MOROCCO 2023 INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM REPORT

International Religious Freedom Report for 2023

United States Department of State Office of International Religious Freedom

MOROCCO 2023 INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS

FREEDOM REPORT

Executive Summary

According to the constitution, Islam is the religion of the state, and the state

guarantees freedom of thought, expression, and assembly. The constitution

also says the state guarantees everyone the freedom to “practice their

religious affairs.” The constitution states the King holds the title

“Commander of the Faithful” and that he is the protector of Islam and the

guarantor of the freedom of individuals “to practice their religious affairs” in

the country. The constitution prohibits political parties founded on religion

as well as political parties, parliamentarians, and constitutional amendments

from denigrating or infringing on Islam. The law penalizes the use of

enticements to convert a Muslim to another religion and prohibits criticism

of Islam. It criminalizes acts and speech “undermining the Islamic religion.”

Although the law allows registration of religious groups as associations,

some minority religious groups reported the government delayed or

rejected their registration requests. The Ministry of Endowments and

Islamic Affairs (MEIA) continued to guide and monitor the content of

sermons in mosques, Islamic religious education, and the dissemination of

Islamic religious material by broadcast media – actions it said were intended

to combat violent extremism. The government restricted the distribution of

non-Islamic religious materials as well as Islamic materials it deemed

inconsistent with the Maliki school of Sunni Islam. In February, the

government extradited Shia Muslim Hassan al-Rabea, a Saudi citizen, to

Saudi Arabia. Twenty-three human rights organizations, including Human

Rights Watch (HRW) and Amnesty International, raised concerns in their

joint statement to the Head of Government regarding al-Rabea’s treatment

in Saudi Arabia because of his religion. In August, the Oued-Zem Court of

First Instance (trial court) sentenced blogger Fatima Karim to two years in

prison and fined her 50,000 dirhams ($5,000) for insulting Islam. Police

arrested her after she posted commentary on social media in which she

reportedly made satirical comments about Quranic verses. On April 5, the

Court of Appeals sentenced an individual arrested for attempting to convert

his family to Shiism and other crimes to two years’ imprisonment. The court

also barred him from seeing those identified as victims in the criminal

complaint for five years. According to the government, 84 persons were

prosecuted for the offense of breaking the fast during the month of

Ramadan, of which 74 were convicted, two acquitted, and eight were on

trial at year’s end.

Representatives of minority religious groups said they practiced their faiths

discreetly principally out of fear of societal harassment, including ostracism

by converts’ families, social ridicule, and employment discrimination.

On May 10-12, the U.S. Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism

visited the country and met with Royal Advisor Andre Azoulay. During her

visit, the Special Envoy also engaged other government leaders, members of

the Jewish community, and civil society organizations on issues of religious

tolerance and interfaith dialogue. The U.S. Ambassador, Consul General and

other embassy and consulate general officials met with government

officials, including from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) and the MEIA,

to discuss religious freedom and tolerance, including the rights of minority

communities. In regular meetings and discussions with members of

religious minority and majority communities throughout the country,

embassy and consulate general representatives highlighted the importance

of the protection of religious minorities and interfaith dialogue. The

Ambassador, Consul General, and other embassy officials regularly met with

members of the Jewish community in Rabat and Casablanca as well as with

Jewish leaders in other cities, including Marrakesh.

Section I. Religious Demography

The U.S. government estimates the total population at 37.4 million (midyear

2023). More than 99 percent of the population is Sunni Muslim. Groups

together constituting less than 1 percent of the population include

Christians, Jews, Shia Muslims, and followers of the Baha’i Faith.

According to Jewish community leaders, there are an estimated 1,500 Jews

in the country, although others place the estimate higher, approximately

1,000 of whom reside in Casablanca. Some Christian community leaders

estimate there are between 1,500 and 12,000 Christian citizens distributed

throughout the country; however, the Moroccan Association of Human

Rights estimates there are 25,000 Christian citizens. According to some

print and electronic media outlets, the number of Christian citizens could

exceed 30,000, although due to the absence of statistical data from official

and research centers and the fact that some Christians practice in private, it

is difficult to reach an accurate estimate.

