Minister agrees to discussions after criticism over Bandara Mosque plan

Islamic Affairs Minister Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed said on Friday that he is prepared to hold discussions with the public and relevant stakeholders regarding the plan to rebuild the Bandara Mosque in Malé.

The statement came after criticism from historians and heritage advocates following the minister’s announcement that the mosque at the site of Bandara Mosque, also known as Masjid-e-Sultan Mohamed Shamsuddin, would be demolished and replaced with a new mosque.

Shaheem said earlier that the mosque, which has existed for nearly 100 years, would be removed and a new structure built in its place.

Historian Mohamed Naaji Didi criticised the decision soon after the announcement. Shaheem responded to the criticism on social media and defended the plan.

Following the exchange, heritage advocates and members of the public raised concerns on social media about the demolition of the mosque.

In a social media post, Shaheem said the intention was to construct a larger mosque at the site, noting that the building is not listed among protected heritage sites in the Maldives.

“The ministry will listen to the people. Accordingly, we want to discuss the construction of a new mosque,” Shaheem wrote in a post that included a photograph of the mosque.

Some commentators also criticised the decision to announce the demolition without consultation.

Naaji Didi, who previously worked as a research analyst at the Ministry of Arts, Culture and Heritage, said demolishing the mosque would cause damage to historical records and could conflict with laws protecting cultural heritage.

Responding to the criticism, Shaheem said that the age of the building alone does not require it to be preserved and reiterated that the mosque is not included on the list of protected heritage mosques in the Maldives.

He also said the mosque was built by merchants from India who travelled to the Maldives for trade.