Religion In Morocco

According to the constitution of Morocco , the Islam is the state religion which guarantees everyone the free exercise of religion . According to Article 106, the provisions relating to the religion of Islam may be a constitutional revision .

Breakdown of religions in Morocco

Estimates of religious division in Morocco are as follows:

Islam

Hassan II Mosque , Casablanca

The Code of Personal Status ( Moudawana ) refers to 'real intentions and purposes of the generous and tolerant Islam "and it defines the personal status of Moroccan Muslims and Moroccan Jews to recognize a special status (aliens remain subject to their national laws, except in relation to a Moroccan Muslim). It is intended to apply to all Moroccans, even those bearing another nationality.

The school legal basis on which Islam is the school Moroccan Maliki , whose education is compulsory in public schools. The theological school which is based on Moroccan Islam is the acharite school , whose teaching has also become compulsory in primary schools and mosques following the spread of Salafism in the kingdom of Morocco.

In recent years, as in other Arab countries traditionally Sunni, the Shia took root in Morocco, but it is an underground stream, particularly because it is a breach in the power of monarch, who embodies the Sunni rite acharite / Maliki. Articles on the subject appear from time to time in the Moroccan press , sometimes seriously, sometimes with the Shia as a threat to Islam in Morocco, as well as evangelical Christians, and to a lesser extent the Baha'is . In March 2009 , Morocco broke off relations with Iran , ostensibly for a diplomatic dispute between the two countries on the position of Rabat territorial integrity of Bahrain , but we must say it was a good cause for the Moroccan government to address threats that have been identified , the possibility of spread of Shiism in the kingdom.

The apostasy of a Muslim, leaving one's religion is not explicitly illegal under statutory law Moroccan . In addition to exposure to a possible "civil death" , talking about his new show or belief can be interpreted as proselytizing. If these actions take place in the presence of a Muslim, then you can be prosecuted under Article 220 of the Moroccan Penal Code:
"Whoever, by violence or threats, forced or prevented one or more persons from practicing a religion, or attend the exercise of worship shall be punished with imprisonment from six months to three years and a fine of 100 to 500 dirhams.

Is punished in the same sentence, anyone using the means of seduction in order to shake the faith of a Muslim or convert to another religion, either by exploiting his weakness or his needs, or using for these purposes educational institutions, health, asylums and orphanages. If convicted, the closure of the facility that was used to commit the offense may be ordered, either permanently or for a period not exceeding three years . "

Judaism

A synagogue in Fez.

The Moroccan State, "anxious to preserve the rights of its loyal subjects of the Jewish faith," they apply the provisions of the "Jewish Moroccan personal status" .

The Jewish community of Morocco, formerly one of the largest in the Arab world, emigrated en masse to Israel over the past 40 years. An estimated 5000 the number of Moroccan Jews still living in Morocco, mainly in the Greater Casablanca.

Christianity

Cathedral of the Sacred Heart of Casablanca.

The estimated number of Christians in foreign and domestic 30 000 between 1000 and 2000 . Moreover, it has emerged in recent years an increasing number of Moroccans converted to evangelical Protestantism. While we believe that this is due to the missionaries, many at more than two thousand Moroccans are converted because of the evangelical channels in Arabic . Thus, the Moroccans are just after the Egyptians and the Algerians, the most likely to seek information on Christianity by mail or telephone . The official rate posted by the Christian government is widely questioned, raising numerous controversies. Of these, the growing number of Moroccan Christian testimony on the net because they can not openly display their new faith because of Islamic law.

Moreover, the Moroccan people have a hard time accepting this new category, first those who say that people who have converted have received a sum of money or a visa for abroad. Now the situation is reversed, those who dare to assert their new faith, are rejected by their families, and other risk of job loss.

One event in particular comes to confirm the assumption of the persecution of Christians in Morocco. Police raided March 28, 2009, . Thus, they can not access the official churches, which according to the Moroccan government are directed to those Christian "home", that is to say aliens. They can not collect more than twenty people . So there are meetings in the homes of believers on Sunday, again, the Moroccan Christians want to follow any current Christian, and Christians by affirming faith in Jesus Christ.

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