Thursday 26 Mar 2026
Permanent Representative of Maldives with the United Nations, Dr Salma Rasheed delivering the national statement in Geneva, March 25, 2026.
The Maldives has encountered intense public and political scrutiny following the delivery of a national statement at the 61st session of the UN Human Rights Council. The address, delivered by Permanent Representative Dr. Salma Rasheed, focused heavily on condemning Iranian military actions against various Gulf nations, including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. However, the subsequent public reaction has been largely critical, driven by the omission of references to the actions of Israel and the United States in the broader Middle Eastern conflict. While reports suggest that Dr. Rasheed made verbal mentions of these actors during her speech, the exclusion of this condemnation from the official written record has led to accusations of a biased and non-neutral foreign policy.
The Maldives is facing public criticism after its statement at the 44th meeting of the 61st session of the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) condemned only Iran’s attacks on Gulf countries, without referring to the actions of Israel or the United States.
Delivering the national statement in Geneva, Permanent Representative Dr Salma Rasheed said the Maldives was concerned about Iran’s attacks on Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman and Jordan, noting that such actions were destabilising the region.
The Maldives also co‑sponsored a resolution titled “Human Rights Implications of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Unprovoked Attacks Against Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Jordan.”
In her remarks, Dr Salma called on the international community to cease hostilities and pursue diplomatic solutions for regional stability. She also condemned military attacks by Israel and the United States against Iran, though these references were not included in the formal statement text circulated publicly.
The statement has drawn strong reactions from politicians and the public on social media, with critics arguing that it appeared one‑sided.
I’m deeply ashamed of this woman, Salma Rasheed talking on behalf of #Maldives ! For this woman, not to condemn #Israel for all the international crimes they are committing in #Iran , #Palestine and #Lebanon is a slap on the faces of the people of Maldives.
— ???????????????????????????? ???????????????? (@Roxeyna) March 25, 2026
We Maldivians are… pic.twitter.com/4GFWwCfYr3
They noted that the statement did not mention Israel’s actions in Gaza, the broader humanitarian situation in the Middle East, or the role of the United States in the conflict. Some critics argued that Maldives has traditionally maintained a neutral foreign policy, and expressed concern that the statement could be interpreted as aligning with specific geopolitical interests.
Former MP Rozaina Adam was among those who publicly criticised the statement, saying it failed to acknowledge alleged violations committed by Israel and the United States.
