Thursday, 17 May 2012
 
 

Paint The Town Moroccan


B'net Houariyat @ Kennedy Cntr

Morocco-US: Visa Talk

Hamid Kachmar's "Intricacies"
Constitution Referendum TV Debate


Moroccan Vocalist in Detroit  1  2

Polisario In Washington


Kids:    "My Morocco"

 

Submit classified free
Morocco: Orphanage shut down and Missionaries Expelled E-mail
Tuesday, 09 March 2010 16:03
Washington / Morocco Board News Service /  An orphanage called Village of Hope in The mid Atlas Region of Ain Leuh in Morocco, that was being run by 20 expatriates, has been ordered closed by government authorities. they were told that they must leave the country within three days.
A statement from the Moroccan Interior ministry noted that the individuals expelled "exploited some families' poverty and targeted their minor children …. they carried out proselytizing activities aimed at  childre nunder the age of 10, adding that the investigation resulted in the seizure of materials used in proselytizing".
The Voice of Hope orphanage has been operating for 10 years, taking abandoned children. Thirty three children lived there, some since its founding in 2000.
The closure came without warning. "We have always been open about our faith to the authorities," said Chris Broadbent, Human Resources Manager for the orphanage. "Watching the children be told by their [foster] parents that they had to leave, that they would maybe never see them again, is the most painful thing I have ever witnessed... This is a shame and a disgrace …"  Broadbent says they are in shock as the centre has been operating for 10 years without any issues. He says they are not missionaries, they are just parents who were looking after a group of children. They now holds fears for the orphans they have been forced to leave behind.

This is the latest in recent similar actions by the Moroccan government. On February 4th, authorities raided a Christian meeting in Amzmiz near Marrakech, arresting 18 and deporting a foreign missionary. Since then five other foreign Christian missionaries have been expelled.

 

While MoroccoBoard.com encourages discussion on all subjects, including sensitive ones, the comments posted are solely the views of those submitting them. MoroccoBoard.com does not necessarily endorse or agree with the ideas, views, or opinions voiced in these comments. This is a moderated forum. Comments deemed abusive, offensive, or those containing profanity may not be published.

 
Trackback(0)
Comments (28)add comment
feedSubscribe to this comment's feed

Jimo from the UK said:

Most of the comments are ignorant of the real facts
The irony behind all this "attempt-to-convert process" is that while the evangelicals are doing their job of converting each other, they aren’t having much luck converting “the unsaved.” Even worse, Evangelicals are leaving Christianity at a steady rate and either becoming moderate Christians or outright atheists.

My personal investigation into the facts lead me to an "interesting view from within the Village of Hope", believe me, those folks (VOH managers and co.) were no mere humanitarian volunteers: they had been, to put it in the blogger's words, Wolves in sheep's clothing.
See for yourselves: http://proudainleuh.blogspot.com/

"U Kant Hyde the Sun with a sift," so they say in the Arab the world.
09/23/10

Maria Erbil said:

Why Are American Adoption agencies claiming they have a Morrocan Adoption program
Can someone explain why Adopt Abroad and Hopscotch Adoptions claim to have an active adoption program in this troubled country?
If parents have to convert in order to Islam in order to adopt this seem deceitful and unethical for an agency to promote this, especially adoption agencies that profess to be a "Christian Agency".
08/22/10

meganne said:

ms
I knew Ain Leuh in the 70s when the two wonderful "aunties" ran the orphanage with much love and dedication. Then the house was an old building and life was not easy for the two good ladies who were getting on in age. The children were loved and cared for and yes there was a "christian" element to the whole place as the ladies had gone there because of their "calling" and their own christian beliefs. But these ladies were doing a job no one else wanted to do and were humble about their acheivements.The needs of the children were always put first and although they said prayers and sang hymns the children growing up knew they were muslim and learned about islam at school or from the moroccan helpers.Islam was always respected.
I revisited Ain leugh 2 years ago and found it a very different place. Yes the buildings were bigger and more modern,it was all very businesslike and the children all looked happy and well cared for. Ain leugh was now being actively supported by evangelical churches which financially is not a problem. However after speaking to some of the staff there was a strong feeling of certain having been"called by god to be there"and ,I felt there was an element of adding up brownie points in heaven.
By this day and age Morocco should be able to run its own orphanages with the help of NGOs or any volunteer agencies but it is an Islamic country and its beliefs should be respected.
The children sadly are the ones who will suffer most in this situation because of Morocco not yet taking on its own responsabilities for orphans such as these. Its all very well christian volunteers coming there to do Gods work but the children are muslim and should not be growing up in religious confusion.
05/09/10

