Maldives: Growing Islamic conservatism

As the Maldives Independent reported on 9 January 2017, a school had to recall social studies textbooks for grades 1-4 after an outcry from concerned parents over a page illustrating two Christian churches. The books had recently been introduced by the new management at Gateway International School without official approval from the appropriate Maldivian ministry. A local news website accused the school of being "a gateway to turning Maldivians [in]to Christians". Thomas Muller, persecution analyst at World Watch Research, explains: "That the mere picture of a church is seen as promoting Christianity and potential proselytism shows how deeply ingrained the fear of the Muslim majority is. The appointment of a radical cleric to the highest Islamic council (as reported by the Maldives Independent on 14 December 2016) also fits this pattern and will lead expatriate Christians to exercise even more caution and indigenous Christians to take the utmost care in remaining undiscovered."