According to the 2004 International Religious Freedom report, the Moroccan Constitution provides for freedom of religion, and while the Government generally respects this right in practice, there are some restrictions. For example, proselytizing is forbidden in Morocco with the result that any attempt to induce a Muslim to convert is illegal.
According to Article 220 of the Moroccan Penal Code, any attempt to stop one or more persons from the exercise of their religious beliefs or from attendance at religious services is unlawful and may be punished by 3-6 months' imprisonment and a fine of $10 to $50 (115 to 575 dirhams).
The article applies the same penalty to "anyone who employs incitements to shake the faith of a Muslim or to convert him to another religion."
Back in January we wrote an article about the uncovering of a secret evangelical cell in Marrakech (Evangelical missionaries in Morocco). And according to an interesting post by Liosliath in Morocco Time, the evangelicals are rallying again for a "year of prayer for Morocco".
The website "Arise Shine Morocco" has some disturbing contents including the highly provocative "Ramadan Prayer Guide" in which their followers are exposed to some whimsical views of Ramadan and the Moroccan attitude to it. The prayer guide dates from 2004 so presumably they have been using it for the last couple of years.
The site is aligned with another called "Harvest North Africa Website" where they don't even bother to be discrete about sending missionaries, which they describe as "field based prayer initiatives" - HNA exists to facilitate a tidal wave of new intercessors from around the globe to engage in effective prayer for the nations of North Africa. HNA will become a clearinghouse of information about North Africa relevant to all interested Christians. HNA seeks to mobilize human and other kingdom resources for the region.
To realize these goals, Harvest North Africa will work to facilitate effective field-based prayer initiatives for each nation. HNA will produce and distribute vital relevant generic media designed for easy use by any Christian individual, church or organization with an interest in the region. Via a growing email network and a website, HNA will sound a trumpet call to active prayer on behalf of North Africa."
A tidal wave... harvesting? The mixed metaphor would be just silly if these fanatics weren't for real. Fortunately they are a small and reasonably ineffectual group as far as Morocco is concerned. Others, less overt, are more dangerous.
In contravention of Article 220 of the Moroccan Penal Code, there are still evangelicals active in cities such as Marrakech. In one instance they are believed to be operating behind the front of a language school and in another a property company. There have been reports of people working with these companies having pressure put on them to convert. This is a serious situation from a security point of view and should be stopped. There is a danger that evangelical organisations such as Arise Shine Morocco, 10/40 Window and Harvest North Africa will convince gullible young people or naive older ones to come to Morocco as missionaries. Such actions are not only illegal but put those involved at risk.
Morocco is a very tolerant society and Jews, Christians, Buddhists, Hindus and Pagans all live here with no problem. The problem is not religion - but evangelism. North Africa does not need harvesting.
Liosliath also posts about the so-called 10/40 window website. Her article is worth a read. You can read it here: Missionaries are perfect nuisances and leave every place worse than they found it.
Note from our editor:
Here is a list of other stories on evangelical work in Morocco;
Teaching English or Evangelising?
German Evangelist Flees
Evangelists Target Morocco
Smuggling Bibles
New Christian Crusade in Morocco
Tags: Morocco Fes, Maghreb news
31 comments:
Very interesting post. It is interesting that they target cities like Marrakech, rather than Tangier or Casablanca.
This is a problem all over Africa. The "Harvest North Africa" folks need a wake up call to tolerance of other religions. Judaism, Islam and Christianity have more in common than the things that divide them.
I have attended a church service in Tangier with no problems - but evangelizing is frowned on by the church.
I am what you brand as an ‘evangelist’ and aware of all that you speak of. Your blog is very silly. It would be more interesting if it were accurate. You obviously have an agenda too! What is wrong with praying for people? That is NOT proselytizing by any stretch of the imagination. My Moroccan Christian friends all live respectful lives in the community. Nobody gives them money. See also www.hiwarmaroc.com
Nothing wrong with simply praying - but if you read carefully you will see we are talking of more than that.
Right on, Samir. The agenda of these people goes a lot further than "anonymous" cares to acknowledge.
Reading their websites gave me a real chill. Your blog has and is a well thought out and balanced one - for which - many thanks.
