Adhaalath Party suspects govt changing stance on Palestine

Adaalath Party (AP) said on Wednesday the arrest of two women protesting against Israel’s continued genocide of the Palestinian people was indicative of the current government’s change of stance in the issue.

Maldives Police Service arrested Dr. Mohamed Iyaz’s wife Shadhiya, aged 47, and Dr. Shazra Ibrahim, aged 37, through a court order. The two were actively protesting against Israel’s violence on Palestinian people.

AP in a statement said the government’s recent conduct regarding the ongoing genocide in Palestine, indicated the current administration was diverting from sentimental and deeply-intimate issues for the Maldives public.

The pro-religious party said the current government garnered global adoration and acclaim with its decision to ban entry for Israeli passport holders earlier, but the current actions hinted at a changed narrative. This included the delays in implementing the said passport ban, the state’s conduct regarding Hamas leader, Ismail Haniyeh’s killing by Israeli armed forces, and the recent apprehension of Shadhiya and Shazra while they were protesting against Israel’s apartheid, according to AP.

“This party believes there is sufficient reason to believe that Maldives government’s long-held stand of solidarity with the Palestinian people has changed,” the statement read.

Raising voice against Israel and its abettors was a humanitarian cause, and fell under the purview of everyone’s responsibility for humanity’s sake, the party said and added that the preservation of Masjidul Aqsa, by any means necessary, was a religious duty bestowed on all Muslims. The party further highlighted the participation of non-Muslims all over the world in the Palestinian cause for the right to self-determination and sovereignty.

“In light of these, the arrest of two women raising voice against Israel by a government of a 100 percent Muslim nation is an uncivilized act, and not acceptable even from a religious perspective,” the statement added.

The party demanded the immediate release of both Shadhiya and Shazra, and called the government to fulfill its pledges made regarding Palestine.

Police released a statement about the arrests, stating the two women were arrested for creating nuisance and usage of profanity, in front of diplomatic missions repeatedly. Police alleged the two were obstructing the work of these diplomatic missions and harassed a diplomat.

Police also claimed the two refused to comply with their orders, and obstructed the authority from performing its duties.

The Immigration Act amendment, seeking to ban entry of Israeli passport holders into the Maldives, has been in limbo at the parliament’s committee stage.

Delays on the bill’s progress has been the subject of widespread public criticism towards the current government.

The Maldives has always maintained the stance of a ‘two-state’ solution for the Palestine-Israel issue, and repeatedly called to reinstate the 1967 border prior to Israel’s siege on Palestinian lands. The current government earlier said its stand on the issue remains unchanged even now.