Maldives government and civil society present competing realities at UN human rights review

Exiled activists counter official narrative of “steady progress.”

By Ahmed Naish

The families of abducted journalist Ahmed Rilwan and murdered blogger Yameen Rasheed have been waiting years for answers about who killed their loved ones.
A presidential commission set up by the previous administration spent five years investigating. The current administration dissolved it in 2024 without publishing findings or securing a single conviction. Terrorism charges were dropped against three key suspects, one of whom was appointed to a senior post at a state-owned company.
When the UN Human Rights Council asked about it last Wednesday, Attorney General Ahmed Usham said the reports will be made public “in due time, after thorough review and in a manner that does not hinder ongoing or future criminal investigations.”
The gulf between the government’s rosy picture and the starker reality documented by civil society organisations defined the Universal Period Review in Geneva, where two versions of the Maldives emerged during the three-hour examination of the human rights situation.
In the version presented by a high-level government delegation – which included Homeland Security Minister Ali Ihusan and Social and Family Protection Minister Dr Aishath Shiham – democracy has “steadily progressed,” civil society operates “without fear of reprisals,” and the widely-condemned impeachment of two Supreme Court justices followed “full adherence to due process.”
In the rival version, documented by rights groups now operating in exile, the country has undergone “deliberate and sustained regression of democratic norms,” with the systematic erosion of freedoms and consolidation of executive power.
The competing claims came during the fourth cycle of the Maldives’ UPR, a unique UN peer review mechanism where a country’s entire human rights record is assessed by all 193 member states. During the previous cycle in 2020, the Maldives accepted 187 of 259 recommendations in 2020, partially accepted five, and noted 67 – primarily concerning the death penalty, religious freedom, and refugee conventions.
The Maldives delegation led by AG Usham responded to questions posed by 104 countries. A final report documenting all recommendations will be adopted in a follow-up session on Friday (November 14).

The government’s account clashed with civil society documentation on issue after issue.
Despite condemnation from the UN human rights chief and the UN special rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, Usham insisted that the removal of justices Dr Azimralda Zahir and Mahaz Ali Zahir in May had proceeded “in full compliance with the constitution, relevant laws, established procedures and international standards.”
The following covers key areas of disagreement between government claims and civil society observations.
Democratic governance
Civil society:
Source: Association for Democracy in the Maldives (ADM)
“The Maldives has undergone a deliberate and sustained regression of democratic norms. Since 2015, six constitutional amendments have been enacted without meaningful public consultation. The most recent, proposed, passed and signed within 36 hours in [November 2024], entrenches executive dominance and party-based control over parliament by mandating seat forfeitures for members of parliament who leave or are removed from their party. This undermines the separation of powers and silences dissent within legislative processes.”
Source: Maldivian Democracy Network (MDN)
“We are witnessing a calculated and steady move by the ruling party PNC [People’s National Congress], which holds a supermajority in the parliament, towards absolute consolidation of powers in the Maldives. From constitutional amendments to control members of parliament, to framing Supreme Court justices and replacing the bench, to fast and arbitrary legislative changes, the democratic rights of the people have vanished in the past three years alone.”
Government defence
Source: Attorney General Usham’s verbatim statement at the UPR Session
The constitutional anti-defection amendment “set new rules for removing parliament members based on changes in party affiliation and enhanced provisions on territorial integrity and national policy making.”
“Democracy in the Maldives has steadily progressed since the 2008 constitution. Despite political turbulence, our institutions and laws are progressive and maturing as we continue working to strengthen the rule of law and democratic governance. Our commitment to a full-fledged democratic system was reaffirmed through the successful 2023 presidential elections and 2024 parliamentary elections… Both elections were widely recognised by international observers as free, fair and peaceful, with high voter turnout.”