Foreign-resident Christian leaders estimate there are at least 30,000 Roman

Catholic and approximately 10,000 Protestant noncitizens, many of whom

are recent migrants from sub-Saharan Africa or lifelong residents whose

families have resided and worked in the country for generations but do not

hold citizenship. There are small, foreign-resident Anglican communities in

Rabat, Casablanca, and Tangier. There are an estimated 3,000 foreign

residents who identify as Russian and Greek Orthodox, including a small

Russian Orthodox community in Rabat and a small Greek Orthodox

community in Casablanca. Most foreign-resident Christians live in the

Casablanca, Marrakesh, Tangier, and Rabat urban areas, but small numbers

are present throughout the country.

Shia Muslim leaders estimate there are several thousand Shia citizens, with

the largest proportion in the north. In addition, there are an estimated

1,000 to 2,000 foreign-resident Shia from Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, and Tunisia in

the country. Leaders of the Ahmadi Muslim community estimate their

numbers at 750. Leaders of the Baha’i Faith community estimate there are

350 to 400 members throughout the country.

Section II. Status of Government Respect for Religious

Freedom

Legal Framework

According to the constitution, the country is a “sovereign Muslim state” and

Islam is the religion of the state. The constitution guarantees freedom of

thought, expression, and assembly, and the state guarantees every

individual the freedom to practice their religion. The constitution states the

King holds the title “Commander of the Faithful” and that he is the protector

of Islam and the guarantor of the freedom to practice religious affairs in the

country. The constitution prohibits the enactment of laws or constitutional

amendments infringing upon its provisions relating to Islam, and it also

recognizes the Jewish community as an integral component of society.

According to the constitution, political parties may not be founded on

religion and may not denigrate or infringe on Islam. A political party may

not legally challenge Islam as the state religion. Religions other than Islam

and Judaism are not recognized by the constitution or laws. The law

prohibits basing a party on a religious, ethnic, or regional identity.

The constitution and the law governing media prohibit any individual,

including members of parliament, who are normally immune from arrest

while engaging in their parliamentary duties, from criticizing Islam on public

platforms, such as print or online media, or in public speeches. Such

expressions are punishable by imprisonment of up to two years, a fine of up

to 200,000 dirhams ($20,300), or both. Punishment may be increased to

five years’ imprisonment or a fine of 50,000 to 500,000 dirhams ($5,000 to

$50,000), or both, if the acts “are committed either by speech, scream, or

threat made in public places or public meetings, or by poster publicly

exhibited by sale, distribution, or any other means used for publicity,

including online, paper, and audiovisual forms.” Other provisions of the law

state that online speech offenses related to Islam can carry prison sentences

of two to six years.

The law penalizes anyone who “employs enticements to undermine the

faith” or converts a Muslim to another faith by exploiting a weakness or

need for assistance, or through the use of educational, health, or other

institutions; it provides punishments of six months to three years’

imprisonment and a fine of 200 to 500 dirhams ($20 to $50). The same

penalties apply to anyone who intentionally interferes with religious rites or

celebrations where this causes disturbances or affects the dignity of such

religious acts. It also provides the right to a court trial for anyone accused of

such an offense. Voluntary conversion is not a crime under the law. The law

permits the government to summarily expel any noncitizen resident it

determines to be “a threat to public order,” and the government has used

this clause to expel foreigners suspected of proselytizing.

By law, impeding or preventing one or more persons from worshipping or

from attending worship services of any religion is punishable by six months

to three years’ imprisonment and a fine of 200 to 500 dirhams ($20 to $50).

The penal code states any person known to be Muslim who breaks the fast

in public during the month of Ramadan without an exception granted by

religious authorities is liable to punishment of six months in prison and a

fine of 200 to 500 dirhams ($20 to $50). Owners have discretion to keep

their restaurants open during Ramadan.

The labor code prohibits discrimination against persons in employment and

occupation based on race, religion, national origin, color, sex, ethnicity, or

disability, including physical, sensory, intellectual, and mental disability.

The penal code punishes anyone who “undermines the Islamic religion” with

six months to two years in prison. The penalty is increased to five years if

the offense is committed in public, including by electronic means.

The High Authority for Audiovisual Communications established by the

constitution requires all eight public television stations to dedicate 5 percent

of their airtime to Islamic religious content and to broadcast the Islamic call

to prayer five times daily.

Sunni Muslims and Jews are the only religious groups recognized in the

constitution as native to the country. A separate set of laws and special

courts govern personal status matters for Jews, including functions such as

marriage, inheritance, and other personal status matters. Rabbinical

authorities, who are also court officials, administer Jewish family courts.

