Jamiyyath Salaf has called on the government to ensure eight safeguards are incorporated into development agreements and legal frameworks, saying economic growth should not come at the expense of the Maldives’ Islamic identity, national sovereignty and interests.
The association issued the statement amid controversy surrounding the proposed Rasmale’ Maldives Waterfront and Marina project, entrusted to UAE-based Eagle Hills.
Salaf urged the current and future governments to establish strong principles in agreements and legal frameworks to protect the country’s Islamic identity and its constitutional status as a 100 percent Muslim nation.
“Special areas, including the Rasmale’ project, which can accommodate large numbers of foreigners of different religions and cultures, will provide an opportunity to advocate for religious freedom in the future,” the statement said.
The association called on successive governments to ensure that development agreements do not adversely affect the Islamic identity of Maldivian society or the country’s constitutional framework.
The eight safeguards proposed by Salaf are:
- Protecting Islamic identity and national sovereignty
- Safeguarding the state’s strategic independence
- Assessing demographic changes and security risks
- Ensuring economic development benefits the people
- Establishing a two-pronged transparency policy
- Balancing an open economy with national foundations
- Establishing a permanent monitoring system
- Conducting social impact assessments
Explaining its call to balance an open economy with national foundations, Salaf said protecting the country’s Islamic identity and sovereignty does not mean closing the door to foreign investment.
However, it said foreign investment and economic development should not be pursued at the expense of the country’s foundations and interests.
The statement comes amid concerns raised by opposition political activists and some religious scholars over the Rasmale’ project. The government has repeatedly rejected allegations made against the development.
President Dr Mohamed Muizzu said on Tuesday that Israeli citizens would be prohibited by law from acquiring or purchasing land in the project.
Speaking on the President’s Office podcast The Pulse, President Muizzu addressed the allegations for the first time, accusing the opposition of distorting the truth to achieve political objectives.
He said Eagle Hills would grant buyers 99-year leases, after which the properties would have to be transferred back to the Maldivian state.
“Full control and authority will belong to the Maldivian state and the Maldives government. So, auto-renew and getting another 99 years is out of the question,” he said.
President Muizzu added that the properties could not be sold to another party without the government’s knowledge.
He compared the arrangement to resort leases, under which the state can take back a property when the lease expires, subject to the agreement, or extend the lease. He said the Rasmale’ project would follow the same approach.