Judicial independence
Civil society
Source: International Federation for Human Rights & MDN Joint Submission
“On 16 February 2025, three Supreme Court justices were suspended following an Anti-Corruption Commission inquiry, under Section 25(p) of the Judicial Service Commission Act. Two were subsequently removed. This was executed without due process, excluded judicial members from decision-making, and represents political interference in the judiciary. Section 25(p) allowed penalties without the right of reply or proper evaluation of evidence and compromised the JSC’s independence by tying its authority to external agencies.”
Government defence
Source: AG Usham
“The Maldives reaffirms its commitment to safeguarding judicial independence and upholding due process. Recent developments concerning the suspension of three justices of the Supreme Court and the subsequent removal of two justices were undertaken in full adherence to due process and in full compliance with the constitution, relevant laws, established procedures and international standards. The government continues to engage openly with international partners, including the special rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers.”
“Significant investments have been made to improve judicial capacity. This year alone, the judicial Academy has delivered more than 900 training opportunities to judges and judicial staff. A comprehensive training needs assessment has been completed with capacity building implementation set to begin in 2026.”
Freedom of assembly
Civil society
Source: Civicus & FORUM-ASIA
“The Freedom of Peaceful Assembly Act 2013 imposed broad limitations and allowed police wide discretion.”
Government defence
Source: AG Usham
“The right to freedom of peaceful assembly is constitutionally guaranteed in the Maldives and further protected through the freedom of peaceful assembly act. Restrictions on large public gatherings in the capital Male were introduced in 2016 due to security congestion and public order considerations. The government remains committed to fully restoring this right.”
“Work is currently underway to amend the law to ensure it is aligned with constitutional guarantees and international human rights standards. In the meantime, measures have been taken to facilitate access to public space for assembly. In May 2025, the ministry of homeland security and technology designated additional locations in Malé for peaceful gatherings and demonstrations, ensuring that individuals and groups retain practical avenues to exercise this right while the legislative process progresses.”
Freedom of expression and media
Civil society
Source: ADM
“The 2022 amendment to the Evidence Act allows courts to compel journalists to disclose their sources, threatening press freedom. The constitution guarantees the right to freedom of media, and prohibits any compulsion on media to disclose sources.”
Source: FORUM-ASIA & MDN
“The Evidence Act now compels journalists to disclose sources in court, undermining press confidentiality.”
Government defence
Source: AG Usham
“The constitution guarantees the right to freedom of media, and prohibits any compulsion on media to disclose source of information.”
“To address concerns regarding journalistic privilege following the enactment of the Evidence Act, the government is reviewing relevant provisions to align it with constitutional protections and international standards.
Media regulation law
Civil society
Source: FORUM-ASIA & MDN
The media regulation law ratified in September “seeks to replace existing independent media regulators with a commission with presidential appointees and with sweeping powers – including imposing hefty fines, suspending registrations, blocking websites, halting broadcasts, and even retroactively investigating content – without sufficient protections.”
“The Maldives Journalists Association have called this bill a ‘grave threat’ designed to dismantle media independence and the proposed body ‘would destroy independent journalism and [further] erode the Maldives’ fragile democratic space.'”
Government defence
Source: AG Usham
“In September 2025 we have enacted the Maldives media and Regulation Act with an aim to protect the constitutional right to freedom of expression while promoting journalistic freedom with strong professional standards. This private member bill was enacted by the parliament following consultations with stakeholders, including media representatives, taking into account their concerns raised.”
“The Act regulates broadcast on cable, television, radio, online platforms and print or digital publications that serve the public, and does not extend to personal social media accounts or private storage devices. It establishes a consolidated independent media and broadcasting commission with appointment procedures free from any role of the executive. Necessary safeguards have been incorporated into the act to ensure its compliance with our international human rights obligations.”
Media capture and censorship
Civil society
Source: ADM
“The Maldives Broadcasting Commission has been used to curtail the freedom of expression, while the state-owned enterprises allegedly fund politically aligned media under the guise of advertising. These coercive legal and financial mechanisms have led to media capture and widespread censorship.”
