The government has released its list of terrorist groups after removing the militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which overthrew the Syrian regime two years ago.
The government released the list after a one-year hiatus. The list, which the President must determine in consultation with the National Security Council, was last released at the end of 2024.
The government did not say why the list was not released in 2025. But the law mandates that the list be reviewed and publicised every year.
The new list omitted HTS, which was designated a terrorist group by the Maldives on October 31, 2019. HTS was listed as a terrorist group even after it took power in Syria in 2024.
HTS won power after years of civil war against the government of Bashar al-Assad, who ruled the country for 24 years. HTS and other militant groups operating in Syria also participated in the war.
HTS is a branch of the Islamic State (IS). Some Maldivians are also involved in this group. Adhadhu earlier reported that Maldivian in Syria participated in the operation to overthrow Assad's regime.
With the removal of HTS, the government currently recognizes 19 groups as terrorist organization. All of Syria, which was previously a war zone, has been declared a non-war zone.
It is an offence to join a war, travel to a war zone or remain in such a zone without special permission from the government.
