Yameen Rasheed, blogger and activist, stabbed to death

Yameen Rasheed, a prominent blogger and Internet activist, has been stabbed to death.

He was found with multiple stab wounds in the stairway of his apartment building in Malé at 3am on Sunday, and died soon after he was taken to the hospital.

“He had lost a lot of blood and was unconscious but had a very slight pulse,” said a spokeswoman for the Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital. He was declared dead at 3:40am.

“There were multiple wounds on the head, neck and chest. Some wounds on the face and body,” she said.

Yameen’s father told Raajje TV that there were 16 stab wounds on his son’s body, including 14 to the chest, one on the neck and on to the head.

Prior to his murder, the 29-year-old had reported receiving multiple death threats to the police. He posted screen shots of the threats he received via text messages and on the Internet on Twitter and Facebook.

A police spokesman declined to comment, but said the police are investigating the murder.

The government condemned the “brutal and inhumanely attack on a youth”.

“Actions of the Government to avoid opportunity for unrest in the nation by keeping the youth from criminal acts and to build a peaceful society will continue,” said Ibrahim Muaz Ali, spokesman for President Abdulla Yameen.

"The Government strongly condemns the brutal inhumanely attack on a youth. Actions of the Government to avoid..
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— ɪʙʀᴀʜɪᴍ ᴍᴜᴀᴢ ᴀʟɪ (@SpokespersonMV) April 23, 2017

.. opportunity for unrest in the nation by keeping the youth from criminal acts and to build a peaceful society will continue." -im
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— ɪʙʀᴀʜɪᴍ ᴍᴜᴀᴢ ᴀʟɪ (@SpokespersonMV) April 23, 2017

Former President Mohamed Nasheed called for an “impartial and open investigation with international participation”.

A brave voice, brutally silenced. Only an impartial & open investigation with international participation can provide justice for @yaamyn.

— Mohamed Nasheed (@MohamedNasheed) April 23, 2017

A treasured soul has been stolen from us. My prayers are with @yaamyn's family and friends. May he rest in peace.

— Mohamed Nasheed (@MohamedNasheed) April 23, 2017

Yameen was a close friend of Ahmed Rilwan, the Maldives Independent journalist who was abducted and disappeared in 2014.

The murder has prompted an outpouring of grief online.

US Ambassador Athul Keshap hailed Yameen as a passionate believer in free speech and human rights.

Heartfelt condolences to family & friends of @yaamyn, who passionately believed in #FreedomOfSpeech and #HumanRights for ALL in #Maldives 🇲🇻 pic.twitter.com/8JxXwZiQ2e

— Atul Keshap🇺🇸 (@USAmbKeshap) April 23, 2017

UK Ambassador James Dauris said he shared “so many Maldivians’ sense of loss”.

We share so many Maldivians' sense of loss after murder of Yameen Rasheed on 22/04. A passionate champion of #freespeech and #humanrights. pic.twitter.com/ME53lPcm81

— James Dauris (@JamesDauris) April 23, 2017