MDP's emergency motion was not accepted because it referred to a matter already under consideration by the parliament.
Opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has expressed concern over the rejection of their emergency motion regarding the delay in deciding on the bill that would ban Israeli passport holders from entering the Maldives.
The bill to amend the Immigration Act, submitted on May 29, 2024, had passed the parliamentary floor and was referred to the committee. However, it has since been shelved at the committee stage.
MDP's emergency motion was not accepted because it referred to a matter already under consideration by the parliament.
In a press conference today, South Hithadhoo MP Ibrahim Nazil of MDP raised concerns about the parliament secretariat notifying the parliament yesterday, stating that it could not submit an emergency motion calling for the bill to be expedited.
Nazil expressed worry over comments made by the Attorney General, which suggested that the bill's lack of progress was due to the actions of MPs. He said that MDP would explore ways to expedite the bill through parliament.
Galolhu South MP Meekail Ahmed Naseem, who submitted the bill, criticized the ruling party, People's National Congress (PNC), for its recent appeal to expedite the bill, calling it a mockery of the people.
He added that the party's leader is President Dr Mohamed Muizzu, with Parliament Speaker Abdul Raheem Abdulla as the chairperson and a PNC MP serving as chair of the 241 committee, where the bill had been shelved at.
Attorney General Ahmed Usham has stated that the Maldives will face difficulties if the bill is passed without being amended.
The bill currently prohibits Israeli passport holders and nationals from other countries holding Israeli passports from entering the Maldives.
However, AG Usham said that the regulation requiring all Israeli passport holders to be banned from entering the Maldives should be amended. One reason for this is that many Palestinians travel to other countries on Israeli passports.
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