Minister of Homeland Security and Technology, Ali Ihusaan, has clarified the Government’s decision not to conduct a post-mortem examination on the body of Zakiyya Moosa Maniku, who was found dead with injuries at her home in Noonu Holhudhoo on September 10, 2024.

Zakiyya, 50, was discovered with signs of trauma at her residence in Holhudhoo. Her death sparked widespread concern in the community, with many questioning the circumstances and the lack of an autopsy.

Speaking during the Ahaa forum on Monday night, Minister Ihusaan said that although the police initially intended to carry out an autopsy, expert advice had prompted a change in direction.

He explained that when the body was brought to Malé, a highly experienced foreign pathologist, who was in the country teaching medical students, had examined her. Based on the pathologist’s experience, having conducted thousands of autopsies, he had advised that sending the body abroad would not result in a different conclusion.

As a result of this assessment, the police had decided against conducting an international autopsy. However, in response to community concerns, a digital autopsy was carried out, confirming the pathologist’s findings.

The Minister added that international agencies, including the FBI, British police, and Indian authorities, were consulted, and all had supported the decision taken.

Minister Ihusaan stated that the Government believed the decision made at the time was appropriate. He also noted that a new protocol had since been introduced, under which a full autopsy would be conducted in all future cases where the cause of death was unknown or suspicious.