Mohamed Firaq, CEO of Inner Maldives, has called on the government and relevant authorities to investigate a video circulating on social media that appears to show a wedding ceremony between two men at a Maldivian resort.
Screenshots from the footage show two men holding hands. Based on their attire and the setting, observers described the event as a symbolic wedding. Firaq said the Maldives has been a leading tourism destination for half a century, but that everyone — including foreign investors — must respect the country’s laws, regulations and cultural norms.
“Even if these resorts are operated by foreign investors, they are not exempt from Maldivian law. Foreign investment is not a licence to violate the laws of the land,” he wrote. He urged an official investigation and legal action if the incident is confirmed.
Many social media users echoed the call for an inquiry, arguing that such activities should not take place on Maldivian soil. Others noted that similar private events have occurred at resorts for years and are difficult to prevent under the one-island-one-resort model.
Same-sex relations and marriage are criminalised under Maldivian law. While enforcement on privately operated resort islands is generally more relaxed than on inhabited local islands, no formal exemption exists. The incident has renewed discussion about the boundary between tourism practices and domestic legal standards.
