"I did nothing": young Maldivians channel Gaza guilt into pro-Palestine activism

Aisha was the first to take the stage at the open mic poetry recital at a small event space in Malé's southwest corner. A group of about 50 literary enthusiasts gathered on Thursday night to share poems and stories about their collective trauma and activism in solidarity with Palestine. The event was jointly organised by the Underwater Poets Society and Infusions of Ink, a poetry group formed by students of Ms Yooly, a lecturer at the Maldives National University.

“I shared an instagram story, but then I did nothing," Aisha repeated, echoing a shared feeling of guilt that resonated powerfully as more than a few people were moved to tears. 

She continued:

Aisha broke down mid-sentence, tears streaming down her face as the audience sat in absolute silence, patiently waiting for her to gather herself and continue.

A series of young aspiring poets followed. Other speakers shared stories and thoughts. Safaath Ahmed Zahir, founder of the Women and Democracy NGO, spoke about individual responsibility, the deep connection Maldivians feel with Palestinians, and the significant efforts by the Maldives to support Palestine in comparison to many larger countries, including Arab neighbours.  

Aishath Shadhiya, an outspoken activist who was previously arrested for protesting outside embassies, framed the cause as standing up for Muslim brothers and sisters in Palestine as part of the Islamic ummah (community), invoking a sense of duty bound by faith. Ali Jaishan Amir, a researcher and a lecturer, emphasised empathy and common humanity, recounting how he was personally moved to be involved in the cause when the war began in October 2023 while he was studying abroad. 

The diverse group represented a microcosm of the larger movement across the Maldives over the past two years. As the death toll climbed and Maldivians consumed the live-streamed violence, the cause united a broad coalition of people who might have otherwise found themselves on opposing sides on many other issues.

Earlier this week, representatives of the Maldives-based International Aid Campaign spoke at a flag off event for the Sumud Nusantara in Malaysia. The convoy, which includes the Maldives and eight other Asian countries, will join the Global Sumud Flotilla in an effort to break the siege in Gaza.

IAC’s participation at the event followed a large gathering in Malé earlier this month in a renewed mobilisation of pro-Palestine activism. 

Solidarity with Palestine runs deep in the Maldives. In October 2023, IAC collected MVR 24 million (US$ 1.5 million) and US$ 13,023 for its Gaza Emergency Relief Fund. Separately, the Maldivian Red Crescent collected total MVR 1.6 million during the same month.

In August last year, MVR 19 million raised from a nationwide telethon was donated to UNRWA. Foreign Minister Moosa Zameer pledged to increase annual contributions to UNRWA from US$ 5,000 to US$ 50,000. 

Ashiya Shaha Haleem, a 22-year-old psychology student who leads the Underwater Poets Society, said that she believes young people need to continue to organise.

“We need to show activism through everything, we need to show activism through art, poetry, protests, boycotts, sharing it in our stories and sharing stories of Palestinian in every way we can because it’s still going on," she said.

Targeted boycotts of brands identified by the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement alongside public pressure have yielded small but noteworthy results. The Pizza Hut and KFC outlets in the capital were forced to shut down at the start of this year. In April, the government banned Israeli passport holders from visiting the Maldives, more than 300 days after the headline-grabbing announcement in June 2024. 

The opening of the first Pizza Hut outlet in the Maldives six years ago was celebrated by senior government officials, as plans were announced to open a KFC outlet next door. The franchises proved to be a popular among families and couples. New outlets opened in Hulhumalé in 2023.

A month after Israel launched its war on Gaza in October 2023, masked men vandalised the KFC and Pizza Hut outlets in Malé with diesel oil. Another target for the attack was the Malé Aerated Water Company, which operates as the local partner for the Coca Cola company.

Regular protests proved to be more effective. Throughout 2024, a small group of people gathered outside the KFC and Pizza Hut every Friday night, using loudspeakers to call for its closure and advise customers to avoid the restaurants. 

The outlets in Hulhumalé shut down last year as sales declined dramatically. The outlets in Malé followed suit by shutting down in January.

“KFC and Pizza Hut were big places that a lot of people used to go to. So for us to boycott and shut it down is a big win,” Aishath Shadhiya. who represents the International Muslimah Aid and Education, told the Maldives Independent.

But boycotting Coca Cola turned out to be a more formidable challenge, Shadhiya acknowledged. The company also benefits from supplying to the tourism industry, she noted.

“The Coca Cola company has really sunk its teeth deep in Maldivian society, they have been here a long time. So it will be difficult," she said. 

The Malé Aerated Water Company, the sole distributor and manufacturer for the Coca Cola Company, is a private company owned by local tourism giant Universal Enterprises. The company has been operating since 1989 with its primary bottling plant in Kaafu Thulusdhoo.

The key is to stop consumption and reduce demand, Shadhiya suggested. “KFC and Pizza Hut ެwere shut down because we didn’t go, otherwise it would still be here," she said.

“A lot of Maldivians drink Coca Cola, not just Coca Cola, Fanta, Sprite and Bonaqua water are all products by the Coca Cola Company. What we must do is, if we have a gathering at home, let us choose alternative products to the Coca Cola company. When we drink a coke bottle, we must think, a coke bottle is a bullet being used to kill Palestinian children, they get money because I buy this, and I will not spend my hard earned money on this to fund a company that funds genocide.”

She urged restaurant-goers to reject the beverage even if it is offered free as part of an order. Shadiya pointed to alternatives like Palestine Cola and Kinza Cola that have recently been introduced to the Maldivian market. Shadhiya also flagged Milo, a product of Nestle, as another problematic brand with a history of local consumption and influence. A lot of sporting events are sponsored by Milo, she noted.

“So we need to boycott a lot of other products, Sketchers, Adidas and Puma as well. It might be hard to boycott all of them. So let us start with something we can boycott easily," Shadiya said.

“Maldives may be small but we are a famous country, because of our beauty and because tourists come here. When we banned the Israel passport, it was hard for Israeli people to digest that. That really embarrassed them. So just like that if we reject Coca Cola and if the tourists who come here are not able to get it, they will realise that Maldives has boycotted Coca Cola. It will affect Israel and it will upset them.

"So even if we are a small country, our voice is big. What we do and its impact is also more visible to the whole world.”