Maldives declares itself 100% Muslim — there is no room for public Christianity.
bottomIt is unsafe for a Maldivian believer to share.
The Maldives is an island paradise popular for welcoming tourists from around the world, but the welcome sadly doesn’t extend to Maldivians who choose to follow Jesus.
Within the country’s close-knit communities, any deviation from Islamic values is easily spotted and reported to the authorities or Muslim leaders, so those who leave Islam must keep their faith secret. It’s so dangerous that husbands, wives, and children may not even know of each other’s faith. If discovered, believers may be stripped of their citizenship, isolated from society and lose their state benefits for violating Sharia (Islamic law).
While foreign Christians—who mostly work in the tourist sector—have slightly more freedom than converts, their gatherings are strictly monitored and controlled by the authorities. That said, many prefer not to organise meetings, for fear of the repercussions.
Foreign Christians are strictly forbidden from sharing their faith with Maldivians. Scrutiny of expats has increased following a decree issued by the Islamic Ministry in 2022, which advised travel agents and those handling such workers to make sure they know to respect and abide by the Islamic values and laws of the Maldives.
The persecution of Christians in the Maldives occurs outside of the islands reserved for international tourists.
Christians from a Muslim background face by far the most severe persecution as—officially—they do not exist in the country. Every Maldivian must be Muslim, and anyone leaving Islam will lose their citizenship. Maldivian Christian women must be secret believers to avoid severe persecution.
– That secret believers will access the Bible in their own language this year.
– That our family in the Maldives will know they are part of a global family.
– That the new presidential term will mark a softening towards religious minorities.
Open Doors raises prayer support for persecuted believers in the Maldives.
