Parliament has on Wednesday rejected a motion calling to hold a debate regarding the government’s decision to sever ties with Qatar.

22 lawmakers voted in favor of the debate, while 40 voted against.

Mathiveri constituency MP Hussain Mohamed has submitted the emergency motion on Tuesday, seeking to make the government aware of the repercussions of its decision.

It noted that Qatar is also a Muslim state, who has been a partner in the development of the Maldives. It further said the government’s decision will ruin the country’s name.

Maldives, along with Islamic states Saudi Arabia, Egypt, United Arab Emirates, Yemen and Bahrain announced on June 5, that they will be cutting ties with Doha. Maldives is the only non-Arab state to have done so, and has faced immense criticism from the public.

However, despite severing diplomatic ties with Qatar, Maldives maintains that it will keep economic ties with the country, adding that Qatari nationals will be able to travel to and in Maldives ‘without any restrictions’.