Muslim judges trained in the country’s Maliki Sunni interpretation of sharia

administer the courts for personal status matters for all other religious

groups. According to the law, a Muslim man may marry a Muslim, Christian,

or Jewish woman; a Muslim woman may not marry a man of another

religion unless he converts to Islam. Non-Muslims must formally convert to

Islam and be permanent residents before they can become guardians of

abandoned or orphaned children. Guardianship entails the caretaking of a

child, which may last until the child reaches 18, but it does not allow

changing the child’s name or inheritance rights and requires maintaining the

child’s birth religion, according to orphanage directors.

Many foreign-resident Christian churches (churches run by and attended by

foreign residents only) are registered as associations. The Roman Catholic,

Russian Orthodox, Greek Orthodox, Protestant, and Anglican churches

maintain different forms of official status. The Russian Orthodox and

Anglican Churches are registered as branches of international associations

through the embassies of Russia and the United Kingdom, respectively.

Protestant and Catholic churches, whose existence as foreign-resident

churches predates the country’s independence in 1956, as well as the

Russian and Greek Orthodox Churches, maintain a special status recognized

by the government, which allows them to preserve houses of worship and

assign foreign clergy.

Legal provisions outlined in the general tax code provide tax benefits, land

and building grants, subsidies, and customs exemptions for imports

necessary for the religious activities of recognized religious groups (Sunni

Muslims and Jews) and religious groups registered as associations (some

foreign-resident Christian churches). The law does not require religious

groups to register to worship privately, but a nonrecognized religious group

must register as an association to conduct business on behalf of the group

(e.g., open and hold bank accounts, rent property, acquire land and building

grants, and have access to customs exemptions for imports necessary for

religious activities) or to hold public gatherings. Associations must register

with local Ministry of Interior (MOI) officials in the jurisdiction of the

association’s headquarters. An individual representative of a religious group

neither recognized nor registered as an association may be held liable for

any of the group’s public gatherings, transactions, bank accounts, property

rentals, or petitions to the government. The registration application must

contain the name and purpose of the association; the name, nationality,

age, profession, and residential address of each founder; and the address of

the association’s headquarters. The constitution provides civil society

associations and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) the right to

organize themselves and exercise their activities freely within the scope of

the constitution. The law on associations prohibits organizations that

pursue activities the government regards as “illegal, contrary to good

morals, or aimed at undermining the Islamic religion, the integrity of the

national territory, or the monarchical regime, or which call for

discrimination.”

The law does not allow Moroccan Christians to be buried in Christian

cemeteries or to hold Christian names.

The Prison Administration authorized religious observances and services

provided by religious leaders for all prisoners, including religious minorities.

It also respected the religious dietary requirements for religious minorities.

By law, all publicly and privately funded national educational institutions

must teach Sunni Islam in accordance with the teachings and traditions of

the Maliki-Ashari school of Islamic jurisprudence, with the exception of

private Jewish schools, which may teach Judaism without including Islamic

education. Foreign-run schools have the choice of including or omitting

Islamic religious instruction within the school’s curriculum.

According to the constitution, only the High Council of Ulema, a group

headed and appointed by the King with representatives from all regions of

the country, is authorized to issue fatwas, which become legally binding only

through the King’s endorsement in a royal decree and a subsequent

confirmation by parliamentary legislation. Such fatwas are considered

binding only for Maliki Sunni Muslims. If the King or parliament declines to

ratify a decision of the council, the decision remains nonbinding and

unenforced.

The country is a party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political

Rights.

Government Practices

On January 5, press reported police arrested an individual for attempting to

convert his family to Shiism, judicial authorities convicted him of physical

and domestic abuse against his family and sentenced him to one year in

prison, while fining him 3,000 dirhams ($300). On April 5, at the discretion

of the judge, the Court of Appeals increased the sentence to two years in

prison and banned the individual for five years from seeing his family

members identified as victims in the criminal complaint.

On February 6, the government extradited Saudi citizen Hassan al-Rabea

based on a provisional arrest warrant issued by the Arab Interior Ministers

Council at the request of Saudi Arabia. Al-Rabea belonged to a prominent

Shia family that suffered persistent persecution by Saudi authorities

according to HRW. Twenty-three international and domestic human rights

organizations, including HRW, Amnesty International, and the Moroccan

Association of Human Rights, voiced strong concerns regarding al-Rabea’s

likely mistreatment upon arrival in Saudi Arabia. A February 13 joint

statement issued by all 23 organizations addressed to Head of Government

Aziz Akhannouch requested clarification of the government’s decision to

extradite al-Rabea to Saudia Arabia “where he faces credible risks of

persecution and other serious harm, including risks of torture, for reasons

related to his religious beliefs and his family’s history of protests.” They also

asserted his extradition violated international agreements to which Morocco

was a party, including UN refugee conventions, the Convention against

Torture, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. At

year’s end, al-Rabea’s family said they had not heard from him since his

arrival in Saudi Arabia.

