Washington – The Institute on Religion and Public Policy strongly condemns the new constitution ratified by the Maldives’ legislature yesterday. The constitution fails to provide basic guarantees of rights and freedoms in the country for non-Muslims and also violates internationally accepted human rights standards and norms.
Article 9, Section D states that “a non-Muslim may not become a citizen of the Maldives.” By denying citizenship to some people on the basis of their religion, the country is violating religious minorities’ freedom of worship.
“This denial of citizenship to non-Muslims is an extraordinarily harsh measure which places the Maldives among the worst countries in the world in regards to the legal foundation for freedom of religion and belief,” said Institute President Joseph K. Grieboski.
In addition to denying non-Muslims citizenship, the new constitution establishes several other precepts which threaten the freedom of religion. The new constitution favors Sunni Islam over other forms of Islam, establishes certain aspects of Sharia law in the Maldives and limits the freedom of expression and thought to “manners” which are “not contrary to a tenet of Islam.”
The Institute’s Expert Committee on Legislation and Implementation is currently crafting a comprehensive analysis of the new constitution for expected release in September.
www.religionandpolicy.org
Tags: Creeping Sharia, islam, Legal, Life, Muslim, News, Politics, Random, Religion, Sharia, travel
August 10, 2008 at 5:37 AM
i strongly appreciate your views. It is very bad for any country to discriminate their people on the basis of caste,creed, colour and religion.
August 11, 2008 at 2:31 AM
[...] he Institute on Religion and Public Policy strongly condemns the new constitution ratified by the Maldives’ legislature yesterday. The constitution fails to provide basic guarantees of rights and freedoms in the country for non-Muslims and also violates internationally accepted human rights standards and norms…(Creeping Sharia) [...]
August 14, 2008 at 1:38 AM
i did like to tell you all that the maldivian population is 100%muslim there are no minority religions. even i believe in fredom of religion but maldivians dont want it because they think that their religion and culture is what keeps them together
September 23, 2008 at 4:19 PM
This policy is not unique to the Maldives; Malaysia has a similar policy. My wife is an ethnic Chinese malaysian, and as a non-Malay and non-Muslim, she is denied “Bumiputra” status. Bumiputra means “sons of the soil”; a privileged status Malays confered upon themselves when the British left after colonization. Bumiputras receive a special passport and are tried in a special court as well as receiving other special privileges (like the ability to freely attend Malaysian universities; minority groups are forced to leave the country to get an education). Legally, you aren’t even allowed to change your religion in Malaysia and can be imprisoned indefinitely without trial under the ISA (Internal Security Act) for any conduct seen as an affront to Islam (such as protesting the acts of the government publicly, holding hands or kissing in public).
A constitution with provisions like these is no constitution at all; it is one level better than a police state in my opinion. Nawaf’s justification that the maldivian population is 100% muslim holds little water; with laws like these, citizens have no choice but follow Islam, which is exactly their purpose. If the leaders are so confident in their religion, why not give their citizens the option to choose a religion for themselves? No religion has any place in government or judicial system. Basing a constitution, in any form, on a religion isn’t just a mistake; it is a step backward for the entire country, not just the minorities. Just look at Malaysia to see where that path leads.
March 7, 2009 at 9:06 AM
Good for the Maldives….They have learned a lesson from History. When non-muslims (particulaurly Western ones) take root in a nation they seek to replace the national culture with their own, by whatever means they find most effective. By denying them citizenship it will help ensure the people there that they will not be slaves, or 2nd class citizens within their own country.
March 7, 2009 at 11:02 AM
Spoken like a true Islamic supremacist, blowing the ‘tiny minority’ of extremists theory out of the water with each comment
March 12, 2009 at 2:41 AM
Fellow friends and reader. Please do understand the Practice of Islam before u make any comment regarding this. Islam is a one way entry religion meaning a Muslim cannot change his/her religion. Since Maldivians, from very early days of its history, by them self, they have chosen Islam to be their religion. Its a 100% Sunni Muslim country. So, there is no point in talking against Maldives constitution, telling its official religion being Islam, and prohibiting non-Muslims becoming citizens. Basically, a foreigner become a citizen by marrying to a Maldivian, since all are Muslims, then first of all, in order to get married to a Maldivian he/she must convert to Islam. Its what Islam says, not what Maldives constitution said. So its common sense that non-Muslims not getting citizenship from Maldives. And, what the parliamentarians have passed is by the full support of all the members present. Not even a single member opposed or even talked against this. So, its the right and freedom of its people to decide. The constitution never bars any non Muslims entering or practicing his religion inside Maldives, he can practice his religion in privet. I don’t see any problem from this constitution. and I am fully aware of the concerns made by westerns, coz they all ways had a hidden agenda regarding these things around the world.
March 12, 2009 at 7:28 AM
No hidden agenda Amir – you make a great case of how Islam is free to discriminate against non-Muslims, as well as kill apostates. That is the punishment for those brave enough to leave the cult of Islam correct?
You overlook a quite significant fact. That being, Buddhists were the dominant culture/religion of Maldives before Muslims came and killed/converted all of them to Islam.
April 30, 2009 at 5:35 PM
[...] Maldives FM for denying non-Muslims citizenship By creeping We posted on Maldives recently in Maldives constitution: no citizenship for non-Muslims, here is a [...]
May 8, 2009 at 4:00 AM
I hereby declare new official laws of Europe and USA:
“a Muslim may not become a citizen of the Europe or USA”
“a Muslim may not visit Europe or USA”
“a Muslim may not use freedom of speech”
“a Muslim may not vote”
“a Muslim may not use weapons”
“a Muslim may not use bombs”
“a Muslim must be Atheist”
“a Muslim may not read the Koran”
“a Muslim may not read the Bible”
“a Muslim may not driva a car”
“a Muslim may not drink water”
June 5, 2009 at 4:41 AM
will you allow to share your wealth among your enamies, yes or no? then why do you want Maldivian to share their muslim homes to your non-muslims.
June 5, 2009 at 7:46 AM
There’s a saying that there is no such thing as a stupid question, but you may have proven that theory wrong…and at the same time proven that Islam is not tolerant at all and considers non-Muslims the enemy…
Presumably you are in some Western country – what would you do if the US or UK amended its Constitution to exclude citizenship for all Muslims?