Editing Maldives (section)

===Law===
{{See also|Judiciary of the Maldives|Law enforcement in the Maldives}}

According to the [[Constitution of the Maldives|Constitution of Maldives]], "the judges are independent, and subject only to the Constitution and the law. When deciding matters on which the Constitution or the law is silent, judges must consider Islamic [[Sharia|Shari'ah]]".<ref>{{cite web |title=Maldives 2008 Constitution |url=https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Maldives_2008 |website=constituteproject.org |date=2008 |access-date=25 December 2021 |archive-date=23 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220123232052/https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Maldives_2008 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Islam is the official religion of the Maldives and open practice of any other religion is forbidden.<ref>{{Cite web |title=International Religious Freedom Report for 2017 |url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/j/drl/rls/irf/religiousfreedom/index.htm?year=2017&dlid=281028 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210114164405/https://2009-2017.state.gov/j/drl/rls/irf/religiousfreedom/index.htm?year=2017&dlid=281028 |archive-date=14 January 2021 |access-date=30 December 2018 |website=[[United States Department of State]]}}</ref> The 2008 constitution says that the republic "is based on the principles of Islam" and that "no law contrary to any principle of Islam can be applied". Non-Muslims are prohibited from becoming citizens.<ref name="Hirschl2011">{{Cite book |last=Ran Hirschl |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OgIhbPBWlkwC&pg=PA34 |title=Constitutional Theocracy |date=5 May 2011 |publisher=Harvard University Press |isbn=978-0-674-05937-5 |page=34 |access-date=30 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210114164433/https://books.google.com/books?id=OgIhbPBWlkwC&pg=PA34 |archive-date=14 January 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref>

The requirement to adhere to a particular religion and prohibition of public worship following other religions is contrary to Article 18 of the [[Universal Declaration of Human Rights]] and Article 18 of the [[International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights]] to which the Maldives has recently become party<ref>{{Cite web |title=Human Rights and Democracy |url=http://www.foreign.gov.mv/v3/?p=menu_item&sub_id=21&submenu=Human%20Rights%20and%20Democracy |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921022819/http://www.foreign.gov.mv/v3/?p=menu_item&sub_id=21&submenu=Human%20Rights%20and%20Democracy |archive-date=21 September 2013 |access-date=30 June 2010 |website=[[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Maldives)]]}}</ref> and was addressed in the Maldives' reservation in adhering to the Covenant claiming that "The application of the principles set out in Article 18 of the Covenant shall be without prejudice to the Constitution of the Republic of Maldives."<ref>{{Cite book |last=Davis, Thomas W. D. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LOHDoJO_b0EC&pg=PA33 |title=Human Rights in Asia |publisher=Edward Elgar Publishing |year=2011 |isbn=978-1-84844-680-9 |page=33 |access-date=20 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150915160814/https://books.google.com/books?id=LOHDoJO_b0EC&pg=PA33 |archive-date=15 September 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref>

A new [[Criminal code|penal code]] came into effect on 16 July 2015, replacing the 1968 law, the first modern, comprehensive penal code to incorporate the major tenets and principles of Islamic law.<ref>{{Cite web |title=New penal code comes into effect |date=16 July 2015 |url=https://minivannewsarchive.com/tag/new-penal-code |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210114164404/https://minivannewsarchive.com/tag/new-penal-code |archive-date=14 January 2021 |access-date=10 July 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Maldives Penal Code - Law No. 9/2014 |url=https://www.law.upenn.edu/live/files/4203-maldives-penal-code-2014.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210114164342/https://www.law.upenn.edu/live/files/4203-maldives-penal-code-2014.pdf |archive-date=14 January 2021 |access-date=10 July 2020 |website=[[University of Pennsylvania]]}}</ref>

[[Homosexuality|Same-sex relations]] are illegal in the Maldives, although tourist resorts typically operate as exceptions to this law.<ref>{{Cite web |date=17 May 2016 |title=State Sponsored Homophobia 2016: A world survey of sexual orientation laws: criminalisation, protection and recognition |url=http://ilga.org/downloads/02_ILGA_State_Sponsored_Homophobia_2016_ENG_WEB_150516.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170902183618/http://ilga.org/downloads/02_ILGA_State_Sponsored_Homophobia_2016_ENG_WEB_150516.pdf |archive-date=2 September 2017 |access-date=20 June 2017 |website=[[International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Bloom |first=Laura Begley |date=25 November 2019 |title=20 Most Dangerous Places For Gay Travelers (And The 5 Safest) |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/laurabegleybloom/2019/11/25/most-dangerous-places-safest-lgbtq-gay-travelers/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210114164459/https://www.forbes.com/sites/laurabegleybloom/2019/11/25/most-dangerous-places-safest-lgbtq-gay-travelers/ |archive-date=14 January 2021 |access-date=19 November 2020 |website=[[Forbes]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=19 October 2016 |title=From South Africa to the Maldives: Surprising holiday destinations for LGBT travellers |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/gay-holidays-lgbt-friendly-safety-bali-buenos-aires-cape-town-iceland-maldives-honeymoons-a7369316.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210114164430/https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/gay-holidays-lgbt-friendly-safety-bali-buenos-aires-cape-town-iceland-maldives-honeymoons-a7369316.html |archive-date=14 January 2021 |access-date=18 May 2024 |work=[[The Independent]]}}</ref>