Blogger Fatima Karim remained in prison while appealing her 2022

sentence. On August 15, 2022, the Oued-Zem Court of First Instance

sentenced Karim to two years in prison and fined her 50,000 dirhams

($5,000) for insulting Islam online. Police arrested her after she posted

commentary on Facebook in which, according to Amnesty International, she

made satirical comments about Quranic verses that the authorities deemed

insulting to Islam.

According to the government, authorities prosecuted 84 persons for the

offense of breaking the fast during the month of Ramadan of which 74 were

convicted, two were acquitted, and eight awaited trial. Of those arrested

for breaking the fast, 26 were arrested for breaking the fast publicly and 58

were arrested in conjunction with other crimes.

Authorities continued to deny Christian organizations that are composed of

Moroccan citizens the right to Christian or civil marriage and funeral services

or the right to establish new churches. The government denied official

recognition to NGOs that it considered to be advocating against Islam as the

state religion.

The government continued to allow the operation of 44 registered, foreign-

resident Christian churches, the same number as in previous years. Some

foreign pastors reported Christian citizens generally did not attend their

services out of fear of incurring government harassment. Foreign residents

and visitors attended religious services without restriction at those

churches.

The Justice and Charity Organization (JCO), a Sunni social movement that

rejects the King’s spiritual authority, remained banned but was still active.

The government continued to monitor the JCO’s activities, and it remained

the largest social movement of its kind in the country, despite being

unregistered. The JCO continued to release press statements on topics such

as political events in the country; publish its monthly magazine Al Adlwal

Ihsan that covered various religious and political topics, among other things;

hold conferences; manage internet sites, and participate in peaceful political

demonstrations, including those related to events in the Gaza Strip.

Several religious groups reported occasionally informing authorities of

planned large gatherings, for which authorities at times assisted with

security measures.

According to religious leaders and legal scholars, the government’s refusal

to allow Shia Muslim groups to register as associations continued to prevent

the groups from gathering legally for public religious observations. There

were no known Shia mosques or husseiniyas (Shia prayer halls) in the

country. According to Shia community members, they were able to pray in

Sunni mosques, but they risked criticism from other worshippers for their

religious practices.

The Christian NGO Open Doors stated in its 2023 Country Dossier Report

that the penal code, which criminalizes “shaking the faith” of a Muslim, put

many Christians who talked to others about their faith at risk of criminal

prosecution and arrest. The NGO also stated, “While all Christians from an

Islamic background can, in practice, be denied their rights to inheritance or

family affiliation, this is a particular risk for women. They [Christian women]

are also more vulnerable to arbitrary divorce and the denial of access to

their children.” The NGO stated the personal status law follows the

country's Maliki-Ashari Sunni interpretation of sharia.

A 2017 ban on the import, production, and sale of the burqa remained in

effect. The MOI publicly cited security concerns as justification for the ban,

as the garment could conceal the identity of the wearer. While the burqa is

not widespread in Morocco, a small segment of the population viewed it as

important. The ban did not prevent individuals from wearing burqas or

making them at home for individual use. Authorities prohibited news

anchors on national television and police and army personnel in uniform

from wearing a hijab or burqa.

The MEIA’s Mohamed VI Institute remained the principal government

institution responsible for shaping the country’s religious life and promoting

its interpretation of Sunni Islam. The Mohammed VI Institute was

responsible for the spiritual training of morchidines (imams) and women

religious leaders called morchidates (similar to imams, except they do not

lead communal prayers). The institute has operated since 2014 and has

provided training to more than 6,350 religious officials, including

approximately 4,200 foreigners. Non-Moroccan religious students came

predominantly from sub-Saharan Africa. The training sessions fulfilled the

requirement for Moroccan religious leaders to acquire a certificate issued by

the High Council of Ulema to operate in the country.

The MEIA developed elementary school programs advocating moderation,

coexistence, and tolerance in accordance with the Sunni Maliki school of

jurisprudence followed by the country.

