MP Meekail's bill to ban Israel passport scheduled for tomorrow

The first reading of the bill proposing amendments to the Immigration Act of Maldives in order to facilitate the prohibiting Israeli passport holders into the country, submitted to the parliament by South Galolhu MP Meekail Naseem has been scheduled for tomorrow.

Local reports suggest that the after the first reading tomorrow, debate on the bill's contents will commence the following day.

As the parliament moves forward with the bill, the government of Maldives yesterday announced a cabinet decision to amend the country's legislature to ban Israeli nationals from entering the country.

When asked yesterday during the President Office's press conference whether the government will support MP Meekail's bill, Minister of Homeland Security and Technology Ali Ihusan said that a definitive answer would be possible only after reviewing the bill.

“It may be possible that we have to align with it as well. We will not differentiate a specific person, a specific member’s proposal. [We] will work to achieve our objective, he said.

While no details are available as of yet on what amendments the government will propose to the legislature, MP Meekail's bill suggests not allowing entry to anyone who holds an Israeli passport, even if the individual holds the passport of another country along with the Israeli passport.

Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), which MP Meekail represents, raised concerns today over the government's announcement to amend the law, while a bill already exists in the parliament for the same effect, and questioned the intentions of the government.

As the country moves towards changing its laws to take a stand in solidarity with Palestine and ban Israelis from entering the country amidst the ongoing genocide, why President Dr Mohamed Muizzu decided not to exercise his rights as the head of state to implement the ban, and instead go with a legislative amendment has been asked by many.

Yesterday, a member of the press clarified this with Minister Ihusan, who revealed that the move was according to the recommendation of Attorney General Ahmed Usham.