I always pay attention when a county starts 1. kicking out the foreign nationals or 2. starts kicking out the Christians. This came to me a few days ago via the Intercessors Network. I will be paying close attention to Morocco over the next year.
MOROCCO BEGINS LARGE-SCALE EXPULSION OF FOREIGN CHRISTIANS
Moroccan authorities deported more than 40 foreign Christian aid workers this week, ending Saturday 13, in an ongoing, nationwide crackdown that included the expulsion of foster parents caring for 33 Moroccan orphans. Deportations of foreign Christians continued at press time, with Moroccan authorities expressing their intention to deport specifically U.S. nationals. Sources in Morocco said that the government gave the U.S. Embassy in Rabat a list of 40 citizens to be deported. Citing Western diplomats and aid groups, Reuters reported that as many as 70 foreign aid workers had been deported since the beginning of the month, including U.S., Dutch, British and New Zealand citizens.
At the Village of Hope orphanage near Ain Leuh, 50 miles south of Fez, the government on Monday (March 8) expelled 16 staff workers, 10 foster parents and 13 natural-born dependents from the country. The orphanage arranges for orphaned children to live with a set of foster parents rather than in a traditional dormitory setting, according to its website. Police first came to the orphanage Saturday afternoon (March 6), questioning children and looking for Bibles and evidence of Christian evangelism; by late Sunday night they had told all foster parents and staff that they had to leave on Monday. New Zealand native Chris Broadbent, a worker at Village of Hope, said that the separation of the foster families and the children under their care was traumatic. As much as they hoped to be re-united, he said, that did not seem likely – officials told them they could visit as tourists in the future, but in reality authorities do not allow re-entry for those who have been expelled.
2 comments:
The headline is a borderline fabrication. As a long-time resident of Morocco and very much in the foreign resident community, I can attest the only "foreign Christian" expulsion is of those annoying missionaries. I rather give credence to the Moroccan claims of illegal proslytizing as one of them tried to swing me over to his obnoxious form of Christianity. The overheated blithering on has nothing to do with reality on the ground here.
William, Thanks for the comment! I'm glad to hear that Morocco isn't sending out all the foreign residents, and that you have made that country your home! I'd love to visit one day, I've done most of my traveling in Europe and Asia.
While I understand that they may be kicking out most of the "missionaries" as you called them, this still worries me. It's usually the religious groups that are the first to go, and once they kick out the foreign missionaries then what about national Christians? Where does this lead us on the right to freedome of religion and freedom of worship? All I am saying is that I think actions like this set countries up to make other poor decisions. Personally I don't have a problem with proslytizing; people are free to refuse. When countries deny the right of one or two religions to share their core tenents I think it leads them down a dangerous path. Do you agree? Do you feel that fundamental freedoms are being upheld in Morocco?
Again thanks for the comments, I appreciate having to think about this subject from another vantage point!
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