Same-sex sexual activity legal? Illegal | Gender identity/expression illegal | |
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Penalty: Up to death. Shariah law applies. Whippings, house arrest, deportation, and up to 6 years in jail. Vigilante attacks and executions occur. | ||
Same-sex relationships are illegal in the Maldives under Sharia law, though not under national law. In addition, the Maldives was one of the initially 57 (now 54) signatory nations to a statement opposing the UN declaration on sexual orientation and gender identity which was introduced for the General Assembly in 2008 originally and remains open for signature. The country further opposed a landmark LGBT rights resolution in the United Nations Human Rights Council, proposed by the Republic of South Africa and backed by most developed countries which passed in 2011.
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In April 2013 the first openly gay and secular blogger in the Maldives, Hilath Rasheed was attacked.
Recognition of same-sex relationships
The Maldives does not recognize same-sex marriages, civil unions, or domestic partnerships.
The section 410 of the Penal Code, in force since July 2015, criminalizes same-sex marriage.
Discrimination protections
There is no legal protection against discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.