The Maldives  ­ No Paradise for Christians

Frankfurt, July 26 (idea)  ­ The Maldives may be dream islands for holidaymakers  ­ but for Christians they are anything but paradise. There is absolutely no religious freedom for anyone who is not an adherent of Islam.

On the occasion of the Maldives ¹ national day, July 26, the International Society for Human Rights (ISHR) in Frankfurt has criticized President Maumoom Abdul Gayoom for his restrictive religious policies. He has ruled the islands in the Indian Ocean since 1978 and has constitutionally  ³highest authority on the distribution of Islamic teachings ².

Gayoom insists that no other religion is permissible. No churches are allowed. Of the 286,000 inhabitants 600 or so are believed to be Christians.

To cater for the 400,000 tourists each year 20,000 or so expatriate workers are employed, some of them Non-Muslims. They may only practice their religion in private. Native converts to Christianity lose their citizenship and risk detention and torture.

Walter Flick, ISHR ¹s officer for religious affairs, gives this advice:  ³Christian tourists bound for the Maldives should ask their travel agencies for information on churches or choose a different destination. After all, the Maldives draw 80 per cent of their foreign income from tourism. ²

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Evangelical news agency idea. Wolfgang Polzer

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