The Parliament has withdrawn a bill that sought to protect all religions and impose harsh penalties on those opposing any faith.
The move comes amid public outcry over the government's plans to sell the Rasmalé project to Mohamed Alabbar, a UAE businessman known for his ties to Israel and Zionist interests.
The bill, which proposed amendments to the Penal Code to protect all religions, was introduced on behalf of the government by MP Abdulla Rifau of the Maafannu South constituency. The legislation was drafted by Attorney General (AG) Ahmed Usham.
The withdrawal follows two previous attempts to table the bill’s first reading, both of which were cancelled. The bill had also been scheduled for today’s and tomorrow’s parliamentary sessions before being pulled.
Concerns were raised that the bill's language could be used to suppress dissent against specific groups based on religion or race. Critics noted that the provisions could be misinterpreted to silence Maldivian movements and protests directed at Israeli Zionists.
The bill stipulated that directly and publicly inciting hatred or action against a group based on their nationality, race, or religion would be a criminal offence.
Under the proposed changes, committing an act of genocide would be classified as a first-degree felony. In the Penal Code, the baseline penalty for such an offence ranges from 10 to 25 years in prison. Furthermore, individuals calling for such acts would face second-degree felony charges, punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
The bill further stated that following the orders of a superior or acting under legal authorisation would not serve as a defence for these crimes. It also specified that no state official, including the Head of State, would be granted immunity under this article.
While the government maintains that the Rasmalé land is being leased for 99 years, Alabbar’s company, Eagle Hills, has stated that if the property is sold before the initial 99-year lease expires, a new 99-year lease term would commence.
Commercial terms to sell 500 hectares of Rasmalé—an area being reclaimed at Fushidhiggaru lagoon using state funds—to Eagle Hills were signed on September 21. The government aims to sign the final permanent agreement before November 17.
The deal to sell Rasmalé comes despite a firm pledge by President Mohamed Muizzu that not a single grain of sand from the site would be leased or given to foreign parties, even for a single day.
"Every grain of sand on every piece of land reclaimed there [Rasmalé] belongs to the Maldivian people. It is not land that will be leased or given for free to any foreign party for even a single day," he said.
