Christians in Morocco Being Targeted Using Facebook - June 23, 2010

The social networking website Facebook is being used by Muslim extremists in Morocco to encourage the government to slander and pursue Christians, according to church leaders in that North African nation. 

While Morocco is considered a moderate Muslim state, is does have laws forbidding Muslims to convert to Christianity, including any activity that would “shake the faith” of Muslims. Facebook user Gardes Maroc Maroc uses exactly the same phrase in the statements in Arabic that accompany the 32 image collages he has posted on his site.  He calls Christian converts “hyena evangelists” and “wolves in lambs clothing” who are trying to “shake the faith of Muslims.”

His Facebook site has images of Christian converts and their families from across the country and includes their activities in local churches as well as names and addresses.  On image states “these are some pics of Morocco convert hyenas.

As reported previously on this news page (see March 11, 2010) the Moroccan government has expelled more than 100 foreign Christians for allegedly “proselytizing.”  At the time of their expulsion, the Christians were given neither the proper deportation orders nor time to put their affairs in order. Observers see this is a calculated effort to purge Morocco of all Christian elements, both national and foreign. Over 7000 Muslim clerics recently signed a statement denouncing all Christian activities and calling foreign aid work “religious terrorism.”

Since the deportations began in March, local Christians say that government authorities, extremists and the greater society have colluded against them.  Dozens of Christian have been interrogated at local police stations and have been verbally and physically abused.  One Moroccan Christian who experienced this said “they mocked our faith. They didn’t talk nicely.” He was interrogated for eight hours during which time they threatened to kill him.  After his release, he was followed for three weeks.

Moroccan converts to Christianity meet in house churches but some have stopped meeting until the pressure subsides.  According to Moroccan lawyer Abdel Adghirni “the government is testing the reaction” of the society to the increased pressure on Christians. 

The lawyer, known as one of the strongest defenders of Berber rights in Morocco, said that although the government’s recent reactions seem regressive, they are part of the nation’s societal transformation process.

“The government is trying to dominate,” said Adghirni. “They are defending themselves. They feel the wind of change. All of this is normal for me – like a complex chemistry that activates as different elements come into contact. Things are moving.”  He added that he believes Morocco cannot survive and develop economically – and democratically – without national diversity.

“We can’t be free without Christians,” Adghirni said. “The existence of Christians among us is the proof of liberty.”

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