Maldives' plans to ban Israeli passports does not mean the country is against Jews, President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has said.
He made the remarks in response to a question during the 'Deans Leadership Series' of Princeton University’s School of Public and International Affairs on Thursday.
Muizzu said the purpose of banning Israeli passports is to condemn the country's atrocities in Palestine.
"Maldives' goal is to do what it can do, no matter how small, to reject the crimes committed by Israel against Palestine. Israeli passports will be banned as soon as the Parliament passes the matter," he said.
Muizzu also said this does not mean that the Maldives is antisemitic and that the country welcomes people of all religions.
"I am speaking very clearly. The purpose of banning Israeli passports is to reject what Israel is doing in Palestine. It has nothing to do with Jews or any other religion. Good and evil do not have to belong to any particular religion. Maldives will welcome everyone, whether they are Jewish, Christians or Muslims," he added.
Muizzu also said he believes all human beings are equal.
"We are not antisemitic. We are friendly to all nations. I believe that everyone is equal. All human beings are equal. Everyone has the right to life. Every human being has dignity," he said.
The opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) had proposed a ban on Israeli passports. The bill is now in a parliamentary committee. The bill was parked in the committee when the government later announced in June to amend laws to ban Israeli passports.
But less than two months later, the government changed its tone on banning Israeli passports.
“It is a big concern of some people that due to the way the bill has been proposed at present that there are a lot of Palestinian citizens who hold Israel’s passport, counting in the millions. So what would happen if we do a blanket ban, these are things that need to be thought about a little,” Attorney General Ahmed Usham said at a press conference.
