Christianity in the Maldives
Encyclopedia
Christianity is a minority religion
in the Maldives
.
The Maldives are among the countries with the least tolerance towards Christians.
According to the former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom
, no religion
other than Islam should be allowed in the Maldives.
Public practise of the Christian religion is prohibited.
In 1998, all known Christian foreigners who were suspected of missionary work were expelled and some indigenous Christians were arrested. Christian missionaries are not allowed.
According to the World Christian Encyclopedia (2nd edition), Volume 1, p. 480 the Church of South India
, the Evangelical Mennonite Church and the Seventh-day Adventists are present in this country.
Roman Catholics in the Maldives are covered by the Archdiocese of Colombo.
Citizens of the Maldives who convert to Christianity lose their citizenship and risk torture.
Expulsions of Christians occurred several times in the last 10 years.
President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom
stated that the independence of the country is lost, if it is not entirely Muslim. The Maldivian High Commission in Colombo stated in 1998, that reports of persecution are wrong.
Religion
Religion is a collection of cultural systems, belief systems, and worldviews that establishes symbols that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values. Many religions have narratives, symbols, traditions and sacred histories that are intended to give meaning to life or to...
in the Maldives
Maldives
The Maldives , , officially Republic of Maldives , also referred to as the Maldive Islands, is an island nation in the Indian Ocean formed by a double chain of twenty-six atolls oriented north-south off India's Lakshadweep islands, between Minicoy Island and...
.
The Maldives are among the countries with the least tolerance towards Christians.
According to the former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom
Maumoon Abdul Gayoom
Maumoon Abdul Gayoom was President of the Maldives from 1978 to 2008. After serving as Minister of Transport, he was nominated as President by the Majlis of the Maldives and succeeded Ibrahim Nasir on November 11, 1978. He eventually became the longest-ruling head of government in Asia...
, no religion
Religion
Religion is a collection of cultural systems, belief systems, and worldviews that establishes symbols that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values. Many religions have narratives, symbols, traditions and sacred histories that are intended to give meaning to life or to...
other than Islam should be allowed in the Maldives.
Public practise of the Christian religion is prohibited.
In 1998, all known Christian foreigners who were suspected of missionary work were expelled and some indigenous Christians were arrested. Christian missionaries are not allowed.
According to the World Christian Encyclopedia (2nd edition), Volume 1, p. 480 the Church of South India
Church of South India
The Church of South India is the successor of the Church of England in India. It came into being in 1947 as a union of Anglican and Protestant churches in South India. With a membership of over 3.8 million, it is India's second largest Christian church after the Roman Catholic Church in India...
, the Evangelical Mennonite Church and the Seventh-day Adventists are present in this country.
Roman Catholics in the Maldives are covered by the Archdiocese of Colombo.
Citizens of the Maldives who convert to Christianity lose their citizenship and risk torture.
Expulsions of Christians occurred several times in the last 10 years.
President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom
Maumoon Abdul Gayoom
Maumoon Abdul Gayoom was President of the Maldives from 1978 to 2008. After serving as Minister of Transport, he was nominated as President by the Majlis of the Maldives and succeeded Ibrahim Nasir on November 11, 1978. He eventually became the longest-ruling head of government in Asia...
stated that the independence of the country is lost, if it is not entirely Muslim. The Maldivian High Commission in Colombo stated in 1998, that reports of persecution are wrong.