The Maldives, Islamic Nation And Vacation Hotspot, Bans Israelis From Entering

The Maldives — an Islamic nation located a few hundred miles south of India in the Indian Ocean — banned Israeli passports this week to punish the country over its war against the Hamas terrorists that carried out the October 7 massacre.President Mohamed Muizzu announced that he would follow his country’s recommendation and impose the ban.“The Cabinet decision includes amending necessary laws to prevent Israeli passport holders from entering the Maldives and establishing a Cabinet subcommittee to oversee these efforts,” the statement said.The country said that it was going to raise money for the The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), an organization directly linked to the October 7 terrorist attack.Billionaire hedge fund manager Bill Ackman posted on X: “It is time for us all to boycott the Maldives.”Israel’s Foreign Ministry responded to the development by encouraging its citizens to leave the country immediately.“For Israeli citizens already in the country, it is recommended to consider leaving, because if they find themselves in distress for any reason, it will be difficult for us to assist,” the ministry said.The tourist hotspot has made Islam its official religion and requires its citizens to be Muslim. Those who hold government positions must be followers of Sunni Islam.It is a criminal offense in the country to be anything other than Muslim and those who criticize the religion are subject to criminal penalties.The Lowy Institute said in a report from 2022 that more Maldivians per capita went to Syria to fight for ISIS than any other country.“From 2014 to 2018, more people departed the Maldives to join with Islamic State than from any other country,” the country said. “In total, this figure is estimated at 250 men and women from a country of only 500,000. Most who went died.”