Haa Dhaalu is governed by federal Maldives law. Learn more
- Homosexuality
- ⚢✖ Illegal (imprisonment as punishment)
- Gay Marriage
- ⚭✖ Banned
- Censorship
- Ambiguous
- Changing Gender
- ✖ Illegal
- Gender-Affirming Care
- ✖ Banned
- Non-Binary Gender Recognition
- ✖ Not legally recognized
- Discrimination
- ✖ No protections
- Employment Discrimination
- ✖ No protections
- Housing Discrimination
- ✖ No protections
- Adoption
- N/A
- Intersex Infant Surgery
- ✖ Not banned
- Military
- Unknown
- Donating Blood
- Ambiguous
- Conversion Therapy
- ✖ Not banned
- Age of Consent
- N/A
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Public Opinion
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Homosexual activity in Haa Dhaalu is illegal (imprisonment as punishment).
Current status
Since Jul 16, 2015
Illegal (imprisonment as punishment)
Since 2015, Maldives’ Penal Code has criminalized both male and female homosexual sex.
Section 411 of the 2014 Penal Code criminalizes same-sex intercourse with up to eight years imprisonment and allows an additional 100 lashes under Sharia law. Section 412 prohibits same-sex sexual contact, also punishable by up to eight years, applying to both men and women.
Section 411 of the 2014 Penal Code criminalizes same-sex intercourse with up to eight years imprisonment and allows an additional 100 lashes under Sharia law. Section 412 prohibits same-sex sexual contact, also punishable by up to eight years, applying to both men and women.
Until Jul 15, 2015
Illegal (other penalty)
Before 2015, Maldives’ Penal Code did not explicitly criminalize homosexual sex. However, uncodified Sharia law criminalized homosexual acts between men and between women. Men found guilty could be punished with banishment for a period of nine months to one year, or with 10 to 30 lashes. Women found guilty faced house arrest for nine months to one year.
Censorship of LGBT issues in Haa Dhaalu is ambiguous.
Current status
Ambiguous
The Maldives does not have any laws explicitly restricting the discussion or promotion of LGBTQ+ topics. However, laws prohibit public statements that are contrary to Islam, threaten the public order, or are libelous.
Right to change legal gender in Haa Dhaalu is illegal.
Current status
Illegal
Transgender people are unable to change their legal gender.
Gender-affirming care in Haa Dhaalu is banned.
Current status
Banned
Gender-affirming care is not provided in the Maldives.
Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Haa Dhaalu is not legally recognized.
Current status
Not legally recognized
The option to legally identify as a third gender is not available.
LGBT discrimination in Haa Dhaalu is no protections.
Current status
No protections
The Maldives provides no protections from discrimination to LGBTIQ+ people.
LGBT employment discrimination in Haa Dhaalu is no protections.
Current status
No protections
There are no protections from discrimination in employment provided to LGBTIQ+ people in the Maldives.
LGBT housing discrimination in Haa Dhaalu is no protections.
Current status
No protections
There are no protections from discrimination in housing provided to LGBTIQ+ people in the Maldives.
Same-sex adoption in Haa Dhaalu is n/a.
Current status
N/A
Adoption is prohibited for everyone in the Maldives.
Intersex infant surgery in Haa Dhaalu is not banned.
Current status
Not banned
The Maldives do not ban “normalization” surgeries performed on intersex infants.
Serving openly in military in Haa Dhaalu is unknown.
Current status
Unknown
Blood donations by MSMs in Haa Dhaalu is ambiguous.
Current status
Ambiguous
Men who have sex with men are considered criminals under the law.
Section 2.8 of the National Guideline on Clinical Use of Blood (2022) states that "Prospective donors are assessed for suitability to donate blood depending on their general health, wellbeing, medical history, lifestyle behaviours and any risks pertaining to transfusion transmitted infections."
Section 2.8 of the National Guideline on Clinical Use of Blood (2022) states that "Prospective donors are assessed for suitability to donate blood depending on their general health, wellbeing, medical history, lifestyle behaviours and any risks pertaining to transfusion transmitted infections."
Conversion therapy in Haa Dhaalu is not banned.
Current status
Not banned
The Maldives do not ban conversion therapies that aim to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity.
Equal age of consent in Haa Dhaalu is n/a.
Current status
N/A
Homosexuality is illegal, so there is no legal age of consent.
Legal Rights
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This region's Equality Index is based on legal rights alone. Please submit survey results that show the public opinion of LGBTQ+ issues in Haa Dhaalu to help improve its accuracy.
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Haa Dhaalu LGBT Organizations
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Alternative names: Haa Dhaalu, Hâ Dhâl, South Thiladhunmathi, Thiladhunmathi Dhekunuburi, Tiladummati-South