National flag to be flown half-mast as Maldives mourns Sobir’s death

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has made the decision to fly the national flag at half-mast as the country mourns the passing of Hassan Sobir, who served as the tourism minister for six years and a longtime serviceman of the state.

According to the President’s Office, the national flag will be flown at half-mast for three days, starting from Tuesday, July 29^th.

Sobir will be honored with a state funeral. Last respects can be paid to the deceased at the Islamic Centre where his funeral will be held after Asr prayer.

Notably, Sobir was conferred Order of the Distinguished Rule of Izzuddin by President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu on Sunday.

He died at approximately 7:31am on Monday morning at Tree Top Hospital in Hulhumale’, after a long battle with cancer. He was 73. 

President Muizzu, via a post on X, said Sobir’s passing is a great loss to the nation. He underscored that Sobir, during his tenure as a minister, had made invaluable contributions to the fisheries, agriculture and tourism sectors of the Maldives.

The President, noting Sobir had served as the Maldivian ambassador to various nations, said he was a diplomat who made constructive contributions to strengthen Maldives’ foreign relations.

Sobir, who had served the state for 25 years, held the post of tourism minister from 1998 to 2004, during former president Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom’s administration. Prior to this, he had served as a deputy minister at Planning and Environment Ministry in 1991 and a deputy minister at Agriculture Ministry in 1993.

During his tenure as the Tourism Minister, Sobir also served as the parliamentary representative for North Ari Atoll.

Later on, he served as the Permanent Representative of the Maldives to the United Nations, Representative of the Maldives to the European Union, High Commissioner of the Maldives to the UK, High Commissioner of the Maldives to Singapore and Ambassador of the Maldives to Belgium.

At the time of his passing, he was serving as the Ambassador of Maldives to Japan. 

Sobir is survived by his wife and two children.