Ismail “Hilath” Rasheed is a Maldivian journalist and blogger who has written in advocacy of religious tolerance and greater freedom of religion in the Maldives. In December 2011—one month after Maldivian authorities blocked access to his blog for containing “anti-Islamic” content—he and dozens of others engaged in a silent protest for religious tolerance. The protest was held to mark International Human Rights Day.

“[We wish to] make the Maldives and the international community aware of the rising religious intolerance in the Maldives, and to condemn the Constitutionally endorsed suppression of religious freedom.” - press release from protesters

These protesters were attacked by Islamists displeased with the protest’s stance against the Maldivian constitution, which does not allow for freedom of religion and holds that all citizens must be Muslims. As they threw bricks and stones aiming for the protesters’ heads, Hilath himself suffered a cranial injury and was taken to the hospital. Though he recovered, police very soon arrested and detained him for his involvement in the protest.

“They started hitting us with bricks. They were aiming at our heads – we could tell they were serious and wanted to kill us.” - Ismail “Hilath” Rasheed

Hilath was not charged with blasphemy, instead being accused of participating in an unlawful protest. However, his arrest and detention were a direct result of his advocacy against the compelled practice of Islam in the Maldives. His detention was extended twice as authorities undertook investigations of his recently-censored blog, the “anti-Islamic” content of which was cited by the courts as a reason for continuing to hold him. Ultimately, however, Hilath was released in January 2011.

Hilath later said that he described the man who had attacked him to police, having found his identity, and even provided photos to the officers. Nonetheless, police did nothing.