Parliament Wednesday accepted an amendment to the law protecting religious unity in Maldives.
This bill was passed with the votes of 43 lawmakers present during Wednesday's sitting with 26 voting against. The bill has been forwarded to the parliamentary social committee for review.
The amendment aims to remove the clause that appoints a member to the Supreme council for Islamic Affairs with the Chief Justice's recommendation.
However a clause was added stating that the President could appoint members to the council without the approval of Parliament. The amendment says that the President must appoint three such members.
Some responsibilities of these members would be to give sermons to encourage religious unity between the Maldivian people, and giving their expertise to government entities.
This bill was passed in April this year.
