Concerns raised over vacating Maafannu cemetery

Maafannu cemetery, which also holds the graves of civilians martyred during the November 3, 1988, coup attempt, is one of the few open green spaces left in the crowded capital city, offering residents a place of peace and shade under its large trees. However, Male' City Council has decided to vacate the land and turn it into a parking zone.

The decision to convert the cemetery into a parking area has sparked concern among the public and historians.

Aasahara Cemetery was constructed in the late 1990s, after which burials in other cemeteries, including Maafannu, were halted. Maafannu Cemetery remains an important part of Maldivian history.

Among the graves are those of civilians killed in the 1988 coup d'état by the People's Liberation Organization of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE). Soldiers who were martyred in the attack were buried in Henveiru Cemetery.

Naajih Didi, a researcher of Maldivian heritage and history, voiced concerns about the long-term implications of transforming Maafannu Cemetery into a parking lot. He said that even if the area is converted, it could eventually be developed with the construction of buildings, further eroding the city's green spaces.

"Maafannu Cemetery is one of the largest vacant lots in Male' and is deeply connected to the history of the city. Many residents have family members buried there, and this decision will undoubtedly cause distress," Naajih wrote, expressing his concern.

Last week, the Male' City Council announced plans to vacate the entire 36,153 square feet of Maafannu Cemetery.

A parking zone has already been constructed on the west side of the cemetery during the administration of former President Abdulla Yameen, which also involved the removal of graves. Naajih had previously raised concerns about this and took photographs to document the tombs before they were cleared.

"My effort was to preserve history before it was erased," he said.

Naajih advocates for maintaining the cemetery's current character and planting more trees to enhance the greenery. He said that this would benefit residents of the densely populated city, improving air quality and protecting the environment.

While the Islamic Ministry has given permission to vacate the cemetery, not all scholars agree with the decision. Naajih's article referenced a statement by Sheikh Mohamed Nasheed Adam, a religious scholar, who expressed reservations about relocating graves.

Sheikh Nasheed stated that the ruling on cemeteries where Muslims are buried is that they are considered endowment land, and the land can only be used for other purposes if all remains have decayed. Removing and relocating bones before this is not permissible, he said.

Naajih expressed concerns that the remains of those buried in Maafannu Cemetery have not fully decomposed, pointing out that some graves are only 20 to 30 years old. He added that the remains are still being uncovered from former burial sites in mosques before cemeteries were established in Malé.

He said that the excavation of a temporary mosque on the site of the Zikura Mosque in 2021, had a significant number of human remains unearthed. The Zikura Mosque once had a large cemetery, which was cleared during President Ibrahim Nasir's administration.

Later, under President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, the cemeteries associated with mosques were vacated, and the land was repurposed for residential plots.

Naajih emphasized the need to carefully consider such decisions today, given how much Malé has changed.

"The city has become very crowded, and there are no open spaces left where people can relax," he said.

Despite the concerns raised by Naajih and the public, the Male' City Council has yet to address the outcry over the decision to vacate Maafannu Cemetery.

The city faces significant parking challenges, and the government has announced plans to create more parking zones and multi-story parking buildings in response to combat this issue.