Although the amendment on the Immigration Act has been passed by the parliament floor, it has been 59 days since the bill was escalated to the 241 committee.
Opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) Galolhu South MP Meekail Ahmed Naseem has submitted a request to parliament seeking clarification on why the bill banning Israeli passport holders from entering the Maldives has not progressed in the committee stage.
In a letter to Parliament Speaker Abdul Raheem Abdulla yesterday, Meekail said that the bill to amend the Immigration Act which was submitted on May 29, 2024, had been passed by the parliament floor and referred to the committee.
However, 59 days have passed since the bill was referred to the parliament's Committee on National Security Services (241 Committee), and no action has been taken on it, he said.
"At the very least, I would like to clarify why the bill has not been put on the agenda in the committee," MP Meekail asked in the letter.
The motion against the massacre in Palestine was passed by 87 votes with the support of the ruling party, the People's National Congress (PNC).
The government has since announced that it will take legal measures to ban Israeli passports. The issue has also gained global attention.
However, 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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