Maldives

How are Christians persecuted in the Maldives?

• To be Maldivian is to be Muslim – and that makes converting to Christianity extremely dangerous.
• New believers must practise their faith in absolute secrecy. The Maldives is a conservative and tightly-knit country, and neighbours and even shopkeepers could report on any signs of deviation.
• Women who decide to become Christians could face forced marriage, domestic violence, divorce or loss of child custody if their new faith is discovered.
• Men who become Christians risk harassment, threats and assault.
• The children of new believers who have been discovered experience bullying and stigma at school.
• Whilst the internet can provide some opportunity for believers to access discipleship and community, censorship and unstable connections are not uncommon. It’s a huge obstacle for secret believers who rely on the digital sphere for their faith.
• Many converts choose to flee abroad, if they have the means to do so.

Why are Christians persecuted in the Maldives?

• The country’s Constitution states that the Maldives is ‘100 per cent Muslim’.
• Those discovered as Christian will experience severe opposition from the authorities as they seek to maintain the country’s status-quo. Although prosecutions are rare, the fear of surveillance and arrest is constant.
• There are no official churches in the Maldives, and attempts to gather as believers are fraught with risk.
• Islamist radicalisation is a problem, including the issue of militants who have returned from previous fighting in Syria. Although not high in number, extremists are liable to threaten anyone deemed insufficiently Muslim.
• Immigrant and migrant Christians – mostly from India and Sri Lanka who work in the country’s thriving tourist sector – are closely monitored. Sharing their faith with others can be particularly risky.

Who is particularly vulnerable in the Maldives?

• Given the Maldives’ reputation as a holiday island paradise, persecution towards Christians largely happens away from the tourist hotspots. Those who convert from Islam face the most severe persecution, whilst immigrants and migrant workers who share their Christian faith with others can quickly find themselves in trouble with the authorities.

What has changed in the Maldives in the past year?

• Despite the Maldives dropping three places on the World Watch List, little has changed. In fact, persecution has worsened slightly.
• Whilst the Maldives remains a welcoming place for international tourists, for the locals who bravely choose to follow Jesus, the atmosphere remains immensely inhospitable.

How can I help Christians in the Maldives?

Please keep praying for your brothers and sisters in the Maldives. Your prayers make an enormous difference to those following Jesus no matter the cost.

Open Doors raises prayer support for persecuted believers in the Maldives.