Minority Rights Group International, State of the World's Minorities 2006 - Maldives, 22 December 2005, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/48abdd7bc.html [accessed 25 May 2023]
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An unfortunate pattern of discrimination and persecution of religious minorities persisted in Maldives, which does not provide constitutional guarantees of freedom of religion. According to the legislative provisions, the president and members of parliament must be Muslims. There is a continuing failure in providing places of worship to non-Muslims, with the government also prohibiting the import of religious statues and icons.