Maldives - 50.53
101
Paradise condemned
The Maldives is currently poised to be one of the first countries on Earth to sink. Geographically similar to other frontrunners in the race below the waves, the Maldives is an archipelago of low-lying islands. Unlike these other countries, the Maldives is very densely populated, multiplying the scale of the impending climate catastrophe. The Maldives is a staunchly Muslim country (the government claims that all of its residents are Muslims) and this affects nearly all aspects of life in the country. While the Maldives are generally more liberal than many other Muslim countries, criticizing Islam remains a crime, and laws governing homosexuality and women remain repressive. It is outright illegal for Maldivian citizens not to be Muslim, and Maldivians can be deported or sent to jail for practicing any religion other than Islam. The Maldives has a generally strong economy based largely on tourism. However, the Maldives impending sinking means that this is of little consequence.
Human Rights - 43
The Maldives has functionally abolished the death penalty; the country has never carried out an execution. Corporal punishment, specifically flogging, is a legal punishment in the Maldives. Flogging sentences for minors must be commuted until they are eighteen. Torture is allegedly common in Maldivian prisons. The Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (HRCM) received twenty-eight unique complaints: none were investigated. There is virtually no recourse for victims of torture. Maldivian prisons are occasionally overcrowded but conditions are regarded to be quite good despite a high incarceration rate. The Hulhumale Migrant Detention Center, however, had poor conditions. Migrants were often held in detention for years while awaiting processing. The legal code includes a provision for the government to arrest suspected terrorists without a warrant or probable cause. Bail is almost never granted. “Criticizing Islam” is a criminal offense and the government has repeatedly conducted investigations into publications, websites, and social media accounts for criticizing Islam. It is illegal for Maldivians not to be Muslim. Maldivians face jail time, deportation, or loss of citizenship for practicing a religion other than Islam. Foreign residents can only practice their religion in private. Homosexuality is punishable by deportation and revocation of citizenship, though this law is not enforced. Abortion is legal to save the woman’s life and in cases of rape or incest.
Democracy - 54
The president and People’s Majlis are directly elected. Elections are generally free and fair but are marred by vote-buying and misuse of state funds. Incumbents regularly misuse state funds. Opposition candidates are sometimes harassed by the government. Despite this, opposition candidate Ibrahim Solih won the 2018 presidential election with fifty-eight percent of the vote. The former president and opposition leader Mohamed Nasheed was disqualified from the 2018 election on dubious charges of terrorism. The Maldives has a decent multi-party system but electoral laws favor the incumbent. The executive and legislative branches are consistently in conflict to leverage more power. While all citizens must simply be Muslim, all candidates must be Sunnis.
Freedom - 37
The government respects freedom of expression except when criticizing Islam. News organizations are allowed to criticize the government but not its Islamic policies. The Maldives has incredibly strict anti-pornography laws that have occasionally caused the government to censor regular movies as “pornographic content.” “Criticizing Islam” is a criminal offense and the government has repeatedly conducted investigations into publications, websites, and social media accounts for criticizing Islam. It is illegal to not be Muslim in the Maldives, and Maldivians face jail time, deportation, or loss of citizenship for practicing a religion other than Islam. Foreign students can only practice their religion in private. Islam is compulsory in schools and there is zero separation of church and state. Peaceful assembly is legal with a permit in certain locations. Permits to protest outside of these areas are very difficult to obtain. Drug laws carry very steep sentences in the Maldives. The Maldives has a total ban on all guns.
Economy - 67
Health - 72
The Maldives has a life expectancy of 79 years and an infant mortality rate of 0.65%. 8.6% of Maldivians are obese and 8.1% are malnourished. The Maldives has a strong universal healthcare system, providing generally high-quality care on all inhabited islands but not all medicines are covered. 79% of Maldivians have access to clean, running water. The residents of many outlying islands are reliant on rain water collection.
Corruption - 36
The Maldivian judicial system is highly subject to political pressure and is also subject to corruption at low levels. Police corruption is not uncommon in the Maldives. Public services must be bribed into action. Hotel companies are very close to the government.
Competency - 76
The Maldives is emerging from a political crisis. The government is failing to use or repeal unused laws.
Future - 1
The Maldives will be underwater by 2050.
Actions Abroad - 70
The Maldives is generally isolationist and maintains positive relations with most nations.
0.1% of Maldivians live below the international poverty line and 8.2% live below the national poverty line. 7.2% of Maldivians are unemployed. The Maldives has a high economic disparity. Minimum wage varies by the size of the business, but the lowest is $292 per month. All inhabited islands have primary care facilities, while larger ones have hospitals. These hospitals and clinics provide generally high-quality care but some medicines, including lifesaving ones, are not covered. The Maldivian economy shrunk
0.1% of Maldivians live below the international poverty line and 8.2% live below the national poverty line. 7.2% of Maldivians are unemployed. The Maldives has a high economic disparity. Minimum wage varies by the size of the business, but the lowest is $292 per month. All inhabited islands have primary care facilities, while larger ones have hospitals. These hospitals and clinics provide generally high-quality care but some medicines, including lifesaving ones, are not covered. The Maldivian economy shrunk 32% in 2020 and grew 7% in 2019.