[4][8] According to the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, and Intersex Association (ILGA), the Maldives Penal Code, prior to amendment in 2015, left matters concerning sexual conduct un-codified and to be regulated by Islamic law, applicable to Muslims only.

In 2008, a European-drafted statement[18] called for the decriminalization of homosexuality and recommended that states "take all the necessary measures, in particular legislative or administrative, to ensure that sexual orientation or gender identity may under no circumstances be the basis for criminal penalties, in particular executions, arrests or detention".

[20] In June 2011, the Maldives rejected a resolution submitted by the Republic of South Africa at the United Nations which sought to affirm the rights of the LGBT community.

A second resolution was adopted by the United Nations Human Rights Council in September 2014 which related to sexual orientation and gender identity; however, this was again rejected by the Maldives.

These 60 recommendations included matters that were said to contradict the Islamic Faith and the Constitution of the Maldives; such as those "relating to freedom of religion, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and non-traditional forms of the family".

[24]: 83  Here, Action Canada for Population and Development responded by noting their concern over the Maldives rejection of "adopting a law against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation".

[24]: 87 The Human Rights Council, in 2015, recommended that the Maldives accelerate their work towards enacting anti-discrimination legislation and to "ensure it includes a prohibition of discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation; and combat the stigmatization and marginalization of homosexuals in society.

[26] In 2013, a blogger named Hilath Rasheed was nearly killed in a violent attack outside his home in the Maldives due to his open homosexuality[27] and push for religious freedom.

The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment in New Zealand was said to have granted refugee status because Naim was "at risk of serious harm from state agents" and would likely face further persecution for being openly gay on returning to the Maldives.

[29] This was affirmed by Ibrahim Muaz, a spokesman at the President's Office, who commented that those seeking asylum abroad for reasons of sexual orientation discrimination would face prosecution upon return.

[6] Rainbow Warriors[31] stated that the local Maldives LGBT movement is mostly limited to the virtual world, operating on the internet, due to the uncertainty and the intensity of homophobia in the country.

Local citizens who expressed support for LGBTI rights on social media reportedly were targeted for online harassment as "apostates" or irreligious.