President Mohamed Muizzu has announced that a legislative framework will be submitted to the People’s Majlis this year to ensure that no laws contradicting the principles of Islam can be enacted in the Maldives.
Speaking at the National Day function held in Haa Alif Utheemu, Muizzu stated that the proposal to establish a system preventing the creation of laws inconsistent with or in violation of Islamic tenets would be submitted during the third session of Parliament this year.
"To ensure, both in principle and through a formal mechanism, a robust and cohesive system that prevents the birth of any law in the Maldives that contradicts or violates the holy religion of Islam," he declared.
Despite the President's remarks, Article 10(b) of the 2008 Constitution already explicitly states that no law contrary to any tenet of Islam shall be enacted in the Maldives.
Muizzu noted that while the Constitution prohibits laws contrary to Islam, there is currently no robust mechanism to verify that all laws, policies, and regulations formulated in the country remain within the boundaries and standards of Islam.
"I agree that according to the Constitution of the Maldives, no law contrary to Islam can be made. All laws, policies, and regulations made in the Maldives must remain within the boundaries and standards of the holy religion of Islam. This is how it appears in writing. The question is whether there is a robust system to ensure this. Is there such a systemic structural change within our procedures? The answer is very short: No," Muizzu said.
Highlighting that Maldivian independence has been lost or endangered whenever policies distanced from Islam were implemented, Muizzu emphasized the vital importance of having a national system in place to protect the religion.