“Media capture + restrictions on civic space → significant gaps in public awareness/participation. Youth, who make up nearly half of the population, are increasingly disengaged – not by choice, but due to fear and disillusionment.”
Government defence
Source: AG Usham
“This administration has prioritised fostering an environment conducive to independent journalism and accountability. In addition to regular press conferences and media interviews, on World Press Freedom Day 2025 the President Dr Mohamed Muizzu hosted a press conference lasting over 15 hours. It was broadcast live and open to all media outlets with journalists afforded unrestricted access.”
“Since taking office, President Muizzu’s administration has held over 140 press conferences and 1,000 media interviews.”
Civil society space
Civil society
Source: MDN statement
“We are a national organisation which was registered in 2006. We were arbitrarily de-registered in 2019 and currently operate in forced exile. MDN was violently attacked, arbitrarily de-registered, and our funds seized by the former government. It has left a chilling effect on civil society, resulting in deep self-censorship.”
“We are further appalled that the Human Rights Commission of the Maldives has condoned the action based on a pre-constitutional law, and without any consultation with MDN. Despite recommendations from member States at the 3rd cycle of the UPR and specific recommendations from the Human Rights Committee to reinstate MDN in July 2024, Maldivian governments have refused to give us legitimacy in the country.”
Government defence
Source: AG Usham
“The de-registration of the Maldives democracy network in December 2019, undertaken by the previous administration, was reviewed by the civil court upon submission in March 2023. The civil court ruled that the de registration process was not arbitrary, and complied with applicable laws.”
Protection of human rights defenders
Civil society
Source: ADM
“Human rights defenders, journalists, and civil society actors continue to face threats, smear campaigns, and attacks from state and non-state actors. The unresolved cases of Yameen Rasheed, Member of Parliament Dr Afrasheem Ali, and Ahmed Rilwan, and the dissolution of Commission on Deaths and Disappearances without a single conviction, reflect a lack of political will.”
“The decline in reported threats since 2024 is not due to improved safety but the chilling effect of impunity and censorship.”
Source: FORUM-ASIA & MDN
“Writers and journalists who were critical of growing religious hatred and intolerance have been persecuted; several have lost their lives. The culture of fear created by continuing impunity and often collusion of state actors with those who attack journalists, writers and civil society actors significantly undermines freedom of belief and expression and forced many journalists to resort to self-censorship.”
Government defence
Source: AG Usham
“The government maintains a zero tolerance policy towards hate speech and threats against CSOs and human rights defenders. Strong legal protections are in place to prohibit attacks both online and offline. Hate speech has been criminalised and cyber crime provisions have been introduced to strengthen online safety and accountability. CSOs and human rights defenders have access to judicial avenues to seek protection and remedy.”
“This administration has ensured that no one faces reprisals for engaging in human rights work or cooperating with international mechanisms. The government has not taken any action that could be considered a reprisal. Any allegations of intimidation or retaliation are taken seriously. Safeguards and confidential reporting channels are in place, and we continue to strengthen protective measures to ensure human rights defenders can operate freely and safely.”
Source: Minister Ali Ihusan verbatim at the UPR Session
“The government values the contribution of civil society and human rights advocates and remains committed to upholding the safety and protection of all individuals. The Maldives Police Service remains vigilant in countering threats, both physical and online, against human rights advocates and journalists ensuring accountability in the digital sphere.”
Civil society support
Civil society
Source: ADM
“Until justice is served and accountability restored, the Maldives offers little to no space for Human Rights Defenders or civil society to operate.”
“Harassment and intimidation of civil society actors both online and offline have created significant gaps in public awareness and participation.”
Government defence
Source: AG Usham
“We have also prioritised enhancing the space and support afforded to CSOs at an institutional level. CSOs are supported through sustained grant programs and capacity building initiatives. Since 2021 the government has allocated MVR 3 million annually supporting around 50 CSOs each year under structured grant mechanism. Beginning this year, 10 percent of the allocation has been earmarked specifically for CSOs working with vulnerable communities.”