All this whining about a handful of Christians in Morocco who are as observant of their own religion as Muslims ought to be of their own is pathetic.
Europe and the States are being flooded with Muslim missionaries who operate under the guise of Islamic studies programs, business ventures of every description, and as students in nearly every educational institutional that isn't church- or synagogue-based. The intent is clearly laid out in Muslim blogs and websites: convert America to Islam, full stop.
I get really tired of Muslim commentators like yourself who think that Islam deserves a 50-metre head start in the 100-metre dash of world belief systems. Get a life, will you? You've got something to say; so do I. Let the man (woman, child) on the street decide who's telling the truth. If Islam can't handle that kind of open competition, then get off the track!
Basic comprehension skills should be a prerequisite for commenting on posts. Your bellicose "anonymous" hasn't even taken time to read the post.
The problem is not Moroccan Christians at all. In fact, far from it. If he had bothered to read carefully he would have understood that the problem is evangelists who by breaking the law put local people at risk.
Moroccan Christians are protected by the law, they don't need the support of people like "anonymous" or evangelicals.
We share an Abrahamic faith and can all live side by side. Fundamentalists on both sides are thankfully only a minorty.
Thanks El Glaoui, you took the words out of my mouth. If some of your commentators can't be civil they should take their buckets and spades and go home.
I found the original post both fair and informative.
In Finland we also had problems with evangelicals - but that is another story. As a Pagan - I know
just dropping in to say what a great blog and interesting to see the discussion, though as El Glaoui, pointed out, some of the kids hadn't read what you guys said.
I am studying Arabic and will be coming to Morocco in March. I hope we can meet up.
Thanks for the heads-up on the situation in Morocco. These so-called Christians should live and let live.
Nice blog - as I have said before.
Your posts on property traps are very helpful. Thanks a bunch chaps.
Mr El Glaoui, what is this about 'breaking the law'? Who is breaking the law? How am I 'putting the locals at risk' by offering them my belief? Isn't it good that we don't all have a totalitarian mindset. If only the Arab world were as tolerant as you make out! Ask the average Jew or Christian in Morocco what he thought about that! You are either not living in the Arab world or you are living in make-believe!
Moroccoman needs to read the law!
I know the law and follow it.
That is why we pray - no amount of money ('incitements') will persuade a man to follow Christ. God does the work!
Do you have any problem with me sharing my Christian faith with a Moroccan? (without 'incitements to shake the faith of a Muslim or to convert him to another religion;)
I have two problems with evangelicals. First, you believe that a person's salvation is only obtainable via accepting Jesus Christ as your savior. Second, you bring your "faith" where it's not asked for or wanted. People have faith here, it's just not one that you agree with. If it's "just praying" you can easily do that back in Europe or the States. I don't have a problem with a Christian who comes here with another main goal in mind (many Peace Corps volunteers, for example), and chooses to lead by example, not by proselytizing.
As for the anonymous that thinks that Muslims are "flooding" the West - get a grip. They're much less prolific than Christian evangelists - though if they are trying to convert people, I wouldn't agree with that, either.
I'm sorry...this is my first time commenting on here, and I keep leaving this comment in the wrong place. I'm sure someone looking at apartments in Fes will be a little confused at seeing my comment there. Anyway, here it is in the right place...
Dear View From Fes,
Thanks for your incredible blog site. I am learning so much about Fes.
I just wanted to respond to your recent article on “Evangelicals Targeting Morocco”. I was particularly interested in this article because I am an evangelical Christian living in Morocco. In fact, in its very nature, to be a true Christian is to be evangelical. If you have really experienced Jesus Himself, you just can’t help it! It is like falling in love and not being able to talk about it, or finding the cure to cancer and not being able to share it with anyone!
As a Christian woman living in your beautiful country, I can tell you honestly that I have a deep love for Jesus, my Saviour, and a deep love for the people of Morocco. I believe that any motivation other than love for anything we do is sin. Therefore, anyone of any religion, trying to force or pressure someone to convert is sin. However, if we have discovered something wonderful, is it not the most loving thing to do to share it with our friends- whether they believe it or not. I have had dear Moroccan friends put their arms around me and beg me to become a Muslim so that I would not go to hell. I was never offended by this because I could sense that their motivation for saying this was their love for me.
