Parliament Approves Ban on Israeli Passport Holders Amid Human Rights Concerns
The Parliamentary Committee on Security Services (241 Committee) during todays’s meeting | Photo: Parliament
The Parliamentary Committee on Security Services (241 Committee) has approved a key amendment to the Maldives Immigration Act, effectively barring individuals traveling on Israeli passports from entering the country.
The move comes amid ongoing global outrage over Israeli military actions in Gaza, which have been widely condemned for human rights violations.
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The proposed amendment, initially submitted by South Galolhu MP Meekail Ahmed Naseem of the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), was first accepted by Parliament on May 29, 2023. However, it remained stalled in committee for nearly a year. The 241 Committee, which is dominated by members of the ruling People’s National Congress (PNC), finally convened this week to resume work on the bill.
In today’s meeting, the committee passed the bill after introducing several amendments. One major change involved narrowing the scope of the ban. Initially, the bill sought to prohibit entry to any Israeli nationals. However, following a request from Maldives Immigration and in consultation with the Attorney General’s Office, the committee revised the bill to restrict the ban only to individuals using Israeli passports for entry. This means those holding dual citizenship or passports from other countries will still be permitted entry.
Maldives Immigration stated that a broader ban would have been difficult to enforce, prompting the need for a more targeted approach.
The committee passed the amended bill unanimously, fulfilling a pledge made by President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, who had previously announced the government’s decision to ban Israeli passport holders during a Cabinet meeting on June 2, 2023.
The government has faced mounting criticism from the opposition and the public for the prolonged delay in enacting the measure. Despite the delay, today’s decision marks a significant step in implementing a policy that has garnered strong domestic support amid increasing solidarity with the Palestinian people.
The amended bill is expected to be forwarded to the full Parliament for final approval in the coming days.