The Rabita Mohammadia des Oulema (Mohammadia League of Scholars,

often referred to as the Rabita) continued its program, begun in 2021,

dedicated to training Islamic social media influencers. At year’s end, 100

persons had participated in the league’s program. The program’s three-day

training sessions focused on countering online extremist messaging and

ideology. Since its establishment in 2006, the Rabita has served as the

government’s lead institution in countering violent extremism and

promoting interfaith dialogue.

The government required Muslim religious leaders who worked in the

country to abide by the guidelines outlined in the MEIA-issued Guide of the

Imam, Khatib, and the Preacher. The MEIA continued to guide and monitor

the content of sermons in mosques, Islamic religious education, and the

dissemination of Islamic religious material by broadcast media, actions it

said were intended to combat violent extremism.

The MEIA continued to monitor Quranic schools to prevent what the

ministry considered inflammatory or extremist rhetoric and to ensure

teachings followed approved doctrine.

The government required mosques to close to the public shortly after daily

prayer times to prevent use of the premises for what it termed

“unauthorized activity,” including gatherings authorities believed could

foment extremism. MOI and MEIA authorization continued to be required

for the renovation or construction of churches, synagogues, and mosques,

including those using private funds.

The government continued to restrict the distribution of non-Islamic

religious materials as well as some Islamic materials it deemed inconsistent

with the Maliki school of Sunni Islam. Despite restrictions on the

distribution of non-Islamic religious materials, the government permitted

the display and sale of Bibles in French, English, and Spanish. A limited

number of Arabic translations of the Bible were available for sale in a few

bookshops for use in higher education courses.

Government policy prohibits the sale of all books, videotapes, and DVDs it

considered religiously extremist.

The government continued drafting an educational charter mandating that

traditional education be based on “values” and “respect for religious and

legal studies.” The Ministry of Education continued an ongoing review of

the religion curriculum used in primary and secondary education and

continued to make reforms based on universal values of liberty, empathy,

solidarity, and honesty.

At the elementary school level, authorities implemented a fully standardized

curriculum that places the teaching of Jewish culture within the context of

both its contribution to Moroccan culture and as a global religion. The

government continued to fund the study of Jewish culture and heritage at

state-run universities.

The government continued to disseminate information about Islam and

Judaism over dedicated state-funded television and radio channels.

Television channel Assadissa (Six) programming was exclusively religious,

consisting primarily of Quran and hadith (sayings or customs of Muhammad

and his companions) readings and explanations highlighting the

government’s interpretation of Islam.

According to observers, the government permitted social and charitable

activities consistent with Sunni Islam. For example, the Unity and Reform

Movement, the country’s largest registered Islamic social organization,

continued its close relationship with the Party of Justice and Development,

which HRW has described as an Islamist group viewed by the government as

a political adversary, and continued to operate without restriction,

according to media reports.

The monarchy continued to support the restoration of synagogues and

Jewish cemeteries throughout the country, efforts it stated were necessary

to preserve the country’s religious and cultural heritage and to serve as a

symbol of tolerance.

On March 16-17, the al-Mowafaqa Ecumenical Institute of Theological Art

and Culture, a joint educational initiative between the Catholic Church’s

Archdiocese of Rabat and the Evangelical Church of Morocco, held a

colloquium to mark its 10-year anniversary. During the opening ceremonies,

Minister of Islamic Affairs and Religious Endowments Ahmed Toufiq

provided brief remarks that highlighted the importance of human liberty in

religious affairs and praised the interfaith mission of al-Mowafaqa.

On June 13-15, parliament hosted a conference titled “Interfaith Dialogue:

Working Together for Our Common Future” in Marrakech that attracted

local and international religious, civil society, parliamentary, academic, and

government leaders.

On June 14, the National Human Rights Council hosted a delegation from

the group Coordination of Moroccan Christians to hear concerns from the

country’s Christian community.

On July 5, the Royal Academy hosted an interreligious dialogue among the

Rabita Mohammadia des Oulema, select members of the Royal Academy,

and the Vatican’s Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue. Discussions focused

on how to protect, renew, and expand the interreligious dialogue between

Muslims and Christians.

On December 24, Casablanca’s Anfa District Governor Aziz Dadas told

attendees at an interfaith program that as the “Commander of Believers,”

King Mohammed VI’s role extends to all members of Abrahamic faiths –

Muslims, Jews, and Christians. The event was held at Casablanca’s Notre

Dame de Lourdes Catholic Church.

