Morocco, where more increases the number of people who have faith through the internet and social media
May 10th

With 0.1% of Christian population and 27th place in the persecution ranking and rising every year, the number of converts is increasing    

Morocco has a population of over 37 million people, but the number of Christians is 31,400, which is only about 0.1% of the total population. 99.6% of the population believes in Islam, and their sect, in particular, is Sunni Muslims. It continued the longest dynasty in the world as a parliamentary constitutional monarchy, and Sultan Mohammed VI ascended the throne in 1999.

Section 220 of the Moroccan Penal Code defines “acts that incite the Islamic faith” as a crime. The law puts many Christians, Moroccans and foreigners, at risk of arrest and criminal prosecution for telling others about their faith. The government leads in inflicting persecution, and those who convert to Christianity are persecuted by family, friends, and local communities.

There are no church buildings in Morocco, and missionaries are not allowed to work or distribute Bibles. It takes quite a while for Christians to trust each other and connect with other Christians. Most have very few opportunities to read God’s Word or receive disciple training. Many Christians have been charged with trying to convert other Muslims or betraying Islam.

Rural Morocco is known as a conservative Muslim region. Most persecution occurred in the northeastern region, the Atlas Mountains in the east, and the desert regions in the southeast. Therefore, most converts live in urban areas where it is easy to avoid pressure from families and communities. However, during the COVID-19 lock down, many converts were unable to avoid potentially dangerous situations at home and experienced the pain of having to be quarantined.

Morocco ranked 35th in the global Christian persecution index in 2019 but climbed up to 27th in 2022, clearly showing that the outlook for Christians in Morocco is getting worse. During the year, several believers were forced to leave the country, and overall pressure and violence increased. Life is still very difficult for them, and hundreds of missionaries were forcibly deported in 2010.

With the development of the Internet and social media, more and more Moroccans are becoming Christians. At the Moroccan Bible Society, efforts are continuing to deliver God’s Word in everyday Moroccan language, and Arabic praises using traditional melodies have also been created. Though difficult, people’s lives are changing and the church is growing through the Bible. Open Doors and Voice of the Martyrs are helping persecuted believers in various ways, such as Bible education, distribution of disciple training materials, small business loans, protecting Christians in difficult situations, and mobilizing prayers around the world.

“I won’t hide that I’m a Christian anymore!”

In 2018, a whirlwind of change occurred in Morocco, where 99.9% of the total population is Muslim. Over the past couple of years, the number of Christians increased as the new social climate changed in favor of minority religions. Unlike before, some believers are boldly showing their faith. Moroccan missionary Kim Josep (pseudonym) stated on the Medical Missionary Network 7000 Movement, a social media gathering of medical missionaries, that “the number of participants attending underground meetings currently involved has increased noticeably,” and “the number of Moroccan Christians is clearly increasing.” He said, “The number of atheists among young people has increased, and more than 30% do not believe in Allah,” and “when I share the gospel, people open their hearts to Jesus Christ.” The European online news channel “Evangelical Focus” introduced seven Moroccans who converted from Muslims to Christians. Those who identified themselves as Moroccans and Christians said, “God will protect us,” and “We will not hide that we are Christians any longer.”

In 2019, according to the Secretary of the Moroccan Bible Society, a woman who visited a year ago to obtain a Bible had faith after watching a Christian broadcast. She was given a Bible and got in touch with the pastor of a local church.

Unfortunately, she was suffering from domestic violence by her husband. However, through her faith, her husband—who was once feared—also became a Christian. All of their children have come to faith and are now being trained to become house church leaders. Her family has been transformed by the Word and has become a home filled with love and joy. In 2019, the number of Moroccan Christians was reported to be around 40,000. If we include those who secretly keep their faith despite various hardships, the actual number would be even higher. Moreover, more and more people are seeking to know Jesus.

In 2021, Christian Today UK reported that persecution against Christians who have converted from Islam in Morocco has been worsening. Jawad El Hamidi, president of the Moroccan Association for the Right to Religious Freedom, revealed that converts are being arrested as many as three times a week in some areas. During police interrogations, they are often pressured to renounce their faith, and those who refuse face abuse.

In El Hajeb, a Christian convert was threatened with murder by his employer for leaving Islam. When he reported the threat to the police, they refused to register the case. Six months later, after getting into an argument with his employer, he was arrested and sentenced to six months in prison.

President El Hamidi stated, “At present, pastors are hesitant to welcome new converts into churches due to police surveillance and the fear that they will be forced to reconvert to Islam.” He added, “If a Moroccan enters a church, the police stationed outside often arrest them, or the clergy in charge of the church may ask them to leave unless they are there for tourism purposes.”

Christian couple Rouvna and her husband Kamal, who married in 2018, faced threats from their hometown community. Their marriage was either annulled or considered a criminal offense under the country’s laws against adultery.

In 2022, according to Open Doors, two young Moroccan women became Christians while attending university. When they told their parents about their newfound faith, they were beaten for bringing shame to their family. Eventually, under constant pressure, the two girls pretended to return to Islam to maintain peace within their household. However, they both continue to secretly believe in Jesus. To avoid further punishment, they meet with other believers on days other than Sunday.

》Prayer Points

1. After the Arab Spring in North Africa and the Middle East, there was hope for religious freedom in Morocco due to the presence of moderate Islam and secularism. However, as persecution continued to intensify in 2022, Morocco’s persecution index rose to 27th place. In the midst of this, let us be grateful that the number of people converting from Islam to Christianity continues to grow and that they boldly show their faith despite persecution and threats. Let us pray that the Moroccan Church will be filled with love for the cross, that believers may have deep fellowship with the Lord through prayer, and that they may receive faith to overcome hardships.

26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple. 27 And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.(Luke 14:26-27,NIV)

2. Let us pray for Morocco and bless the missionaries and organizations making breakthroughs in their missions. Rather than focusing on persecution, let us be thankful for God’s work of saving people
and pray that the missionaries will fulfill their mission with patience. Let us pray that Morocco will not only be a geographical passage for refugees from Africa and the Middle East to Europe, but also a channel of salvation where the gospel is received.

12 But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and spread; so the Egyptians came to dread the Israelites.(Exodus 1:12,NIV)

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