Migrant accused of producing food with cat meat to be deported

Maldives Immigration, on Wednesday, said efforts are underway to deport Bangladeshi national MD Arafat Hossain, 32, who is accused of preparing and selling food with cat meat.

The issue gained public attention following a post on social media the previous day by local NGO, Feline Welfare Organization.

The animal rights group identified Arafat as an undocumented migrant who works at the Valhoamas Market in Male’ City. It said that he was suspected of “butchering, cooking, eating and selling cat meat.”

Police located him and handed him over to Immigration on August 21^st.

When questioned by Sun regarding Immigration’s course of action concerning Arafat, the authority said he is being held at the Immigration Detention Centre as the authority undertakes efforts to deport him.

The authority did not specify a date Arafat can be deported, however, said further information would be shared upon his deportation.

Notably, the case accusing Arafat of preparing and selling food with cat meat was submitted to the Police by the Animal Welfare Ministry following a public complaint.

The public also raised concerns about the alleged undocumented migrant, and also on the potential widespread sale of meat that is prohibited for consumption among Muslims.

The case came amid a crackdown by Maldives Immigration on illegal migration. The authorities have raided multiple locations in the capital as part of the operation, many of them rundown houses where food items sold at stores and cafes and restaurants are prepared in unhygienic environments.

A group of migrants who were preparing betel nuts in an unhygienic environment were found and detained as part of the crackdown as well.