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Morocco

  • Evangelism Charges Dropped Against Convert

    The charges against Mohamed El Baladi, a convert to Christianity who was arrested for "shaking the faith of a Muslim," were recently overturned. While the judge ruled that Mohamed had engaged in general conversation about his faith, there was no evidence that he had coerced or offered financial incentives to others for converting.
  • Convert Tentatively Released from Prison

    Mohamed El Baladi was released from the Moroccan prison where he had been confined since his arrest in late August. However, the release has only been granted until his official appeal hearing, which is scheduled for October 10th. Mohamed was initially sentenced to two-and-a-half years' imprisonment for the crimes of evangelism and "shaking the faith of a Muslim." To review a previous report on this case, please click here.
  • Christian Convert Imprisoned for Evangelizing

    During a recent court hearing, a Moroccan Christian man was ordered to serve a two-and-a-half-year prison sentence for evangelizing Muslims. On August 28th, police raided the home of 34-year-old Mohamed el Baldi, of Ain Aicha, confiscating his Bible and about 30 additional Christian books. Following the raid, Mohamed was arrested and interrogated by police. At the court hearing, he was sentenced to 30 months in prison and fined 5,000 dirhams (about $600) for "shaking the faith of a Muslim."
  • Three secret believers arrested

    Three Christian men were arrested in a city café on March 1 in Morocco. During the arrest, police apparently gained information about other secret believers in the country. The arrest involved two young men who were meeting with an older believer from another city. While the two young men were released later that night, the older believer remains in custody. The families of the two young men did not know the men were following Christ. One of them was no longer welcome in his home once his beliefs were discovered.

    Many foreign Christians were expelled from Morocco two years ago, and this had a significant impact on the Church as anti-Christian sentiment seems to be growing in the country. Moroccan believers now meet in small groups for fear of persecution. While becoming a Christian in Morocco is not actually illegal, it is forbidden to share the gospel with non-Christians.

    Please pray that Moroccan Christians will continue to gather despite the threats of reprisals. Pray that the believer in prison will remain strong in his faith and will be freed. Pray that Moroccan Christians' passion for Christ will be the light that draws others to Jesus (Matthew 5:14-16).

    For more information on persecution in Morocco, please visit the Morocco Country Report.
  • Christians deported

    Officials in Morocco recently expelled 26 foreign Christians, bringing to approximately 105 the number of Christians who have been deported in recent months. In March, more than 40 foreign Christians were forced to leave the country, reportedly due to Muslim hardliners pressuring the nation's royalty to show "Islamic solidarity." According to Moroccan law, foreigners who have lived in the country for more than 10 years cannot be deported unless they are accused of a crime. They also have the right to appeal the deportation order within 48 hours. Those expelled in recent months, however, were given only hours' notice and were forcibly escorted to the country's exit ports. Very few of the believers were able to appeal. Moroccan officials have cited "proselytism" as the reason for the deportations.

    The deported foreigners have had to leave their families, friends and communities behind in Morocco. Many of the deportees were the primary providers for their families. One of the deported said of the experience, "It's devastating, because we have invested years of our lives into our community, business community and charity sectors.... It was like a death in the family -- forcibly ejected from the country without being able to say goodbyes, just like that."

    It has also been reported that at least two Moroccan Christians have been beaten in recent days, and that police have brought other believers to police stations daily for psychologically "heavy" interrogations about the activities of foreign and local Christians. (Source: Compass Direct)

    Pray for guidance and strength for the deported believers. Ask for God's provision for their loved ones. Pray that many followers of Christ will continue His work in Morocco (Matthew 9:36-38).

    To find out more about trials facing Christians in Morocco,click here.
  • Christian orphanage workers ordered out of Morocco


    Family saying good-bye
    Click here to see the children
    Photos from Village of Hope
    Sixteen Christian foreign workers in an orphanage in Ain Leuh, Morocco have been ordered to leave the country, leaving 33 children abandoned. The order was given due to allegations that the staff were "trying to make them Christian." The Village of Hope orphanage cares for children abandoned by their parents and society.

    A staff member has stated, "We have always been open about our faith to the authorities.... 33 children have just been abandoned again by the actions of the Moroccan state.... Watching the children be told by their parents that they had to leave, that they would maybe never see them again, is the most painful thing I have ever witnessed." (Source: Village of Hope)

    Pray that these foster parents will be allowed to return to their children. Ask God to provide others to love and care for the children at this time. Pray that those ordered to leave will find strength in Jesus.

    To find out more about the struggles believers face in Morocco,click here.
  • Christians detained and interrogated

    On February 4, approximately 60 Moroccan authorities raided the home of a Christian in the city of Amizmiz where a Bible study was being held for believers from around the country. Authorities seized Bibles, books, two laptops, a digital camera and one cell phone. They also detained 18 of the believers, including five small children, for 14 hours and interrogated them. The visiting Christians were then released and sent back to their homes. One of the detained, a U.S. citizen, was deported immediately after interrogation. A report by the Interior Ministry claimed that the raid took place "following information on the organization of a secret meeting to initiate people into Christianity, which would shake Muslims' faith and undermine the Kingdom's religious values." (Source: Compass Direct)

    Pray that authorities will repent of their unjust treatment of these believers. Pray that religious freedom will be truly recognized throughout Morocco. Pray that Christians in Morocco will work in unity and set their minds on Christ as they serve the Lord amid opposition (1 Corinthians 1:10).

    For more information on Christians in Morocco,click here.
  • Five Christians expelled

    Five female Christians, four Spanish and one German, were recently expelled from Morocco on accusations of "proselytizing" Muslims. According to a March 31 report from Compass Direct, the women were among a group of tourists who were arrested by police while gathered for Bible study in the city of Casablanca on March 28. Officials seized Christian material, including Arabic books and videos. The believers were questioned by police and detained until the early hours of the next day. The women, who were deemed missionaries by the government, were deported to Spain.

    Pray for true religious freedom in Morocco. Ask God to give wisdom to these believers as to how to continue serving Him. Pray for the church as it continues to establish itself within Moroccan society (1 Timothy 3:15).

    Find out more about the persecution Christians face in Morocco at theMorocco Country Report.
  • German Tourist Sentenced

    On November 28, a Moroccan court sentenced a German tourist, Sadek Noshi Yassa (64) to six months in prison and a fine of 500 dirhams ($68 CAD) for trying to "shake the faith of a Muslim." Authorities allege that Yassa was distributing books and CDs about the Christian faith to young Muslims on the streets of Agadir. The case follows reports in the local media that some Christians were launching a clandestine campaign to convert Moroccan Muslims to Christianity.  Contrary to a Reuters report on November 30 that Sadek had been imprisoned, The Voice of the Martyrs has been informed that he was able to leave Morocco before the sentence was handed down.

    Pray for the continued spread of the gospel in Morocco despite opposition. 

    For more information on the persecution of Christians in Morocco,click here.