Your article also mentions a law against “anyone who employs incitements to shake the faith of a Muslim…” However, this statement does not make sense to me because faith that can be shaken is no faith at all. A set of beliefs that is only held because of its lack of exposure to other beliefs cannot be called faith.
If in very nature, to be a true Biblical Christian is to be evangelical, then any laws that prohibit it are not in agreement with God’s Book. In most cases, we are commanded to submit to authorities and obey laws; however, when these are in conflict with what God has said, we are told, “Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to obey you rather than God. For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard”.
May God Bless Morocco! Amen.
Thanks Liosliath - I appreciate your respect and honesty.
I have a problem with your comment: you bring your "faith" where it's not asked for or wanted - who says it isn't wanted?! (you do perhaps!) How can you know about a faith without it being presented?
By the way, Christianity isn't a Western religion - the church took root and exists today in the Middle East.
I totally agree that foreigners coming here should live here with a proper job, working hard, giving to society, respecting the culture and traditions, learning the language.
Many Christian foreigners are doing this. These articles suggesting the 'evangelists' are on an organized crusade are ill-informed and politically motivated. Let me assure you there is no strategy like 'targeting Marrakesh or Tangier'. Wherever a Christian is he shares his faith.
Do you have a problem with me living here with a proper job and sharing my faith?
Just a note to say how pleased I am to see this discussion staying civilised! Too often they degenerate into attacks on people. Thanks to you all.
MoroccoMan - It's not asked for or wanted in the sense that most Moroccans grow up Muslim, meaning they have faith in Allah and the afterlife, and take steps to assure their admittance there! Shouldn't you be focusing on those who don't have faith? (or lost it along the way) I wouldn't mind evangelists sharing their beliefs, were it not for the fact that they (and you, perhaps) believe it's the only "right" one. Similarly, I disagree with Muslims who believe that their religion is the only path to God.
As for your statement, "Let me assure you there is no strategy like 'targeting Marrakesh or Tangier'," that's incorrect. I've found many sites that target specific areas - one, for example, focuses on Riffians (Moroccan Berbers from the North).
I'm well aware of where the church took root (many years of Sunday School and bible study!), but I don't think you can deny where most evangelists are coming from today - the West.
I appreciate anyone who has a strong commitment to God and practices their faith in daily life - but when that person says, "Well, I need to bring more people to the Truth, because if they die without being saved, they won't have everlasting life" - yes, I have a problem with that.
As for you, you walk a fine line. You're probably a good person with noble intentions, but it depends on what you mean by "sharing your faith." For example, one of your co-workers or friends notices that you're always calm and happy, and asks you, "How do you accomplish that?" If you say, "Well, I'm a Christian, and that's positively affected everything in my life," I wouldn't have a problem. If you go on to say, "And here's some more information about accepting Jesus as your savior," that's not cool.
Dear Liosliath,
I appreciate your commitment to respect of people of all cultures and religions; however, may I answer you as to why Christians believe that Jesus is the Only way.
Scripture is filled with verses as to why Jesus is the only way to salvation, but I will share just two of them with you.
In John 14:6, Jesus says, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me". Again, Acts 4:12 says, "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must me saved".
There is no other way around it. It you believe the Bible then you have to believe that Jesus is the only way to be saved. Therefore good religion whether under the title of Islam or Christianity is insufficient to bring salvation if it is not centred on the fact that Jesus died for our sins. If you don't believe this part of Scripture about Jesus being the only way, then you cannot claim to believe Scripture and you cannot honestly claim to be a Christian.
I do agree with you that we need to respect and love each other. However, I do not agree that respect means being afraid to discuss the most important things that concern us in this life and in eternal life.
Thank you for your comments. This is a good discussion.
t
What we are discussing is not whether my faith or yours is the Right way. I know that Jesus is the only way. And Muslims say that to say the shahada etc. is the only way. Christianity and Islam are opposed on the basic tenets of salvation.
The subject is the right to share your Christian faith in Morocco. Liosliath says it is only right to do so if you are asked. Who could Moroccans ask if those around them don't know anything about Christianity? Actually it seems there are a lot of people interested to know more about Christianity!
