The Maldives ranks high on the list of governments that restrict religious freedom [1]. Maldivian citizens have to be Muslim and cannot practice any religion other than Islam. Non-Muslim foreigners [2] cannot vote, worship publicly, obtain citizenship, and hold public positions.
Journalist Hilath Rasheed [3] notes that Maldives perhaps will not be able to establish freedom of religion in the next 50 years until the mindset changes among the new generations of Maldivians.