MP Ali Waheed removed from chamber for obstructing bill to restrict change of State religion

Parliament chair has ordered to remove Thoddoo MP Ali Waheed from the parliament chamber after he obstructed a bill to restrict the parliament’s power to amendment Article 10 of the constitution, which states that Islam is the religion of the State.

Chair of the parliament, Deputy Speaker Ahmed Nazim ordered the Sergeant at Arms to remove MP Ali Waheed after he started interrupting Kudahuvadhoo MP Ahmed Amir, who was presenting the bill to the floor.

MP Ali Waheed said that parliament cannot debate a bill restricting the parliament from amending a clause of the constitution and said that Minister of Islamic Affairs Dr Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed had also expressed concern regarding the bill.

When the chair refused to allow MP Ali Waheed to speak on a point of order, the MP had walked in front of the chamber and asked the chair to not continue into the bill's debate. However, the chair announced that the parliament has the full prerogative to debate and decide on any amendment to the constitution.

The chair had repeatedly asked MP Ali Waheed to maintain order of the session before ordering the Sergeant at Arms to remove the MP.

MP Amir’s bill seeks to include Article 10 of the constitution - the clause defining and restricting the State religion to Islam – amongst the constitutional clauses that must be subjected to a public referendum before they can undergo amendment and ratification.