As anonymous said, if you really believe something and you know it is a question of death or life for them you MUST share it with them. We are bombarded day and night with offers and have the right to accept or refuse. What's wrong with that? Offering somebody something isn't wrong even if they didn't approach you first.
Your philosophy seems to be like 'our' local Imam - don't ask me, just accept.
In Christ we are free to think and reason.
If Moroccoman really believes his last statement about being "free to think and reason" - he should read Liosliath's post about "Leah" - who is being "trained" to drop in on Morocco to evangelise. The word "brainwashing" comes to mind.
Read it on Morocco Time We can only hope the silly young girl in question is picked up before she gets into any serious trouble.
Great post Liosliath.
It's not a great post (that of Liosliath)- she doesn't believe that Islam is the way or Christianity. Not sure what she believes - let's hope she meets our excited American friend!!
It's a good thing we are not all like this 'silly girl'. Don't tell anybody but I'm very embarrassed to read what she wrote! Like so many young Americans (a bit like their president!) they don't know or understand much of what is happening in the rest of the world.
However, that doesn't mean we are all like her. It's a good thing I don't think all Muslims are the same.
I frankly don't find your answers convincing. The vague law about proselytizing which will always be open to mis-interpretation by our corrupt judges and Liosliath's reply that I can only answer when I'm asked smells of a totalitarianist mindset.
MoroccoMan - That's not totalitarianism, it's reality. Morocco is not a secular society - it revolves around Islam, starting with the Shahada whispered into a child's ear when it's born. You can't change that. And I'm not saying that you're wrong - "What we are discussing is not whether my faith or yours is the Right way" - that's not it at all. If that's what you believe, I completely support you in that. My problem comes in with what Anon mentions...
Anonymous - That's exactly it - "If you don't believe this part of Scripture about Jesus being the only way, then you cannot claim to believe Scripture and you cannot honestly claim to be a Christian." I can quote scripture to you all day, my friend, and I doubt you want to lay claim to all of it. So you think you get to decide who's Christian and who's not? Who'll be saved and who won't? THAT is why I object to missionaries and evangelists.
Dear El Glaoui,
Reading your comments again - you are, as before, sensationalist - you look for the effect on the reader but don't really say much of substance.
Could you explain to your readership your problem between 'free to think and reason' and the coming of 'Leah'. Why do you say 'brainwashing'. My friends in the Koranic school down the road are definitely guilty of brainwashing big-time. One would think that the more you read the Koran the better your behavior - the reverse seems to be the case! Strange!
Dear Liosliath,
You say: So you think you get to decide who's Christian and who's not? Who'll be saved and who won't? THAT is why I object to missionaries and evangelists.
That's a very strange analysis of what anonymous said! As I said before we present the Truths about our faith and it is for you to accept or refuse. We would never force you. Of course we want everybody to hear the Good News and be saved. There is nothing wrong with that. Do you see it as a problem?
It is the Bible that makes the distinction between those that are saved and those that aren't, not me individually. All my Moroccan Christian friends have made the decision personally to follow Jesus with no coercion or money or whatever from me. Yes I discussed with them, answered their questions but it is a matter between them and God.
Christianity says (as you seem to know) Believe in Jesus Christ and repent of your sins This is clear. Islam says: Say the Shahada. It is black and white. You are either a Muslim or not a Muslim; a Christian or not a Christian.
What are you scared about? What or who are you trying to protect? Human beings are free to decide for themselves who or what to follow in life. If only they had those choices presented fairly before them...
MoroccoMan, do you not think that saying "Here's my religion, it's great - oh, and by the way, if you don't accept it, you won't go to Paradise..." is FORCING someone? At the very least, it's coercion. I'm not scared, I'm annoyed at what seems to be a growing trend. You and I won't ever agree on this, but I'm sure we'll meet in the afterlife and have a good laugh about it - because we're both going there. So is my Muslim husband, and my Baptist father, and my Catholic mother. Interpret the Bible any way you like, but it was written by men, for men. God is much greater than that.
Dear Liosliath,
Thank you for your comments.
