MDP: PNC mocking the public by dragging out Israel passport ban bill

The main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has accused the ruling People’s National Congress (PNC) of mocking the Maldivian public by stalling a bill to change Maldives’ laws to ban entries on Israeli passports - a bill that the government had previously pledged to support.

The bill, which sets down amendments to the Immigration Act, was sent to the National Security Services (241) Committee for review with a unanimous vote on 88 on June 10.

But work on the bill has remained stalled in the four months since.

On Monday, the MDP submitted an emergency motion to the Parliament over the delay in the bill. But the motion was rejected by Speaker Abdul Raheem Abdulla.

Speaking to reporters outside the Parliament, South Galolhu MP Meekail Ahmed Naseem noted that the PNC – despite holding a supermajority of seats in the Parliament - had issued a statement on October 15 urging the legislative body to expedite work on the bill.

Meekail said that the appeal constituted to nothing short of mocking the public.

He called on PNC to “stop mocking the public” and expedite the Israel passport ban.

“The PNC issued this statement as if they are pleading to have the bill expedited. But the Speaker of the Parliament is PNC’s chairperson. And the PNC holds a supermajority in the 241 Committee,” he said.

“I would say that PNC having to appeal to the Parliament to expedite this is just plain ridiculing the public. I ask that you stop mocking the people and expedite this bill.”

Meekail also accused the PNC of blocking the MDP from presenting emergency motions and making blatant attempts to silence the voice of the minority.

He said that the public should be made well aware of how the PNC administration is treating the bill.

Speaking to reporters, Kendhoo MP Mauroof Zakir responded to remarks made by Attorney General Ahmed Usham during a press conference on Saturday, when he said that the government will not direct the Parliament to stall or expedite the bill.

Mauroof said that Usham with his comments was blaming all lawmakers of deliberately stalling the bill. He said that this was why the MDP submitted its emergency motion.

“We find it deeply concerning that the government is mocking and misleading the Maldivian people and making this political. Why did they issue a statement when they can get what the government wants in just a single day?” he said.

In its motion, the MDP accused the PNC administration of failing to take any substantial measures against the ongoing genocide in Palestine beyond issuing statements condemning Israel.

It called on government lawmakers to expedite work on the Israel passport ban bill.

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s cabinet made the decision to make legislative changes to ban Israeli passports on June 2.

At the time, the Parliament had already received a bill from Meekail, seeking a blanket ban on travelers with Israeli passports.

Following the cabinet’s decision, the main ruling PNC decided to accept the bill into the Parliament, and make the changes the government wants during the committee stage.

Meekail’s bill is designed to add a clause to Article 8 of Immigration Act, which lists individuals who are barred from entering the Maldives.

It seeks to bar the entry of all Israeli passport holders, including those who have dual citizenship.

However, Attorney General Usham said that a blanket ban on all Israeli citizens could create certain “complications.” He said that his office would submit amendments to the bill.

Mounting outrage over the atrocities in Gaza and other occupied Palestinian territories have sparked protests in the streets of the capital, Male’ City, with Maldivians demanding that the government ban Israeli citizens from entering the country.

Israel’s current war on Gaza, which began on October 7, 2023, has killed more than 42,600 Palestinians, many of them women and children. It has also reduced much of the Palestinian territory to rubble, displaced the vast majority of residents, and resulted in widespread malnutrition. The war has now expanded to neighboring Lebanon.