Religious Freedom World Report

Prepared by the International Coalition for Religious Freedom

Morocco

Morocco is run by constitutional monarch. There is a ban on all Islamist political activity. Although the Constitution provides for freedom of worship, only Islam, Christianity, and Judaism are tolerated in practice. An overwhelming 98.7 percent of the population is Muslim and 1.3 percent is Christian or Jewish. Islam is the official religion. Ninety-nine percent of Moroccans are Sunni Muslims, and the King bears the title Commander of the Faithful.

The Ministry of Islamic Affairs monitors the teaching of approved doctrine at Friday mosque sermons and the Koranic schools. Authorities sometimes suppress the activities of Islamists, but generally tolerate activities limited to the propagation of Islam, education, and charity. Security forces commonly close mosques to the public shortly after Friday services to prevent use of the premises for unauthorized political activity.

The Jewish community of approximately 6,000 is allowed to practice its faith, as is the somewhat larger foreign Christian community. The Baha'i community of 150 to 200 people has been forbidden to meet or hold communal activities since 1983.

Islamic law and tradition calls for strict punishment of any Muslim who converts to another faith. Any attempt to induce a Muslim to convert is similarly illegal. Foreign missionaries either limit their proselytizing to non-Muslims or conduct their work quietly.

According to the State Department, in 1995, at least seven Moroccans were arrested, and in some cases sentenced to jail terms, for offenses related to their Christianity. In addition, a Salvadoran man and an American family were deported for evangelistic activities.

2003 US State Department International Religious Freedom Report on Morocco

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