Former Vice President Dr Mohamed Jameel Ahmed has said that the Maldives’ legal identity would effectively end if a portion of Rasmalé is handed to the UAE-based firm Eagle Hills under a long-term agreement.
Speaking last night, Jameel argued that the moment the agreement is signed, the legal features of the Maldives as a sovereign entity defined by a single race, language and religion would cease to exist. He said the government would no longer be able to claim that there is no religious freedom or that temples cannot be built, because international law requires that residents of a territory be allowed to practice their way of life.
“The Maldives was fundamentally created as a sovereign place for Maldivians with specific traits,” he said. “Maldivians decided that the character of this country is defined by one race, one language, and one religion.”
Jameel linked the project to broader concerns about agreements such as the Samoa Agreement and the introduction of rights that he said would follow from long-term foreign residency. The land in question was reclaimed for public housing.
His comments add to ongoing debate over the Eagle Hills Maldives Waterfront and Marina project. President Mohamed Muizzu has previously stated that Rasmalé will house only Maldivians and Muslims from abroad, with Islamic principles observed. Other political figures have called for greater transparency and a public referendum.
The agreement has not yet been finalised in all respects, and no public referendum has been held.
