Ex-Pres. Maumoon meets Palestinian filmmaker Yousef Al‑Helou

Former president Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom has met with Palestinian filmmaker Yousef Al‑Helou.

The meeting was held at the Maumoon Foundation office on Saturday and was also attended by Dr. Shazra Ibrahim and Dr. Rana Ahmed Hameed of International Muslimah Aid and Education (IMAE).

Al‑Helou is currently visiting the Maldives for the premier of his documentary film, The Phoenix of Gaza.

The film, which offers a deeply human portrayal of life in Gaza, highlighting moments of resilience, culture, and hope amidst adversity, is scheduled to premiere in Male’ today.

During the meeting, Al‑Helou shared insights into the making of the film and the stories it aims to preserve.

Maumoon expressed his gratitude for his work and showed interest in watching the film, highlighting the value of artistic efforts that draw international attention to humanitarian issues. He also praised IMAE for its continued advocacy and outreach initiatives.

Dr. Shazra and Dr. Rana spoke about IMAE’s commitment to highlighting Palestinian resilience and amplifying their voices amid ongoing injustice. They also recognized Maumoon’s longstanding support for the Palestinian cause, noting that he laid the groundwork for the Maldives’ enduring solidarity with Palestine during his presidency.

As a token of appreciation, they presented President Maumoon with a signed copy of their newly released book, Soul of All Souls, which offers a compelling account of Palestine’s colonization and its 75-year struggle for justice.

Maumoon thanked them for the meaningful gift and commended their continued advocacy.