Male' City Council begins clearing Maafannu Cemetery

Male' City Council has begun clearing the Maafannu Cemetery.

City Council Spokesperson Aminath Shathufa said that this work has been contracted to a private party, who commenced work last week.

While the work involves transferring those interred there, the council is awaiting for instructions from the Islamic Ministry on where the remains must be taken.

The council announced for applications from those interested in taking on this work last August. The selected applicant must work in compliance with the directions of the Islamic Ministry and the council, they said at the time.

The city council has previously said that the entire cemetery, totalling an area of 36,153 sqft will be cleared.

In 2017, the Fatwa Majlis had stated that old, unused cemeteries can be cleared and the land used for public needs. The clearing must be undertaken respectfully, and the remains relocated to a designated other cemetery, they said then.

Once cleared, the Maafannu Cemetery location will be used for building a parking building.