I agree with you that I do not get to decide who is a Christian and who is not, and who is saved and who is not. However, one thing that we do agree on is that God is sovereign and He is the only one worthy of our worship. He does get to decide who is saved and who is not, and He has laid it out clearly in Scripture.
I know that you think I am arrogant to say that Jesus is the only way to salvation; however, true arrogance is to tell God that He is wrong and that we don't believe what He has said in Scripture is the only way to salvation.
Also, as a Christian, I do believe in the inspiration of all Scripture. This includes the Torah, the Zabor (Psalms..), and the Injil (Gospel/ New Testament).
Unfortunately, we will not all be in the same place for eternity if you do not accept Jesus Christ as you Lord and Savior. This is not my decision, this is simply the way that God has made for you to be able to come to Him, and I choose to take Him at His Word.
Really, in the end...if Jesus is not who He said He is, then Christians are worshipping someone that is not God as God, and they will not go to heaven. However, if Jesus is who He says He is, which is the only way to God, then anyone who does not know Jesus will be unable to truelly worship God. Really everything revolves around is Jesus who He said He is. But it does not work to say that we are all going to the same place, even though it is a nice thought.
I would love to discuss this further with you beyond the blog if you are intersted. I appreciate your respect in sharing your views.
(by the way, not all the comments listed as from anonymous above are from me)
"If Jesus is not who He said He is, then Christians are worshipping someone that is not God as God, and they will not go to heaven." Can you just hypothesize for a moment, what if you're wrong? Do you think that God would say, "Well, you were a good person during your time on Earth, but you worshipped the wrong guy - sorry!" What about all the hundreds of other religions? They're all wrong, too, and somehow born-again Christians are the only ones who have it right?
If that's so, then I want no part of your religion, and I'll continue to actively undermine missionary efforts wherever I encounter them. You see, I'm not telling God he's wrong - just you. Not in your faith, but in your belief that anyone who doesn't share that faith won't have eternal life.
You know, my mother always told me that there's three groups of people taht you can't win an argument with - because they don't listen. Children, the insane, and evangelists. Post away, but this is my final comment, because we'll never see eye to eye.
Dear Liosliath,
I am sorry you seem frustrated in your last comment as it has been quite respectful until now.
Just to let you know that the belief that all good people will go to heaven no matter what their religion is itself a belief. Unfortunately, it is a belief that has no basis on anything other that something that we want to believe.
The fact is that, no, born again Christians are not the only ones who deserve to go to heaven. NONE of us deserve to go to heaven. In the end, God is a holy and perfect God, and we are all sinners. We may think our sin is small, but it is disgusting in comparison to the perfection of a holy God.
When Jesus died on the cross for us, He became the perfect sacrifice for our sins. He took the punishment that I deserved. He did this so that He could restore our relationships to God. Sinners cannot be in the presence of a holy God. Therefore they would not be able to dwell in eternity in His presence. Thankfully, Jesus has taken our sin on Himself. He offers a free gift of salvation to anyone who will accept it. So no, no one deserves it. It is a free gift of grace. But we have to accept it.
"If you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved...How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard?" Romans 10
I do not want to pretend that I deserve anything when it comes to God, but I have been given this incredible treasure, and I will never be the same again. I am afraid that I love my friends too much not to share the greatest treasure I have to offer.
If you ever change your mind and would like to continue this discussion, you can e-mail me at morocco@sent.com.
Have a good day!
Dear Liosliath,
What you say is very, very illogical:
"Here's my religion, it's great - oh, and by the way, if you don't accept it, you won't go to Paradise... is FORCING someone? At the very least, it's coercion."
The message of the monotheist religions is - unless you believe in our message you are doomed. That is normal and I have no problem. It is NOT FORCING someone by communicating the message to them!!
I don't mind my Moroccan friend trying to convert me to Islam. This happens regularly. I have a mind and can weigh up what he says. He is not forcing it on me.
We live in a country that is largely Muslim where there is extreme pressure to conform to certain Islamic norms. The Koran speaks severely on those who don't. The Koran says that my Moroccan Christian friends should be killed. This is the intolerance of Islam. And you are whining about someone communicating a message to you and saying it is FORCING it on you!!
Get a grip on yourself!
Post a Comment