Editing Maldives (section)

==Culture==
{{main|Culture of the Maldives}}

{{see also|Maldivian cuisine|Folklore of the Maldives}}

[[File:Maahefun Fuvahmulah.JPG|thumb|[[Maahefun]] Festival in [[Fuvahmulah]]]]

The culture of the Maldives is influenced by the cultures of the people of different ethnicities who have settled on the islands throughout the times.

Since the 12th century AD, there were also influences from [[Arabian Peninsula|Arabia]] in the language and culture of the Maldives because of the conversion to Islam and its location as a crossroads in the central Indian Ocean.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Robinson |first1=J. J. |title=The Maldives: Islamic Republic, Tropical Autocracy |date=2015 |publisher=Hurst |isbn=978-1849045896 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6u1vrgEACAAJ}}</ref> This was due to the long trading history between the far east and the middle east.

Reflective of this is the fact that the Maldives has had the highest national divorce rate in the world for many decades. This, it is hypothesised, is due to a combination of liberal Islamic rules about divorce and the relatively loose marital bonds that have been identified as common in non- and semi-sedentary peoples without a history of fully developed agrarian property and kinship relations.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Marcus |first=Anothony |date=2012 |title=Reconsidering Talaq |url=http://snrg-nyc.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/reconsidering-talaq.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010152111/http://snrg-nyc.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/reconsidering-talaq.pdf |archive-date=10 October 2017 |website=[[Brandeis University Press]]}}</ref>

===Media===
{{main|Television Maldives|Voice of Maldives|List of newspapers in the Maldives}}

[[PSM news|PSM News]] serves as the country's main media, owned by the [[government of the Maldives]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Public Service Media |url=https://soegateway.finance.gov.mv/soes/psm |access-date=31 August 2024 |website=SOE Gateway |publisher=Ministry of Finance}}</ref> The newspaper was founded on 3 May 2017, in the celebration of [[World Press Freedom Day]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=3 May 2024 |title=PSM News : Seven years of reliable reporting |url=https://psmnews.mv/en/136888 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240514184206/https://psmnews.mv/en/136888 |archive-date=14 May 2024 |access-date=19 May 2024 |work=[[PSM news|PSM News]]}}</ref> Maldives has been ranked one–hundred in the [[World Press Freedom Index]] 2023 and 106 in 2024.<ref>{{cite web |year=2024 |title=2024 World Press Freedom Index |url=https://rsf.org/en/country/maldives |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220507020451/https://rsf.org/en/country/maldives |archive-date=7 May 2022 |access-date=12 May 2022 |work=[[Reporters Without Borders]]}}</ref> The country's first daily newspaper, [[Haveeru Daily]] News was the first and longest–serving newspaper in the history of the Maldives, which was registered on 28 December 1978, and dissolved in 2016.<ref>{{Cite news |date=24 May 2016 |title=Lost in translation: the story of Haveeru |url=https://maldivesindependent.com/feature-comment/lost-in-translation-the-story-of-haveeru-124392 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231016070200/https://maldivesindependent.com/feature-comment/lost-in-translation-the-story-of-haveeru-124392 |archive-date=16 October 2023 |access-date=19 May 2024 |work=Maldives Independent}}</ref>
Article 28 of the [[Maldives Constitution]] guarantees freedom of the press and stipulates that:

{{blockquote|No person shall be compelled to disclose the source of any information that is espoused, disseminated, or published by that person.<ref>{{cite web |title=Constitution of the Republic of Maldives |url=http://agoffice.gov.mv/#/Media/Constitution%20of%20the%20Republic%20of%20Maldives|website=[[Attorney General (Maldives)|Attorney General]] |page=7 |access-date=16 October 2020 |archive-date=6 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606081747/http://www.agoffice.gov.mv/#/Media/Constitution%20of%20the%20Republic%20of%20Maldives |url-status=live }}</ref>}}