3aziz said:

To Said the hilarious
you seem to be ignorant of the facts. first of all not all those kids were orphans, few parents have sent their kids to that orphanage because of poverty and they were forbidden to have any kind of contact by those missionaries. secondly adoption is forbidden in morocco by definition so i doubt any Moroccan court had decided in any adoption case, the Moroccan law states that you can care for an orphan but you can not adopt him according to shari3a.(kafala system)
Now i have nothing against Christians, Jews or non believers if they go to morocco to help over there as long as they respect the rules that apply to everyone.
glad Morocco has expelled them if they want to preach they can preach to adults.
04/01/10

Hilarious... said:

Good Intentions...
I find it rather interesting - some of the comments that are being made on this site in response to these articles about the expelling of Christians in Morocco. Culturally, orphans are the lowest of the low in Morocco, and all my fellow Moroccans know that. While I find it noble that some of you are offering to help, there is a stigma in Morocco about orphans that your help cannot change. The whole viewpoint of people in government and society would have to change before these kids (or others like them) could accomplish great things in Morocco. That is why so many have left the country. It is all about name and family blood line and that has not changed.

As for the person that said, "why don't these people help orphans in their own country." There are so many needs in many places. Should the children in Morocco be penalized because they were born in Morocco. That same logic would therefore negate all efforts in helping Haiti children after the earthquake that were living in horrible conditions. If we applied that philosophy, we would say, "forget about Haiti" let them help themselves.

What we have to remember is that somethings are bigger than just us and our purpose on earth is greater than what we see today. If someone feels led to help someone anywhere, so be it. Who are we to judge.

So for all the people that think that Morocco is justified in doing this, what about what happened today. The government removed a child from a Moroccan Christian couple who legally adopted a moroccan child through the Moroccan court system and live outside of Rabat. Is that justified also?

The bottom line is this - Morocco cannot claim to be a tolerant country and commit atrocities just as these. Period.
03/30/10

Hicham Arabi said:

Let's do something about it!
I challenge everyone to do something about this. Let's show those who cancelled thier "vacations" and are really working hard to contact their Senators that we can do something about and we do not need no lessons from any anyone. There are Moroccans who are taking care of their own and are getting recognized for it. They do not even try to mix it with religion. Take look Jorge or Jillian....
http://www.moroccoboard.com/vi...pus-prize

I ask that we do raise money to support those kids. I completely agree with Fatiha's suggestion. Let's get together and help those kids. One way would be to look to someone like Ms Aicha Ech Channa to help with this as long as we can provide support or may be the Morocco Foundation can be involved in. It can be done!


03/26/10

riffi said:

...
Every country is sovereign of its land and laws,when I came here 30 years ago I respected the law of this country who is mine now too,and I still do.So to everybody, stop shoving down the throat of other countries the U.S and european laws( myself I like it that's why I am still here),they have their own and we have to respect it.Two years ago I went to Morocco and I saw personally american missionary raising kids from single mothers in country side and converting the little children without the knowledge and consent of their mothers,furthermore they won't let the the mothers visit their children.As you know the poverety forced their mothers not to complain because they wanted the good life for their children.But now that it is getting little better in the berber area thanks to some NGO"s, mothers started to demand their children back.Imagine a couple of muslim going around in kentucky or Mississipi etc opening orphanage and converting christian babies to islam,I am sure you will be chain and drag by huge 4x4 preference F250 ,then Bubba will stop get his shot gun from the back seat of his truck and mess up your face.by the time Sherrif Quentin arrived it is too late and the case will be forgotten and closed.No CNN,FOX,MSNBC or CNBC,may be local news commenting some terrorist came to covert our babies.embassador Kaplan please go back to Minesota ,the law firms are making a killing. Your freedom of speech stop when the freedom of spech of others start.
03/18/10

Yaz said:

Bogus proselytising law
Where is justice? This law of non-proselytising is unjust in the first place. It contradicts the principle of freedom of belief that Morocco claims to follow. If someone approaches a muslim born in Morocco and teaches him/her about a different religion, it is absolutely that muslim's responsibility whether to believe, convert or practice a different religion; God gave us a brain to think and reason with. Religious belief is not a nationality. The fact that I was born in Morocco does not entitle anyone to force me to be a muslim or convert. I have my own free will. Here is a Moroccan saying: "Every lamb is hanged from its own legs" (in the day of judgement). And those who proselytise or "talk about their religion" are well intentioned especially when taking care of children in this case. We need more of these generous souls actually.

