Scholars’ Union Warns Ras Malé Project Could Threaten Religious Freedom
The Maldives’ Scholars’ Union, Ilmuveringe Gulhun, has warned that the government’s Ras Malé development project could have serious implications for the country’s Islamic identity, sovereignty and independence, raising concerns over the potential effects of the project on religious freedom and foreign residency.
The association raised its concerns during a meeting with Minister of Islamic Affairs and Waqf Dr Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed, saying its position was based on information gathered from relevant government authorities. The scholars asked the minister to convey their concerns to President Dr Mohamed Muizzu.
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In its statement, the association cited potential risks to Islamic unity, national sovereignty, independence, economic autonomy and Maldivian culture, alongside concerns over foreign residency in the Maldives.
ރަސްމާލޭގައި ސަރުކާރުން ކުރިއަށްގެންދަން ނިންމާފައިވާ ރިޔަލްއެސްޓޭޓް ޑިވެލޮޕްމަންޓް ޒޯން މަޝްރޫޢާ ގުޅޭ ގޮތުން ދީނީ ޢިލްމުވެރިންގެ ބޮޑެތި ކަންބޮޑުވުންތަކެއް ހުރުމުން، އިސްލާމީ ކަންތައްތަކާއި އަވްޤާފާ ބެހޭ ވަޒީރު ޑރ. މުހައްމަދު ޝަހީމް ޢަލީ ސަޢީދާ ޢިލްމުވެރިންގެ ގުޅުމުން ބައްދަލުކޮށްފީމެވެ. މި ބައްދަލުކުރެއްވުމުގައި ޢިލްމުވެރިންގެ ގުޅުމުން ވަނީ ރަސްމާލެ މަޝްރޫއުގެ ސަބަބުން ދިވެހި ރާއްޖޭގައި ބޭރު މީހުން ރަށްވެހިވެ، ރާއްޖޭގެ އިސްލާމީ ވަޙްދަތާއި، ސިޔާދަތާއި މިނިވަންކަމާއި، އިޤްތިޞާދީ އަމިއްލަވަންތަކަމާއި ދިވެހި ސަޤާފަތަށް ކޮށްފާނެ ނުރައްކާތެރި އަސަރުތަކާ މެދު ހުރި ކަންބޮޑުވުންތައް ހިއްސާކޮށްފައެވެ. މި ކަންބޮޑުވުންތައް ޢިލްމުވެރިންގެ ގުޅުމުން ހުށައަޅާފައިވަނީ ޢިލްމުވެރިންގެ ގުޅުމުން ސަރުކާރުގެ ކަމާބެހޭ ފަރާތްތަކުން މިހާތަނަށް އެއްކޮށްފައިވާ ގިނަ މަޢުލޫމާތުތަކުގެ މައްޗަށް ބިނާކޮށެވެ. ޢިލްމުވެރިންގެ ގުޅުމުން ޙިއްސާކޮށްފައިވާ ނުރައްކާތައް އިސްލާމީ ކަންތައްތަކާއި އަވްޤާފާ ބެހޭ ވަޒީރު ޑރ. މުޙައްމަދު ޝަހީމް ޢަލީ ސަޢީދަށް ތަފްޞީލުކޮށްދިނުމަށް ފަހު، އެ ހުރިހާ ކަންބޮޑުވުންތައް ރައީސުލްޖުމްހޫރިއްޔާ ޑރ. މުޙައްމަދު މުޢިއްޒަށް ޙިއްސާކޮށްދެއްވުމަށް ޢިލްމުވެރިން ވަނީ މިނިސްޓަރުގެ އަރިހުން އެދިފައެވެ. @presidencymv @MVIaffairs— 𝐈𝐥𝐦𝐮𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐆𝐮𝐥𝐡𝐮𝐧 (@ilmugeGulhun) October 13, 2026
The association’s concerns come amid a wider political dispute over whether the Ras Malé development could facilitate an Israeli presence in the Maldives.
Former President Abdulla Yameen has alleged that the project could pave the way for Jewish people to settle in Ras Malé, questioning whether Maldivians would be willing to live alongside Israeli families. He has also raised security concerns and called for a public referendum on the development.
Minister of Homeland Security, Labour and Technology Ali Ihusaan rejected Yameen’s characterisation of the development as a Jewish settlement, describing it as a distortion of facts and accusing the former president of exploiting religious sentiments for political purposes.
Housing Minister Dr Abdulla Muththalib has proposed safeguards to prevent Israeli nationals and Israeli-controlled entities from buying or financing properties under the project. The proposed measures include screening buyers’ current and previous nationalities and cancelling leases if applicants provide false declarations.
Muththalib has also said that property ownership would not grant permanent residency or citizenship, and that foreign buyers would remain subject to existing immigration laws. President Muizzu has separately maintained that the project involves leasing land rather than transferring permanent ownership to foreign investors.
The Ras Malé project, formally known as the Maldives Waterfront and Marina, is being developed in partnership with UAE-based Eagle Hills under a commercial terms agreement signed on 21 September. Valued at more than USD 20 billion, the proposed development spans approximately 500 hectares of reclaimed land at Fushi Dhiggaru Lagoon and is planned to include residential, commercial and tourism facilities.
The agreement has drawn scrutiny over land leasing, foreign ownership, state revenue, and the governments lack of transparency over the agreement details with Eagle Hills.
