The Islamic Ministry has approved Male' City Council's request to vacate the Maafanu Cemetery to develop a parking zone on the land plot.
The Council is trying to vacate the land plot as it has now prohibited vehicles from parking on the main road where the cemetery is located, Majeedhee Magu.
Majeedhee Magu was declared a parking-free zone to facilitate the Mini-Bus services in Male'.
The government had instructed the Council to develop the cemetery as a parking zone but since the Cemetery may still have graves, the Council asked for the Government's recommendation.
In a letter to Male' City Mayor Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, the Islamic Minister advised the Council to keep aside any human bones it recovers while clearing the cemetery. and to gather them in white body bags.
The letter also asks the city council to use spades to dig the graves and not use machines like excavators to clear the site.
The Minister had given its go-ahead last month but the Council is yet to begin the work to clear up the cemetery.