“The National Forum on Civil Society Organisations launched in 2025 as part of President Dr Mohamed Muizzu’s pledge marks a major step toward enhancing government and civil society engagement. The forum brought together 120 representatives from all atolls, creating a unified platform to identify challenges faced by CSOs, explore ways the government can better support their work and bridge policy gaps.”
Transitional justice and accountability
Civil society
Source: ADM
“Presidential Commission on Deaths and Disappearances (DDCom) → dissolved without a single conviction. Lack of political will reflected in unresolved cases of murder + disappearance.”
Source: FORUM-ASIA & MDN
“No progress has been achieved in the investigations of unresolved cases of killings or disappearances of writers and journalists such as Yameen Rasheed and Ahmed Rilwan. The Presidential Commission mandated to investigate these other unresolved murders was dissolved in 2024 with no results and the government has so far refused to share the findings of the commission even with the families of victims.”
Source: MDN
“Subsequent ad-hoc mechanisms to investigate serious crimes, such as the Deaths and Disappearances Commission and the Anti-Corruption and Asset Recovery Commission disappeared without any public reports or conviction of perpetrators. The near-fatal terrorist attack on former president Mohamed Nasheed remains with more questions than answers, as do the murder of blogger Yameen Rasheed and enforced disappearance of journalist Ahmed Rilwan.”
Government defence
Source: AG Usham
“In terms of transitional justice mechanisms, the presidential commissions established in the previous administration and the ombudsperson’s office for transitional justice established under the Transitional Justice Act of 2020 have been resolved upon conclusion of their mandates. Findings of these commissions will be published in due time, after thorough review and in a manner that does not hinder ongoing or future criminal investigations. The government is currently assessing appropriate mechanisms to ensure closure and accountability in the cases submitted to the Office of Transitional Justice.”
Historical accountability
Civil society
Source: MDN
“Survivors of torture under consecutive administrations in the Maldives since 1953 remain without justice. The Transitional Justice Ombudsman created under the Transitional Justice Act failed to increase public awareness on this matter, consequently also failing to gain confidence of survivors to come forward in a highly politically polarised country. No one has ever been held accountable for torture in the Maldives.”
Government defence
Source: AG Usham
“The government is currently assessing appropriate mechanisms to ensure closure and accountability in the cases submitted to the Office of Transitional Justice.”
Corruption and institutional integrity
Civil society
Source: ADM
“Corruption pervades all levels of governance in the Maldives. From grand corruption to everyday transactions, public services and employment are often contingent on personal connections. Institutions such as the judiciary and police have become politicised and nearly defunct, failing to uphold their mandates.”
“Institutional failures + normalised corruption → Public disillusionment + Disengagement + Eroded trust in governance.”
Government defence
Source: AG Usham
“During the reporting period, Maldives implemented institutional reforms to strengthen governance and public trust, including anti-corruption measures, whistleblower protections and enhanced parliamentary oversight of independent institutions. We are currently advancing digital governance to embed transparency, merit-based processes and efficiency across the public sector.”
“New asset declaration and asset recovery bills are being developed to strengthen transparency and combat corruption.”
Death penalty
Civil society
Source: MDN
“As of April this year, 23 individuals have been sentenced with the death penalty. Courts have continued to sentence minors to death despite prohibitions in domestic law. Last year, the government declared its intention to resume executions. While development of processes and training of personnel have commenced, the venue for executions has been under renovation. Last month, President Muizzu has announced his intention to introduce the death penalty for drug trafficking and smuggling, placing young people – who form almost half of the population – at risk of this cruel punishment.”
Source: The Advocates for Human Rights, MDN, Anti-Death Penalty Asia Network, Capital Punishment Justice Project & World Coalition Against the Death Penalty
“Courts had sentenced women to death for adultery. The Penal Code and related laws did not expressly authorise the death penalty for such offences. In 2014, however, a lower court sentenced a woman convicted of adultery to death by stoning. Using the death penalty to punish women for perceived sexual immorality exemplified and promoted harmful gender stereotypes. In addition, the possibility of facing a death sentence, or an otherwise harsh sentence, for adultery could discourage women from reporting sexual assault.”