Section III. Status of Societal Respect for Religious

Freedom

Representatives of minority religious groups said fear of societal

harassment, including ostracism by converts’ families, social ridicule, and

employment discrimination were the main reasons for them to practice

their faiths privately and away from public view.

Shia sources continued to state they observed Ashura in private to avoid

societal harassment. Shia Muslims said many avoided disclosing their

religious affiliation in areas where their numbers were smaller. Authorities

allowed public Ashura processions for Sunni Muslims but forbade them for

Shia Muslims.

There were reports from media outlets, activists, community leaders, and

Christian converts that Christian citizens faced social pressure from Muslim

family and friends to convert to Islam or renounce their Christian faith.

Some young Christian converts who still lived with their Muslim families

reportedly did not reveal their faith because they believed they might be

expelled from their homes unless they renounced Christianity.

Jewish citizens continued to state they lived and could attend services in

synagogues in safety but were increasingly concerned about antisemitism

after the October 7 Hamas terrorist attack on Israel. They said they were

able to visit religious sites regularly and to hold annual commemorations.

Members of the Baha’i Faith said they were open about their faith with

family, friends, and neighbors.

Muslim citizen children and youths continued to study at private Christian

and Jewish elementary and high schools, reportedly because these schools

maintained a reputation for offering a high-quality education. According to

school administrators, Muslim students constituted a significant portion of

the students enrolled at Jewish schools in Casablanca.

Section IV. U.S. Government Policy and Engagement

On May 10-12, the U.S. Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism

visited the country and met with Royal Advisor Azoulay. During her visit, the

Special Envoy also engaged other government leaders, members of the

Jewish community, and civil society organizations on issues of religious

tolerance and interfaith dialogue. The Ambassador and other embassy and

consulate general officials met with government officials, including from the

MFA, MOI and MEIA, to promote religious freedom and tolerance, including

the rights of minority communities.

In regular meetings and discussions with members of religious communities

throughout the country, embassy and consulate general representatives

highlighted the importance of protection of religious minorities and

interfaith dialogue. The Ambassador and Consul General regularly met with

members of the Jewish community in Rabat and Casablanca, as well as with

Jewish leaders in other cities, including Marrakesh.

On April 15, the Chargé attended the Ftour Pluriel 2023, an interfaith event

held during Ramadan that Royal Advisor Azoulay hosted and Muslim, Jewish,

and Christian representatives attended. The Chargé gave a speech

discussing the importance of religious diversity, tolerance, and freedom,

stating “Tolerance implies no lack of commitment to one’s own beliefs.

Rather it condemns the oppression or persecution of others. This is

important to remember, because every faith is in the minority somewhere

in the world, and we can only fully realize the freedom we wish for ourselves

by helping to ensure that liberty for everyone.”

On September 18, the Consul General attended a Rosh Hoshana celebration

at Neve Shalom Synagogue in Casablanca. Media sources quoted the Consul

General stating, “This convergence of different communities, under one

roof, is a living testimony to the harmonious coexistence and solidarity

deeply rooted in Moroccan society.”

On December 5, the Ambassador made a keynote speech about interfaith

dialogue at the International Campus of Excellence Gala Dinner where he

stated, “Coexistence is not just about occupying the same space, it is about

coming together toward a common cause, a nuanced dance of mutual

understanding, respect, and collaboration.”

In December, the Ambassador and Consul General participated in a series of

Hanukkah celebrations to demonstrate support for religious diversity and

tolerance.

On December 24, the Consul General attended an interfaith program at

Casablanca’s Notre Dame de Lourdes Catholic Church to further underscore

support for religious diversity.

The U.S. government continued its cooperative agreement with the

Mimouna Association, a Moroccan-based NGO, to combat antisemitism,

including anti-Zionism, the delegitimization of Israel, and other forms of

intolerance and hatred, including hatred against Islam.

The embassy continued to provide funding for “Rebuilding Our Homes,” a

program established in 2021 in partnership with the American Sephardi

Federation and the Mimouna Association. The project’s main goal is to

revive and preserve Jewish heritage contained within the Mellahs (the

historic Jewish quarters) of Fez, Essaouira, and Rabat.

The embassy used social media engagement during the visit of the Special

Envoy to highlight the importance of coexistence and religious tolerance.

The embassy also used social media to highlight religious holidays to

promote religious freedom and tolerance.