And children even if they are christian today, when they are major and can choose for themselves, they may find out some other religion is more adapted to today's life and time, and convert then. so what's the big deal, this is a humanitarian act that should be commanded instead of punished. It's common sense that that the government would prosecute the law, but the law is unjust it needs to change and be replaced with TRUE FREEDOM OF SPEECH, BELIEF, AND PRACTICE which are absent in that country in REALITY.
03/15/10

jorge said:

canceled vacations to Morocco
I hear folks have canceled their vacations to Morocco. I am sure many more will do the same. The Ministry of Interior's bad PR is going to hurt Tourism in that country. Foolish choice to hurt those who help you by caring for your children. Bad politics.
03/13/10

Moha Muslim said:

it's a shame !!!!
i'd like to remind both Muslims and Christians that Charity begins at home as the saying goes. the foster families(Dutch, South african and American) should go home to help orphans in their homelands. There sould be no coercion in religion. The missionaries are doing the same work Muslims do in poor countries(Africa, south America , Eastern Europe and Asia) it is a shame!!!! we are taking advatage of poverty and other factors to convert people to Christianity and/or islam. It's mere exploitation. let's be just human! in being so I think we would be evolved beings.Peace
03/13/10

Barbara in PA, USA said:

...
I live in America, and was raised Christian (Catholic to be specific). Alhumdulillah, Allah guided me to the truth which is Islam.

There have been a few "not so tolerant" Muslims during my journey, but I have found FAR more intolerant Christians in my life. They want to tell you how they believe, and when you try and give them another view, they shut down. They wait for you to finish, so they can start all over again. The people I think of as "true Christians" never talk about it or try and convert anyone....they just live good and decent lives, and are kind to everyone (regardless of religion, race or creed).

As for this orphanage....I don't think Morocco would just arbitrarily shut it down because Christians run it. I mean, it's been there for 10yrs, so why all of a sudden NOW? There is more to this story than what we are seeing, and I am guessing there was some type of proselytizing going on. And if that is illegal in the country, well then - you break the law, you have to deal with the consequences.
03/12/10

Taha said:

...
it's kinda sad to see moroccans judge each others according to the west's standards or to see through it's eyes. I've seen how people in Europe treat those preachers, they yell at them and throw the bibles in their faces, they don't say a word about that, they can't say a word against KSA when their channels say extremist harsh stuff about christians or jews, maybe because they finance the american and israeli wars in the ME, when it's about liberal poor countries like Morocco then all those who are supposed to be secular parties use the religion card for political reasons. I've never heard of one single foreigner including the ones who come from Africa complaining from racism, there are a lot of gambians, liberians, nigerians etc etc that come to morocco illegally and you know i've seen people brining them food and clothes, some even take them to their houses and have launch together, i'm not saying all moroccans are good but it'd be unfair to think all moroccans are bad. There are a lot of organizations that take care of orphans and poor people, it's not like there was only one and Morocco shut it down and expelled its staff just because they are jealous, that's rediculous.
For Mr. Mike Smith, who said there is an islamization in switzerland? it's not the muslims who said that, it's some extremist racist political parties that have been using this excuse to fight the muslims and deprive them from practising their religion freely, just try to get your facts straight before you throw any random judgement, I guess u have no idea about what you're talking about. depriving Muslims from practising their religion is against the regime in which their countries are based on that is secularism and then go to poor kids and try to convert them and if you say no then you're anti-christian. Islam has no prob with other religions, even the prophet used to give the mosque in Madinah to the christians to celebrate their religious feasts, there is no double standards in islam at all. I can't see any double standard in this incident at all, but I do see some hypocrisy from those who tried to make a fuss out of nothing
03/11/10

Hicham_M said:

...
These people broke the law and they knew the consequences of braking it.

The situation would be similar if Muslims try to build a minaret in downtown Zurich... I wonder what would happen if they get caught? At least we don't tell christians how to build their churches in downtown Casablanca. Maybe Morocco is more tolerant than you guys think.