Government defence
Source: AG Usham
“The Maldives is unable to support recommendations calling for the abolition of the death penalty, or to ratify the second protocol to the ICCPR [International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights]. The death penalty remains in law in limited circumstances, and its enforcement requires full judicial safeguards, automatic appeal and final confirmation by the Supreme Court. In line with our international obligations, all death penalty sentences issued for offences committed by minors have been fully commuted under child protection laws.”
Source: Minister Ihusan
“The government is determined to impose the toughest penalties for drug trafficking. We are currently exploring the most effective avenues to embed these penalties in law. This approach aligns with global practices, as many countries continue to enforce stringent penalties, including the death penalty for drug trafficking.”
Women’s rights and child rights
Civil society
Source: MDN
“National elections are frequently used as indicators to assess women’s participation in politics. The numbers keep dropping in the Maldives. This is mainly because affirmative action legislation does not apply to political parties, where highly discriminative and misogynistic practices prevail, and more importantly, where internal primaries decide on whether women will contest in national elections at all.”
Source: Equality Now, Hope for Women, FORUM-ASIA & MDN
“Over 13 per cent of women aged 15–49 had undergone a form of FGM/C. While prevalence among girls aged 0–14 was reported at 1 per cent, there were fears of a resurgence of the practice, including through medicalisation.”
Source: FORUM-ASIA & MDN
“The practice of Ruqya is reportedly a form of exorcism involving recitation of verses from the Qur’an, often promoted as a healing method outside of formal medical frameworks. There are reports of cases where Ruqya has been used to enable violent physical and sexual abuse of women and girls, including instances where victims were held captive in their own homes.”
“Both the Maldives Police Service and HRCM [Human Rights Commission of the Maldives] reportedly received complaints regarding abuse under the guise of Ruqya. In November 2020, the Parliamentary Committee on Gender and Human Rights launched an investigation into a case in which a woman and her three daughters were subjected to prolonged physical and sexual abuse while confined for three months in their house. The perpetrator, the husband/father, repeatedly brought in an exorcist to ‘heal’ the women.”
“A separate complaint raised concerns of police negligence: when one of the women called for help, the police officer who arrived at the scene left after being told a Ruqya session was in progress. HRCM reportedly responded to public pressure not by calling for an end to the practice but by advocating for its regulation.”
Source: Equality Now & Hope for Women
“The Sexual Offences Act continued to place unfair burdens on survivors, notably through Section 53, which permits the use of a survivor’s past sexual behaviour or delay in reporting as grounds for not initiating prosecution. These provisions perpetuate harmful stereotypes and contribute to secondary victimisation.”
Source: Human Rights Commission
“While the Clemency Act exempted child sexual offence from clemency, it granted the President the power to remit the remaining sentence period for all crimes and consequently this allowed child sexual offenders to be released early.”
Government defence
Source: Minister Dr Aishath Shiham at the UPR Session
“Women’s participation in governance remains central to our democratic values. The Decentralisation Act continues to play a transformative role in strengthening women’s political participation in local governance through the electoral quota, reserving 33 percent of council seats for women. Women’s representation in local governance, which used to be a mere 6.1 percent in 2017, today make up 39.7 percent.”
“Women now represent 83 percent in managerial support roles and 56 percent in executive posts in the civil service. Furthermore, women make up over 49 percent of the Maldivian Bar Council’s certified lawyers, evidence of growing representation in a variety of fields.”
“The Maldives affirms that there is no evidence of female genital mutilation being carried out in the country at present. The only reference available dates back to the 2016-2017 Demographic and Health Survey, where it was reported anecdotally among an older age group of women. The government of Maldives views this matter with utmost seriousness. Any such act would be treated as abuse constitute assault under the Penal Code and is prohibited under under the Child Rights Protection Act.”
