The Maldives project themselves as an ideal but in reality they are a repressive regime. Every person living there is forced to follow Islam. There is no choice.
Out on the island resorts they project a benign image. They pamper the Western tourists and ply them with alcohol and luxury in their artificial sandy beached, palm-treed paradise. They offer liberal relaxation in sun and sea with scuba diving and sea-sport.. But for the endemic population alcohol is banned and religion is imposed.
I found the hypocrisy disturbing.
Not only do I not like imposition – I don’t like theocracies.