British Buddhists Arrested in Morocco for Alleged Proselytizing

According to the daily Assabah, an auxiliary forces agent was intrigued by the suspicious movements of 4 foreign tourists, who were trying to approach young people and teenagers in the street. The group moved to many places in the city.

Arrived in the city center of Essaouira, the 4 British were apprehended by the security forces, at the moment when they began to distribute prints and books on Buddhism.

In September, American evangelists had expressed their intention to return to Morocco, 10 years after being expelled. The group had tried, in 2010, according to the authorities, to convert 33 children from the village of L’Espoir in Ain Leuh.

In Morocco, Islam is the state religion and foreigners are free to practice their religion. Proselytism, on the other hand, is punishable by a sentence of 6 months to 3 years in prison. According to the 2019 Global Index of Christian Persecution, the country is ranked 35th out of 50.