US Warns Maldives About Proposal To Limit Citizenship To Muslims

U.S. Ambassador to the Maldives, Robert Blake, said at a press conference on Tuesday that the United States government has expressed concern over wording in the current draft of the Maldives proposed new constitution. The document provides that : "A non-Muslim may not become a citizen of the Maldives." Minivan News reported yesterday that Ambassador Blake warned the provision is in conflict with the Maldives international obligations-- presumably under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The country's current Constitution (Sec. 134) limits the right to vote to Muslims, but does not explicitly limit citizenship on the basis of religion-- though legislation requires foreigners seeking to be naturalized to be Muslim. The new constitution would revoke citizenship of any current non-Muslim citizens. Information Minister Mohamed Nasheed has written on his personal blog: "... it will be very difficult for Maldives mentality to accept Maldives citizens may belong to a different faith. It will be seen as an offense to the state of Maldives and an insult to being Maldivian, thus demanding serious reprisal." (See prior related posting.)