“Survivor-centred services remain a priority. The exclusive domestic violence shelter houses survivors and their children to maintain a family-oriented living arrangement. This helps to preserve family bonds and avoid further trauma or disruption during the recovery process. Three shelters have been designated with expansion planned across northern, central and southern regions in the next three years, the National Domestic Violence Prevention Strategy further strengthens prevention, protection, accountability, and adopts a whole of government approach to the effective implementation of the Domestic Violence Prevention Act.”
“[…] plans are underway to review the child rights protection act in our efforts to further provide stability and support children, we are pleased to share the government of Maldives, as of last month, has tripled the single parent allowances.”
Migrant workers
Civil society
Source: ADM
“Migrant workers and foreign residents face compounded discrimination, with limited access to justice or protection.”
“Corruption pervades… public services and employment are often contingent on personal connections.”
Source: ADM and FORUM-ASIA
“Discriminatory legal provisions under the Marriage Act required foreign men but not Maldivian men to demonstrate financial capacity to support a family. This disproportionately affected low-income migrant workers, particularly from Bangladesh and India, and perpetuated xenophobic narratives targeting both migrants and Maldivian women in such marriages.”
Government defence
Source: Minister Ihusan
“The government is committed to safeguarding the rights of migrant workers through policy reform and inclusive service delivery. An amendment introduced to the Employment Act in 2024 defines areas for foreign labour engagement, outlines employer responsibilities and penalties for non compliance. A dedicated department of foreign labour has now been established at the ministry of homeland security and technology.”
“In June this year, Maldives collaborated with International Organisation for Migration to launch the migrant worker Resource Center to serve as one stop shop for migrant workers in need of support. We have also launched the online portal migrant connect as a complaints and grievances redress mechanism for migrant workers.”
“Operation Kurangi is a key initiative launched under this administration aimed at obtaining biometric records of all migrant workers in the Maldives. As of 30th October 2025, biometrics of total of 188,359 migrant workers have been collected.”
“The regularisation program for expatriate workers active since 2019 now allow migrant workers to change employers without consent or payment if employers are in contravention of applicable laws. Plans are also underway to establish dedicated dormitories for migrant workers built in line with international best practices.”
“In July 2025, Maldives launched the national migrant health policy to improve foreign nationals access to health care.”
“Concerns of xenophobia are addressed through the amendments to the Penal Code criminalising hate speech and incitement of violence. Maldives Police Service actively investigates all related cases and engages psychosocial assistance for victims.”
Source: AG Usham
“At this stage, the Maldives is not in a position to accede to the Migrant Workers Convention or conventions relating to stateless persons, refugees and asylum seekers, due to resource and legal constraints. However, our domestic legal framework provides adequate protection for migrant workers, and we fully respect the principle of non-defoulement.”
Anti-terrorism and radicalisation
Civil society
Source: FORUM-ASIA & MDN
“The Anti-Terrorism Act of 2015 – despite several amendments – still contains vague definitions of terms like ‘support’, ‘encouragement’, and ‘extremism’, coupled with broad speech-based offences. According to the UN Special Rapporteur on counter-terrorism and human rights, such ambiguity ‘poses significant risks to the rights to freedom of expression and association’, especially when counter-terrorism provisions have historically targeted journalists, activists, and political opponents.”
Source: Advocating the Rights of Children
“Vaccination rates fell from 93 percent (2009) to 77 percent (2017), below herd immunity thresholds, leading to a measles outbreak in 2020. Vaccine hesitancy was reportedly fuelled by religious extremism and misinformation.”
Government defence
Source: Minister Ihusan
“The government of Maldives remains firmly committed to preventing and countering violent extremism in full alignment with international human rights obligations and the rule of law. The National Action Plan on preventing and countering violent extremism is currently under review for a new cycle.”
“Nationwide programs to counter violent extremism has engaged youth, educators, civil society and communities across 32 islands reaching 23,828 participants during this reporting period.”
