Maldives

The flag of the Maldives is red with a large green rectangle in the centre bearing a vertical white crescent; the closed side of the crescent is on the hoist side of the flag.Flag of Maldives at CIA World Factbook
==Symbolism==
*The Red Border symbolizes the blood of the national heroes who sacrificed their lives for the independence and the sovereignty of the nation.
*The Green Rectangle denotes life, progress and prosperity.
*The White Crescent represents the Islamic faith of the nation, as well as progress, prosperity, and peace.Maldives, flag of the. (2009). In Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved March 25, 2009, from Encyclopædia Britannica Online
==History==
Arabs from the Arabian Peninsula and East African coast have sailed and traded widely throughout the Indian Ocean for centuries. Many of their ships carried a plain red ensign, which served as the national flag of Oman, Zanzibar (now part of Tanzania), Kuwait, the Comoros, and several other Arab states or colonies. This flag, on the initiative of Prime Minister Amir Abdul Majeed Didi, was adopted by the Maldives, but in the 20th century it became increasingly necessary for countries to identify themselves clearly in the international arena. Therefore, at some unknown date (probably in the 1930s), the Maldives acquired a new flag. Many variations of the basic design were developed for special purposes such as use by the sultan, display on public buildings for official holidays, or use by the armed forces.
The Maldives was a British protectorate from 1887 until July 26, 1965, when it regained its independence. At that time the hoist stripe was omitted, but the national flag otherwise stayed the same.
Image:Maldives, earliest.png|Earliest flag
Image:Maldives, until 1903.png|Flag used until 1903
Image:Maldives 1903.png|1903-1953
Image:Maldives 1949.png|1953-1965
==References==
Category:Asia
Category:Red background
Category:Proportions 2-3
Category:Crescents
Category:Maldives
Category:United Nations
Category:Islam