Rabat expels 100 for proselytizing
Published: May 22, 2010 00:42 Updated: May 22, 2010 00:42
RABAT: Morocco has expelled foreign Christians who tried to convert Muslims because, as an Islamic state, it wants to foster "order and calm" and avoid a clash between faiths, its Islamic affairs minister said.
The government has expelled around 100 foreign Christians since March, many of them aid workers, in what Western diplomats have called an unprecedented crackdown on undercover preaching.
"These incidents (expulsions) were prompted by the activism of some foreigners who undermined public order," Religious Endowments and Islamic Affairs Minister Ahmed Toufiq told Reuters in an interview late Thursday. "There are some who hide their proselytism and religious activism under the guise of other activities," he said.
The latest expulsion was that of Spaniard Francisco Paton Millan, the head of a small energy company, who was ordered last week to leave the country for trying to convert Muslims to Christianity, church workers and European diplomats said.
The Attajdid newspaper reported Thursday that the authorities had ordered 23 foreigners to leave last week and that this was part of a new wave of such expulsions.
Converting Muslims is a crime in Morocco, punishable by up to six months in jail, but the authorities generally expel foreigners accused of proselytizing. Muslims make up 99 percent of Morocco's population and the North African country allows freedom of worship to mostly foreign Christians and a few thousand indigenous Jews.
Toufiq said Morocco was eager to foster respect and coexistence between its different faiths, but was also "protecting its religious community.” "Morocco wants to prevent a clash or conflict between religions. It is not necessary that one religion converts believers of another religion," he said, adding that he had explained this position to representatives of other faiths.
Aid groups and Western diplomats say up to 70 foreign aid workers were expelled in early March for trying to convert local Muslims. Before this year, Morocco had occasionally expelled small numbers of missionaries, many funded by US evangelical churches.
Toufiq spoke of the dangers of religious strife and the need to preserve order. "War between religions is very dangerous and the world today does not need that. What do Christians prefer? A handful of converted Moroccans or order and calm among Moroccans who are impervious to foreign meddling in their faith?" he asked.
Comments
DR WASIM
May 22, 2010 09:58
Report abuseRAJ
May 28, 2010 18:50
Report abuseOn top of all this, the sheer hypocriscy of Muslims on the issue of proselytizing is mind blowing.
ANOOP
Jun 3, 2010 19:23
Report abuseCome to India ,to see the damage caused by a stupid ideology called Wahabbism.Go next door to Pakistan,Christians and Hindus convert because of the sword hanging over their heads.Atleast ,this is not the case in
countries with sense.And anyway the original inhabitants of Morocco were Christians
KARYMA
Jun 11, 2010 05:11
Report abuseI should't be so passionate
KARYMA
Jun 11, 2010 05:12
Report abuse