Maldives rules out blanket ban on Israel passports

Attorney General Ahmed Usham has said that the opposition Maldives Democratic Party (MDP)’s bill to ban Israelis from entering the Maldives could cause problems to the Maldives and therefore, amendments will be made to the bill so that all Israelis, indiscriminately, are not banned.

The parliament has accepted the bill moved by MDP's North Galolhu MP Meekail Ahmed Naseem to amend the immigration law in protest of the ongoing Israeli genocide in Gaza, and is currently in the parliamentary committee stage.

After the bill was introduced, the Cabinet also decided to amend the law to ban Israelis from entering Maldives.

Usham, responding to questions from reporters at a press conference held at the Attorney General's Office on Thursday spoke regarding the bill submitted by MDP.

Usham said the government had also considered amending the Immigration Act. However, according to the rules of the Parliament, two bills cannot be introduced for the same purpose during the same session, he said. Therefore, the government will not introduce any further bill on the issue, he said.

“We will bring the amendments we need to the bill,” said Usham, who was also the member of the Villimale constituency in the 19th parliament.

When asked what Usham’s thoughts were about the current bill, he said, "The bill does not offer any solution, the way it is now”.

“I believe that the bill needs to be amended... We will propose the necessary amendments at the committee stage,” Usham added.

"The bill is in a way that will not produce results”.

The bill has now been introduced to add an article to the back of Section 8 of the Immigration Act. It says:

As the bill is currently proposed, the result is that anyone with an Israeli passport will be banned from entering Maldives, regardless of whether they are complicit with the genocide or from another country.

When asked whether the government's stance has changed, Usham assured that the government's stance has not changed.

"What I am saying is that it is a matter of great concern for some people that the way the bill has been introduced, it will ban even Palestinians. There are over millions of Palestinians who hold Israeli passports. So what will happen if we do a blanket ban like that?' asked Usham, pointing out that it was something that needed to be given more thought.

"So, after thinking about it, we'll find the best solution”.

Usham said if the current proposal to parliament banning foreigners for everywhere in the world holding Israeli passports gets passed, there is a possibility of "further complications" or difficulties for Maldives.

A journalist raised the question asking the Attorney General’s opinion regarding diplomats that have special privileges under some of the treaties that the Maldives has participated in also being banned without exception.

Usham said if all Israeli citizens are banned from entering Maldives, "there is a possibility of further complications”. He repeatedly said he would propose amendments at the committee stage.

“As you’ve said, there is a possibility of some complications if the amendment is passed as proposed,” Usham said.

Usham did not say what exact amendments he would propose to the bill.

When asked how the Cabinet decided on this, Usham said the cabinet had not decided to ban individual Israeli citizens from entering Maldives.