“Maldives continues to work closely with international partners, including UN bodies, Interpol, the European Union and bilateral allies to strengthen our counterterrorism efforts.”
Freedom of religion or belief
Civil society
Source: FORUM-ASIA & MDN
“Citizenship remains constitutionally tied to being Muslim, and advocates for religious tolerance are often labelled ‘blasphemers’, facing harassment, criminal charges, or even violence. Writers and journalists who were critical of growing religious hatred and intolerance have been persecuted; several have lost their lives. The culture of fear created by continuing impunity and often collusion of state actors with those who attack journalists, writers and civil society actors significantly undermines freedom of belief and expression.”
“The Religious Unity Act poses serious challenges to human rights advocacy in which advocacy for protections of certain fundamental human rights – such as advocacy for the abolition of the death penalty – could be construed as contradictory to religion.”
In July 2024, the UN Human Rights Committee called on the Maldives to “guarantee the right of everyone to have or adopt a religion or belief of their choice and to change their religion” and to “abolish the crime of apostasy.”
Government defence
Source: AG Usham
“For more than eight centuries, Islam has been the foundation of the Maldivian identity and social framework. Our constitution reflects the sovereign will of our people by establishing Islamic principles as a core basis of our legal and governance framework. The Maldives remains committed to its constitutional values and cultural foundations.”
“While we remain firmly committed to ensuring equality before the law and the protection of fundamental rights for all individuals within our jurisdiction, freedom of religion beyond Islam is not recognised under Maldivian law.”
“As a sovereign democratic nation, the Maldives is firmly guided by its constitution and founding principles. Our constitution establishes Islam as the religion of the state and affirms that Islamic principles form one of the bases of all laws in the Maldives. No law may be enacted contrary to any tenet of Islam. Within this constitutional context, the Maldives does not intend to revisit its reservations to the ICCPR and the CRC [Convention on the Rights of the Child].”
“While the Maldives remains firmly committed to the principle of-non discrimination and continues to ensure that all individuals have equal access to rights and services, our constitutional and legal framework is rooted within Islamic principles. As such, the Maldives legal system does not accommodate practices that fall outside this religious and cultural context, including in matters of conscience and personal conduct.”
“The Maldivian population is largely homogeneous, with foreign residents primarily resident present due to labour migration. In line with the constitution, only Muslims can acquire citizenship. While the administrative processes for naturalisation have been streamlined over the years, the constitutional requirement regarding faith in case of citizenship remains unchanged.”
In his closing statement, Usham added: “The Maldivian identity is deeply rooted in Islam, an uncompromisable tenet of our national fabric and enshrined in our constitution. It shapes our values, informs our laws, and guides our social and moral compass. Our commitment to human rights is pursued in harmony with these foundational principles, ensuring that our obligations are implemented in a manner that respects both our constitutional framework and our international commitments.”
Sexual orientation and gender identity
Civil society
Source: FORUM-ASIA & MDN
“Same-sex relations between consenting adults remains criminalised under the Sexual Offences Act and Penal Code, punishable by prison and corporal punishment. These laws have been actively enforced.”
“The absence of legal protections against incitement to violence, hatred, and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity has created a space where individuals are routinely targeted, harassed, attacked, and threatened with violence, often by non-state actors. This includes the widespread and unchecked practice of doxxing, where personal information is deliberately exposed online to incite violence or publicly discredit opposition politicians, public figures, journalists, and activists.”
“Victims of such crimes themselves are often criminalised. In 2022, private videos depicting consensual same-sex relations between adult men were non-consensually leaked online. Eleven men were charged under the Penal Code, three were sentenced, and others remain in various stages of the investigation.”
Source: MDN
“Individuals belonging to the LGBTIQ+ community in the Maldives are generally invisibilised – except for when they are attacked and criminalised. They are forced to live in fear and hiding, which excludes them from the right to live a life of dignity.”
Government defence
No mention in the national report or oral presentation.