Moroccan Man Jailed for Forcing Family to Convert to Shiite Islam

An Ahl al-Bayt adherent was convicted in Beni Mellal for having forced his small family to follow the Shiite religious doctrine. His conviction follows a complaint from his wife. She had complained that her husband "had shaken her faith and the faith of her children" and claimed that he "had forced her to embrace Shiism."

In court, the defendant was found guilty of the charges against him. He was sentenced to one year in prison and a fine of 5,000 dirhams. He is also required to compensate his family, his wife, three children, and his sister, with a sum of 2,000 dirhams for each of them.

Article 220 of the Moroccan Penal Code stipulates that: "Whoever, by violence or threats, has compelled or prevented one or more persons from exercising a religion, or from attending the exercise of this religion, shall be punished by imprisonment of six months to three years and a fine of 200 to 500 dirhams. The same penalty shall be imposed on anyone who uses means of seduction with the aim of shaking the faith of a Muslim or converting him to another religion, either by exploiting his weakness or his needs, or by using for these purposes educational, health, asylum or orphanage establishments..."