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Moroccan Christians repeatedly arrested and harassed

Human rights president: "It is even more dangerous for Christian converts when allegations of blasphemy are made – Christians have been held for several days and there have been incidents of violence. He added, the police have also threatened spouses and children with arrest. Moroccan Christians worship in secret house churches to avoid state sanctions or harassment from society.”

 

Converts to Christianity in Morocco have been repeatedly arrested by police as part of a campaign clamping down on the Faith.

Jawad Elhamidy, president of the Moroccan Association of Rights and Religious Liberties, told Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) that Christian converts have been arrested up to three times a week and subjected to harassment while at police stations.

Most are released after interrogation – but are often put under pressure to return to Islam, and face abuse when they refuse. Mr Elhamidy said:

“The penal code holds that all Moroccans are Muslims, so those who convert to Christianity face legal problems, beside threats to their security.” He told the story of Mohamed Al Moghany, a Muslim convert to Christianity from Al Hajeb city, whose employer had waved a gun at him and threatened to kill him.

When Mr Al Moghany filed a complaint with police, he was told not to speak about his conversion and threats were made against his family. Six months later, following an argument with his employer, he was arrested and sentenced to six months in prison. His wife was interrogated as well.

Other than Islam, the only legally recognised religion is Judaism – although foreign Christians living and working in the country are permitted freedom of worship. Mr Elhamidy told ACN that there are two Christian communities in Morocco – foreigners who live in the country and Moroccans who have converted to Christianity from Islam.

It is estimated that 30,000 foreign residents are Catholic and 10,000 are Protestant. The number of indigenous Moroccan Christians is an estimated 8,000, though some sources put that number as high as 25,000 out of a total population of 34.6 million.

Unlike foreign Christians, converts do not enjoy freedom of worship under the law.

Mr Elhamidy said: “If a Moroccan enters a church, one of two things can happen – either a policeman sitting in front of the church arrests him or her, or the cleric in charge of the church asks the person to leave, unless the purpose is tourism.”

He added: “Moroccan Christians worship in secret house churches to avoid state sanctions or harassment from society. Under Moroccan law, proselytising or converting to another religion is a criminal offence punishable by between six months and three years in prison.”

According to Elhamidy, Church leaders receive a weekly warning from the authorities not to welcome Moroccans, or they will be charged with proselytising.

Featured picture shows a detail of the icon of Our Lady of Morocco.

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