Parliamentarian for Kendhoo Constituency Ali Hussain says the diplomatic ties with Iran and Qatar were slashed for ‘the alleged milns of dollars given to amend the constitution to allow land grabbing’.
The opposition allied MP described Iran and Qatar as ‘sacrificial lambs’ in a tweet posted.
Iran & Qatar are the sacrificial lambs by Maldives 4 the alleged milns of dollars given to amend the constitution to allow land grabbing.
— Ali Hussain (@AleeVoice) June 10, 2017
The indicated land grabbing was facilitated following a constitutional amendment in 2015 that allowed foreigners to own land in the country.
Maldives severed ties with Iran in May 2016. Diplomatic ties with Qatar were severed on June 5th. Ties with Iran were severed citing that Iran was a hamper on peace for Gulf and Middle East regions. The proclamation issued in June stated that diplomatic ties with Qatar were cut as the nation supported terror groups.
MP Ali Hussain further said that the Qatari based Al Jazeera expose Stealing Paradise could also be another reason why Maldives severed ties with Qatar.
One of the reasons why Maldives severed its diplomatic ties with Qatar could be @AlJazeera and it's documentary of Stealing Paradise.
— Ali Hussain (@AleeVoice) June 10, 2017
Stealing Paradise was an expose on the corruption of President Abdullah Yameen and then Vice President Ahmed Adeeb, using the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC).
