No Opportunity for Other Religions in Maldives, Says President Muizzu

President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has dismissed opposition claims that the Rasmaalé land reclamation and urban development project will permit the settlement of non-Muslim foreigners or allow the practice of other faiths, describing the allegations as politically motivated.

Speaking on the President’s Office podcast The Pulse, President Muizzu stressed that Rasmaalé remains entirely within the sovereign jurisdiction of the Maldivian state, where the national Constitution applies in full. He affirmed that under existing constitutional provisions, non-Muslims will not be permitted to practice other religions or establish non-Islamic places of worship within the development.

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Drawing a comparison to the nation’s tourism sector, President Muizzu noted that while the Maldives hosts roughly 200,000 tourists at any given time alongside a sizable expatriate workforce in the Greater Malé area, resort islands and local communities strictly feature mosques rather than places of worship for other faiths. He stated that Rasmaalé would follow the exact same framework.

Addressing broader claims regarding foreign residents, the President argued that opposition figures were ignoring the reality of the country’s existing foreign population to drive political narratives, reiterating that all developments within Rasmaalé will strictly adhere to Maldivian law and cultural standards.

The political row escalated after former President Abdulla Yameen called on UAE-based developer Eagle Hills to abandon the “Maldives Waterfront and Marina” project, characterising the initiative as a “Jewish settlement in a 100% Muslim society” that undermines solidarity with the Palestinian cause.

Rejecting the claims, Homeland Security Minister Ali Ihusan stated that labelling the development a “Jewish settlement” was a blatant distortion of facts and a disgraceful attempt to exploit religious sentiments. He added that the public’s support for Palestine should never be weaponised to spread fear, hatred, and misinformation, noting that national development must not fall victim to personal political bitterness.