan broke out quickly in the capital city Malé
Malé
Malé , is the capital and most populous city in the Republic of Maldives. It is located at the southern edge of North Malé Atoll . It is also one of the Administrative divisions of the Maldives. Traditionally it was the King's Island, from where the ancient Maldive Royal dynasties ruled and where...
. A large number of people gathered at his burial service. While people were at the cemetery, news of the shooting incident reached the already angry public
Public
In public relations and communication science, publics are groups of individuals, and the public is the totality of such groupings. This is a different concept to the sociological concept of the Öffentlichkeit or public sphere. The concept of a public has also been defined in political science,...
. Civil unrest in Malé grew with this news. Several police stations were set on fire, government
Government
Government refers to the legislators, administrators, and arbitrators in the administrative bureaucracy who control a state at a given time, and to the system of government by which they are organized...
buildings were attacked, and government vehicles were set on fire or destroyed by the angry mob. The government controlled the unrest by around 2300hrs and declared a State of Emergency
State of emergency
A state of emergency is a governmental declaration that may suspend some normal functions of the executive, legislative and judicial powers, alert citizens to change their normal behaviours, or order government agencies to implement emergency preparedness plans. It can also be used as a rationale...
, for the first time in the country's history, in Malé and nearby islands. A curfew
Curfew
A curfew is an order specifying a time after which certain regulations apply. Examples:# An order by a government for certain persons to return home daily before a certain time...
was imposed in Malé.
Investigation
President Maumoon Abdul GayoomMaumoon Abdul Gayoom
Maumoon Abdul Gayoom was President of the Maldives from 1978 to 2008. After serving as Minister of Transport, he was nominated as President by the Majlis of the Maldives and succeeded Ibrahim Nasir on November 11, 1978. He eventually became the longest-ruling head of government in Asia...
established a Presidential Commission on September 20, 2003 to investigate the death of Evan Naseem and the shooting incident at Maafushi Prison. The findings of the commission were released to the public with the title "Report on the Death of Hassan Evan Naseem". However, several sections from the public report were omitted due to national security concerns.
External links
- Report on the Death of Hassan Evan Naseem
- http://www.presidencymaldives.gov.mv/v3/pages/News.php3?NewsID=1892&CurLoc=25
- http://web.amnesty.org/report2004/mdv-summary-eng