The Chief Communications Strategist at the President's Office, Ibrahim Hood, has stated that the Maldives will never interfere with the domestic affairs of other countries.
Hood made the statement at a press conference on Wednesday in response to a reporter asking why the country has not condemned the ongoing persecution of Muslim minorities in China and India.
Noting that the conflict in India is actually a domestic affair, Hood said that the Maldives has no say in the issue as it does not violate international laws or the conventions of the United Nations (UN), said Hood. Likewise, he highlighted President Solih's speech at the 74th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) condemning Israel over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The Maldives has never commented or interfered in the domestic affairs of other countries. What is happening in India is a domestic conflict. That is why we are not commenting on those issues. However, we are among the countries that have been very vocal about the issues in Palestine. The president's speech condemning Israel at the UNGA is an example.Ibrahim Hood
While Hood has stated that the Maldives does not interfere with the domestic affairs of other countries, India and other such countries have commented on the domestic affairs of the Maldives in the past, especially during former President Abdulla Yameen's tenure when the a majority of the current ruling coalition members were opposition.
Therefore, the current administration has faced tons of criticism for not publicly condemning the persecution of Muslims in India and China.
This comes at a time when violations of UN conventions and human rights abuse against Muslim minorities by the governments of India and China have become widely reported with a number of countries denouncing both countries.
The current administration's strategy for foreign policy involves "respecting the domestic affairs of other countries by encouraging conflict resolution instead of criticising the conflicts."
