The Maldives government claims that every one of its citizens is a Muslim. Migrant Christians are closely monitored and their meetings restricted, while Maldivian converts to Christianity are forced to keep their faith completely secret. Owning a Bible can result in a prison sentence; converting to another religion can lead to loss of citizenship. Some Maldivian Christians have been forced to move abroad.
Maldives to EU: ‘Islam shall be the basis of all laws’
The Maldives government has told the European Union it will not consider amending its constitution to allow for religious freedom in the country, reports Maldives-based news site Avas Online. A report by the EU’s Electoral Follow-up Mission (EFM), published last week, said the Maldives had implemented none of the 22 […]
Maldives activist investigated for ‘blasphemy’ over ‘religions other than Islam’ tweet
An activist in the Maldives has received death threats and is being investigated for “blasphemy” after posting a tweet in response to President Abdulla Yameen’s comment that his government would not allow any other religion in the country than Islam. Shahindha Ismail, executive director of the Maldives Democracy Network, tweeted: […]
Maldives told to retract criticism of UN Special Rapporteur
The Maldives should retract its accusations against the UN’s Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) – its former Foreign Minister, Ahmed Shaheed – and condemn the calls for his beheading, says the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF). USCIRF “strongly condemn[ed]” the accusations from the ruling […]
Repression of Maldives Christians to intensify
The President of the Maldives has vowed to enact a national programme to “promote Islamic unity and foster religious and national spirit”. President Abdulla Yameen, speaking earlier this week at this year’s official opening of parliament, said the programme would begin within three months. The Maldivian legal system has been […]
Maldives removes church image from school textbook
The Maldives government has recalled a school textbook that contained illustrations of two churches, after protests from parents. The social studies textbook was for children in Grades 1-4 at the Gateway International School. The new management at the school has been accused by a local news website, Miadhu, of using […]
Maldives leaves Commonwealth over rights progress
The Republic of Maldives has withdrawn from the Commonwealth after the Indian Ocean nation was accused of failing to show progress on democracy, . Describing its move as “difficult but inevitable”, the nation says the Commonwealth did “not recognise its achievements in strengthening its democratic institutions and a raft of […]
Maldives elections unlikely to improve religious freedom
Known for its golden sands and crystal waters, the Maldives is perhaps not the first country that springs to mind when one considers locations lacking in religious freedom. However, for more than 10 years the island chain in the Indian Ocean, south-west of Sri Lanka, has been in the top […]