However, this protection is compromised by the Evidence Act, which came into effect in January 2023 and grants courts the authority to compel journalists to reveal their confidential sources. The Maldives Media Council (MMC) and the [[Maldives Journalists Association]] (MJA) serve as crucial watchdogs in addressing and combating these threats. Newspapers, Sun Online, [[Mihaaru]] and its English edition, ''[[The Edition]]'' and Avas serves one of the most well–known private news outlets.<ref>{{cite web |title=Maldives Newspapers Online – List of Maldives newspapers, magazines, and news sites covering business, finance, sports, travel, weather, jobs, and entertainments |url=https://www.w3newspapers.com/maldives/ |website=w3newspapers.com}}</ref>

=== Sports ===
Sports in the Maldives are deeply ingrained in the culture of the island nation, with a diverse array of activities reflecting both traditional pastimes and modern sporting pursuits. Given its unique geography of scattered islands surrounded by the Indian Ocean, water sports naturally hold a prominent position. [[Surfing]], in particular, has gained international recognition, with waves that cater to both beginners and seasoned surfers. Locations such as the atolls of North and South Malé, [[Thulusdhoo]], and [[Himmafushi]] offer ideal conditions for enthusiasts to ride the waves throughout the years.<ref>{{cite web |title=Thulusdhoo Island Surf Guide – Maldives Local Island Surfing! |url=https://www.stokedfortravel.com/thulusdhoo-island-surf-guide-maldives-local-island/ |website=Stoked For Travel |date=15 September 2020 |access-date=15 September 2020 |archive-date=25 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200925030355/https://www.stokedfortravel.com/thulusdhoo-island-surf-guide-maldives-local-island/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Additionally, diving and snorkeling are immensely popular, allowing locals and tourists alike to explore the rich marine life that thrives in the crystal-clear waters surrounding the Maldives.<ref>{{cite web |title=SNORKELING IN THE MALDIVES |url=https://www.snorkeling-report.com/destination/snorkeling-maldives/ |access-date=19 May 2024 |website=Snorkeling Report |archive-date=1 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240301023117/https://www.snorkeling-report.com/destination/snorkeling-maldives/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
[[File:Topu_Barman_in_action_against_Maldives_in_the_2021_SAFF_Championship.jpg|thumb|[[Maldives national football team|Maldives]] against [[Bangladesh national football team|Bangladesh]] at the [[2021 SAFF Championship]].]]
[[Association football|Football]], or soccer, stands out as one of the most widely played and passionately followed sports in the Maldives.<ref>{{cite news |title=Future of Football: When will a country from South Asia emerge as a powerhouse in the global game? |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/12932480/future-of-football-when-will-a-country-from-south-asia-emerge-as-a-powerhouse-in-the-global-game |access-date=4 August 2023 |agency=Sky Sports |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240110145607/https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/12932480/future-of-football-when-will-a-country-from-south-asia-emerge-as-a-powerhouse-in-the-global-game |archive-date=10 January 2024}}</ref> [[Maldives national football team|The Maldives national football team]] competes in regional and international tournaments, with a fervent fan base supporting their endeavors. The country has its own domestic football league, the Dhivehi Premier League, featuring clubs from various atolls vying for supremacy.<ref>{{cite web |title=Maldives |url=https://us.soccerway.com/teams/maldives/maldives/1443/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326175708/https://us.soccerway.com/teams/maldives/maldives/1443/ |archive-date=26 March 2023 |access-date=18 May 2024 |website=Soccerway}}</ref> Matches often draw large crowds, contributing to the vibrant sporting atmosphere of the Maldives. Moreover, futsal enjoys popularity, especially among younger generations, with numerous indoor facilities providing spaces for friendly matches and competitive leagues.
[[File:Maldives (15617923914).jpg|thumb|[[Flyboard]]ing in Maldives|left]]

Traditional Maldivian sports also play a significant role in preserving cultural heritage and promoting physical activity. Bodu Beru, a rhythmic [[drum]]ming and [[dance performance]], often accompanies traditional sports events, adding to the festive ambiance. One such traditional sport is "Baibalaa", a game resembling [[volleyball]] but played with a woven ball made from dried coconut palm leaves. "Fenei Bashi", a form of [[wrestling]], is another traditional sport that showcases strength and agility. These indigenous sports serve as a reminder of the Maldives' rich cultural heritage and continue to be cherished by communities across the islands.