Maldives, South Asia
Population: 369,031
Christians: <1%
Dominant Religion: Sunni Islam
Persecution Ranking: 5th
Political Leader: President Mohamed Nasheed
Religious Freedom in Constitution: No
Islam has been the dominant religion in the Maldives since its arrival in the 12th century. The practice of any religion but Islam is forbidden by law, and no places of worship exist for non-Muslims. According to the constitution, the President, ministers, judges, chiefs, and even ordinary voters must be Muslim. The Islamic Shari’ah law code is implemented in cases involving divorce and adultery. No official Christian mission work has ever been established on the Maldives, and there are very few known Christians living in the Maldives.
