Tag Archives: Country: Morocco

ALLIANCE DEFENSE FUND MEDIA ALERT June 1, 2012 – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT ADF MEDIA RELATIONS: (480) 444-0020 or www.adfmedia.org/home/contact WHO: ADF Senior Legal Counsel Roger Kiska WHAT: Available to media following preliminary hearing in Village of Hope case, which concerns the mass …

AP: . . . new media guidelines that some say require public TV and radio stations to be more religious.

AP: Morocco’s ruling coalition formed a new government on Tuesday that gives top posts to an Islamist party but also keeps close allies of the king in powerful positions.

News from The Associated Press: The victory of an Islamist Party in Morocco’s parliamentary elections appears to be one more sign that religious-based parties are benefiting the most from the new freedoms brought by the Arab Spring.

News from The Associated Press: Once seen as a threat to this North African kingdom, Morocco’s Islamist party may now be key to the government’s credibility.

The Christian Post: “Seven months after being kicked out of Morocco, more than a dozen Christian parents have still been unable to see their foster children. And the chances that they’ll ever be reunited with them seem very slim . . . They claim that the Village of Hope was legally registered and thus mass deportations of its workers violated the protections afforded to associations under the North African country’s administrative law, [Roger Kiska], an attorney with the Alliance Defense Fund, explained.” For background, see this related ADF Alliance Alert post: ADF confirms yesterday’s WSJ article on the Village of Hope deportations in Morocco

MoroccoBoard News Service: “According to a news release from International Christian Concern (ICC), on Sept.17, the Moroccan newspaper Al Massae reported that Harder and Sanhi Russell were expelled from the country for ‘carrying out acts of proselytism’ in the city of Kenitra.”

ADF Attorney Roger Kiska writing at The Christian Post: “The Wall Street Journal reported on July 6, following Congressional hearings on the subject of the mass deportation of Christian volunteers in Morocco, on the continuing and tragic situation of the Village of Hope orphanage deportees: http://www.online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704911704575327310647304110.html?mod=rss_opinion_main. The Alliance Defense Fund, representing the Village of Hope internationally in the matter of the deportations, affirms the Wall Street Journal’s story that no evidence whatsoever was presented to substantiate the claim that the orphanage workers were guilty of criminal proselytism.”

Europe News: “Morocco has expelled a Spanish teacher from the Western Sahara region for allegedly attempting to convert Muslims to Christianity, a Spanish newspaper said on Tuesday.” | For more information on religious freedom issues in Morocco see this ADF Alliance Alert compound tag: http://www.alliancealert.org/tag/country-morocco+global-religious-freedom/

OneNewsNow: “The recent mass deportation of Christians from Morocco is getting the attention of lawmakers in Washington, DC. … Roger Kiska with the Alliance Defense Fund attended the hearing and points out that many people are now watching the situation. ‘There are a lot of governments involved: the Dutch government, the U.K., the European Union, the American government is involved,’ he lists. ‘TIME magazine, Christianity Today, the BBC [British Broadcasting Corporation] — you name the international media outlet or the election government and they are watching this carefully, because this sets a dangerous precedent.’”

ADF attorney Roger Kiska appeared on Chris Fabry Live to discuss the Congressional hearings on the expulsion of Christian missionaries from Morroco. | MP3 7:07 mins | ADF Media: U.S. House holds hearing Thursday on Morocco’s deportation of Christians

Worthy News: “A Christian is serving 15 years in a Moroccan jail for evangelism, a Christian rights groups said, while American Christian leaders praised Morocco Thursday, June 17, for its “long history of friendship and religious cooperation.” . . . ‘Christians shouldn’t be targeted for deportation simply because of their beliefs,’ said Kiska, who was scheduled to appear before the Human Rights Commission Thursday, June 18. ‘None of the preconditions for lawful deportation under Moroccan law was met by the government officials in this case. ‘It is vital that no precedent be set that will lead to more human rights violations of this sort, where Christian volunteers can be mass expelled simply because they are Christian,’ he said.”

WorldNetDaily: “The mass deportation of Christians ordered by authorities in Morocco in recent weeks now is getting attention in Washington. Counsel Roger Kiska of the Alliance Defense Fund said a hearing is scheduled Thursday before the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission. ‘Christians shouldn’t be targeted for deportation simply because of their beliefs,’ Kiska stated. ‘None of the preconditions for lawful deportation under Moroccan law was met by the government officials in this case.’ ‘It is vital that no precedent be set that will lead to more human rights violations of this sort, where Christian volunteers can be mass expelled simply because they are Christian,’ he said.”

Alliance Defense Fund Legal Counsel Roger Kiska will be available for media interviews following a hearing Thursday before the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission concerning the deportation of American Christians from Morocco.

Christian Post: “The latest deportations bring the number of Christians who have had to leave Morocco to about 105 since early March. Christians and expert observers are calling this a calculated effort to purge the historically moderate country, known for its progressive policies, of all Christian elements – both foreign and national.”

Christian Today: “Twenty-three foreigners have been notified of expulsion from Morocco since May 10, marking a second wave of Christian deportations from the country, according to International Christian Concern (ICC).”

OneNewsNow: “Officials from the Moroccan government have met with evangelical leaders over concerns stemming from the recent expulsion of Christians from the Middle Eastern country.”

Religion Clause Blog: “Morocco last month expelled around 50 Christians accused of proselytizing Muslims in violation of Moroccan law. (Moroccan authorities say the number was 27.) . . . ”

Christianity Today: “Christian volunteers and foster parents at a Moroccan orphanage were forced to abandon dozens of children on Monday after they were accused of proselytising. Moroccan authorities raided Village of Hope and said they were expelling the 20 workers and parents. The 33 children who were being cared for cried out ‘hysterically’ for their foster parents as they were left behind.”

Christian Post: “A large, military-led team of Moroccan authorities raided a Bible study in a small city southeast of Marrakech last week, arresting 18 Moroccans and deporting a U.S. citizen, area Christian leaders said.”

Radio Netherlands Worldwide: “A group of five foreigners, was arrested last week in Morocco on suspicion of proselytising. The Christian missionaries – two South Africans, two Swiss and one Guatemalan – were expelled from the country for holding ‘undeclared meetings’, said police. This is not the first such incident. Proselytising (attempting to change someone’s religious or political beliefs) is a crime in Morocco, even though the constitution guarantees individual freedom.”