How does Islam affect citizenship and lawmaking in the Maldives?

The 2008 constitution of the Maldives establishes Islam as the official state religion, which fundamentally shapes both citizenship and the legislative process.12

Regarding citizenship and governance, the following principles apply:

• Citizenship: Non-Muslims are ineligible to become citizens of the Maldives.12
• Legislative Constraints: The People’s Majlis, the country's unicameral legislature, is constitutionally prohibited from enacting any laws that contravene the tenets of Islam.12
• Judicial Requirements: All judges in the Maldivian court system must be Sunni Muslims. While the Supreme Court bases its decisions primarily on the constitution and national law, Sharīʿah (Islamic law) is applied in cases where no specific applicable law exists.3

These constitutional mandates ensure that the legal and political framework of the Maldives remains strictly aligned with Islamic principles.12