Pornography in the Maldives
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In Maldives, the production, possession, sale, dissemination, distribution, or importation of pornography or pornographic material (including sex toys) is illegal.{{Cite web |title=Prohibited Items |url=https://customs.gov.mv/Business/Importers/import-prohibited-restricted-items |access-date=22 November 2024 |website=Maldives Customs Service |language=en}}{{Cite news |date=6 October 2014 |title=Nine students arrested in Addu City with pornographic material |url=https://minivannewsarchive.com/news-in-brief/nine-students-arrested-in-addu-city-with-pornographic-material-90373 |access-date=22 November 2024 |work=Minivan News}} It is considered a form of criticizing Islam.{{Cite web |title=Maldives Penal Code |url=https://www.law.upenn.edu/live/files/4203-maldives-penal-code-2014 |website=University of Pennsylvania Law School |page=92}}
Types of publications
= Print =
Possession of publications containing sexually explicit images carry a 6-month jail sentence and a fine.{{Cite news |date=4 December 2014 |title=Nurse sentenced to six months in prison for producing, possession of pornographic materials |url=https://english.sun.mv/26385 |access-date=22 November 2024 |work=Sun}} Erotic novels are not considered pornography.
= Internet =
Websites considered 'anti-Islamic' or 'pornographic' content are sometimes blocked by the Communications Authority of the Maldives (CAM) on the request of the Ministry of Islamic Affairs.{{Cite web |title=Maldives |url=https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-press/2013/maldives |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130925023321/https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-press/2013/maldives |archive-date=25 September 2013 |access-date=12 July 2017 |website=Freedom House |language=en}} In 2015, the Prosecutor General of the Maldives, Muhuthaz Muhusin, considered blocking all pornographic websites asserting that 'viewing pornographic material may lead to criminal activities' and that accessing such content is 'against Islamic principles.'{{Cite news |title=vnews - Maldives to block pornographic websites |url=http://www.vnews.mv/34820 |access-date=2017-07-12 |work=Vnews.mv}} {{Dead link|date=November 2024|fix-attempted=yes}}{{Cite news |date=12 February 2015 |title=PG orders Home Minister to block pornographic sites |url=https://english.sun.mv/27713 |access-date=22 November 2024 |work=Sun}} Similar assertions were made by the Home Minister in 2016.{{Cite news |date=26 May 2016 |title=ބަރަހަނާ ވެބްސައިޓްތައް އޮގަސްޓްގައި ބްކޮލް ކުރަނީ |trans-title=Porn websites being banned in August |url=https://www.addulive.com/48194 |access-date=2017-07-12 |work=AdduLIVE |language=dv}} However, no such steps were taken.
As of May 2019, several pornographic websites feature in the top 50 most popular websites in the Maldives.{{Cite web |title=Top Sites in Maldives |url=https://www.alexa.com/topsites/countries/MV |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180116190932/http://www.alexa.com/topsites/countries/MV |archive-date=16 January 2018 |access-date=19 November 2017 |publisher=Alexa |language=en}}
In 2023, as part of a pledge made by president Mohamed Muizzu, the Maldivian government banned all pornographic websites.{{Cite news |last=Rehan |first=Mohamed |date=17 December 2023 |title=President Muizzu pledges to block all explicit websites |url=https://edition.mv/telecommunication_authority/30669 |access-date=22 November 2024 |work=The Edition}}{{Cite news |date=16 December 2023 |title=Maldives implements ban on pornographic websites |url=https://avas.mv/en/137878 |access-date=22 November 2024 |work=Avas}}