New constitution in the Maldives
October 7, 2008
Maldives' new constitution has been hailed as a human rights victory. Yet under this constitution, "a non-Muslim may not become a citizen of the Maldives," and family members of non-Muslims could lose citizenship. Sharia law is the supreme authority, and laws may restrict religious freedom "to protect the tenets of Islam." Freedom of thought and communication are explicitly limited to that which is not contrary to Islam.
Pray for the tiny Maldivian Christian community. "But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing."
Maldives' new constitution has been hailed as a human rights victory. Yet under this constitution, "a non-Muslim may not become a citizen of the Maldives," and family members of non-Muslims could lose citizenship. Sharia law is the supreme authority, and laws may restrict religious freedom "to protect the tenets of Islam." Freedom of thought and communication are explicitly limited to that which is not contrary to Islam.
Pray for the tiny Maldivian Christian community. "But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing."
