MALÉ, Maldives — Maldives Immigration has proposed significant modifications to a controversial bill that would ban Israeli passport holders from entering the island nation, potentially softening the sweeping restrictions initially proposed in response to Israel’s military actions in Palestine.
The amendment to the Immigration Act was originally introduced by Meekail Ahmed Naseem, a Member of Parliament from the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) representing South Galolhu constituency, on May 29, 2024. While the bill was accepted and forwarded to the Parliament’s Security Services Committee (241), it has remained stalled at the committee stage for nearly a year.
In a committee meeting held Monday after months of delays, Immigration officials suggested a key revision to the proposed legislation. Rather than implementing a blanket ban on all holders of Israeli passports, they recommended restricting entry only to those specifically presenting Israeli travel documents when seeking admission to the Maldives.
Immigration officials explained the practical challenges behind their proposed adjustment, noting that their current systems identify nationalities solely based on the passport presented at entry points.
“We have no mechanism to determine whether someone entering the Maldives holds dual citizenship or possesses multiple passports,” a representative stated during the committee session.
Attorney General Ahmed Usham had previously raised concerns about the bill’s broad scope, pointing out that many Palestinians also travel internationally using Israeli-issued documents due to their circumstances.
The bill has become a contentious political issue in the Maldives, with opposition parties and civil society groups criticizing the government and the ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) for the delays in advancing the legislation. Critics have accused the administration of stalling on what they consider an important gesture of solidarity with Palestinians.
The Security Services Committee has now scheduled a meeting with the Attorney General’s Office to further examine the legal implications of the proposed changes. After multiple postponements, lawmakers have set a deadline of July 2025 for finalizing the bill.
The Maldives, a predominantly Muslim nation and popular tourist destination, has historically maintained a strong pro-Palestinian position in international forums. The proposed legislation reflects growing regional concern about the humanitarian situation in Gaza and the broader Palestinian territories.
Tourism industry observers note that Israeli visitors represent a small percentage of the Maldives’ tourism market, but the symbolic significance of the ban has sparked debate about the balance between political statements and practical governance in the Indian Ocean archipelago.
The committee is expected to submit its recommendations to Parliament after consultations with legal experts are completed.
