How many Christians are there in the Maldives?
There are only 452,000 people living in the Maldives, and it’s estimated a few thousand of them are Christians – almost all of them expatriates, mostly working in the tourism industry. Maldivian Christians must keep their faith completely secret.
Why are Christians persecuted in the Maldives?
The constitution of the Maldives says that the nation is ‘100 per cent Muslim’. Given the dense population of the country, the close-knit communities are very alert to any deviation from the norm.
What’s life like for Christians in the Maldives?
The Maldives is a common holiday destination, but the idyllic beauty of this island nation hides an oppressive regime. It is almost impossible for Christians to meet together, and any Maldivians found to have converted would lose their citizenship. Owning a Bible can lead to imprisonment. There have been cases where spouses have only discovered after years that both of them were active Christians, as they had hidden their faith from one another.
Even expatriate Christians are closely watched by the government, and sharing the gospel with Muslims is illegal and can result in deportation.
Open Doors calls for increasing prayer support from Christians around the world, particularly those of us who are able to meet together safely.
Father, we know that You are there in the Maldives, and that no regime is stronger than You. Please give opportunities for believers to meet with one another, study Your Word and share their faith, even when the opposition to this seems almost unbeatable. You are stronger than the opposition. Amen.
