A preliminary forensic report on the death of 14-year-old Maryam indicates that she likely took her own life. Norwegian police announced this finding after receiving the autopsy results.
A preliminary forensic report on the death of 14-year-old Maryam indicates that she likely took her own life. Norwegian police announced this finding after receiving the autopsy results.
Law enforcement authorities are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident. According to the police, there is currently no evidence to suggest that the girl's death was the result of a crime. An inquiry is also underway to determine whether there were any violations on the part of the facility where Maryam was staying after being removed from her family's care.
Maryam’s relatives and representatives of the Chechen community dispute the suicide theory. In a video they released, an imam addressing mourners at the girl's funeral stated that there were no grounds to believe her death was an intentional act of suicide.
"The imam says that, at this moment, there are no grounds to speak of suicide and no evidence to support it," the video's caption reads.
Relatives had previously stated that, shortly before her death, Maryam contacted her family to complain about conditions at the facility. Her aunt, for instance, said that during their last conversation, the girl mentioned she was hungry. The relative offered to bring her food, but Maryam reportedly replied that this was forbidden. She also said she was not allowed to speak on the phone.
About half an hour after that conversation, the relatives were informed of the incident. The girl died on September 9 in the hospital, where she had been taken following the incident at the facility.
Norwegian oversight bodies are conducting a separate investigation. They are examining the actions of the child protection services and the facility where Maryam was staying, including the adequacy of the care she received. Mansur Soltaev, the Commissioner for Human Rights in the Chechen Republic, announced his intention to raise the matter with federal ombudsperson Yana Lantratova and the Russian Interior Ministry. He emphasized the need to thoroughly examine the circumstances of the incident and to secure answers to the questions still held by Maryam’s relatives.
Soltaev urged that the story not be suppressed or dismissed as unreliable without a proper inquiry.
"We will not let this situation go unaddressed. We will push for a thorough review, an open investigation, and answers to all questions. If violations occurred, they must be brought to light, and those responsible must be held accountable," the ombudsperson stated.