Peace and love!
03/11/10

fares marwane said:

streets first
Let us be clear: first, if there was real Islam in Morocco, these children would not exist as prostitution result in this small village of Ain Leuh historically known for this issue. So, it is
false argument to say that the expelled people are threatening Muslim’s faith!
Second, it would be wiser is Moroccans care of those children that are left in the streets first.
Third, everybody would be happy if Moroccans will take care of all street children since they are Moroccans after all. But I hope they will not be sent where they might be abused by paedophiles nor will later serve as military power for the Moroccan non-elected leaders.
May God show us the right path!
03/11/10

Zak said:

Wake up Moroccans
I am a Moroccoan living abroad and I can say for from personal experience that Christians (in europe and other places) hate muslims and want them out of their countries on religious gounds and not the other way around. This is a propaganda initiated but few people motivated by personal agendas. We moroccan should push back whenever we are pushed around, especially in our country. If we don't push back then every freaking loser will walk all over us and crush what ever self esteem we have left and flush it down the toilette. We already have our govt doing that to us so we don't need foreigners to make us bend over and stick it to us.
03/10/10

mORCELI said:

dONT fALL inTO ThEIR TrAp
This article generated responses quicker than any other article in the past. The reason is that the Christians are fast condemning the Muslims. They are very proactive and i command them for thaT,. Muslims should do the same AND BE UNITED

Morocco did NOT expel them because they are Christians, they did because are proselytizing. There is BIIIIIIIG difference. These people here are trying to tell YOU that Morocco is chasing the Christians away from Morocco. that is NOT true. Wake up Moroccan brothers and sisters. Don't fall into their trap.

They chose Morocco because it is the MOST LAX country in the Arab world. it is a fact.

in their country, the soon you start speaking Arabic in the store for example, they start giving you a bad look, when they speak their language in our stores, we start listening to them and wanting to learn their language.
They are the one who do not acept Islam not the other way around. don't be foolish people. CHRISTIANITY DOES NOT RECOGNIZE ISLAM, THANK GOD THEY HAVE A SEPARATION BETWEEN CHURCH AND STATE, OTHERWISE WE MUSLIMS WOULD ALL BE CRUCIFIED.

Still my heart goes out to the innocent children and Morocco should man up and take care of their own mess.

03/10/10

Mike Smith said:

Isn't there a doublestandard?
To Jillian and the others on this Forum. I do not disagree with you all but we shouldn't also ignore that there is a double standard here. It is ok to state that there is an islamization in Switzerland and the rest of Europe to spark fear in people and server whatever agenda but Moroccans cannot do the same. That is not fair...
03/10/10

Fatiha Multi Media Image Consulting said:

Voices to Choices
How about if we all get together and save this orphanage. Attending to the needs of the children is a priority. They must be hurting and have no idea what just happen to them. Each one of us can take part in rescuing these orphans by committing ourselves to lobby for them “It’s not the BIG that eats the SMALL…it’s the FAST that eat the SLOW”. I’m really passionate about this subject and want to help the orphans. Let’s create a news letter with Morocco board focusing on rescuing the orphans of Einlouh. I will be more than happy to go over and help this kids and I’m sure many of you would do the same. Please send your ideas on how you can help and pass the word; this is a calling for a good cause. You can e-mail me. occhiaf@gmail.com

03/10/10

Morcelli said:

...
Christianity teaches non acceptance. Christianity does not recognize Islam or Muslims. Islam however does recognize other religions.
These people chose Morocco to indoctrinate small children not because of the goodness of their heart but to fulfill Jesus will to convert as many as possible. I do not see them going to Saudi Arabia or Afghanistan, they chose Morocco because it is a bit more lax than other Muslim countries. The authorities will not expel these people simply because they were doing god's(Jesus) will, they were expelled because they broke the law and the law is you can practice your religion be it Judaism, Christianity, or voodooism, but you cannot take advantage of small innocent children and try to the world that Morocco is bad, Morocco is not open, Morocco is anti Christ.
These people are trying to make us believe that the Moroccan authorities, out of the blue are trying to deprive these children from caring "parents" , they are missionaries on a mission not parents. When we reside on host countries, we respect their laws, if we do not, we get arrested, talked about us in every little news media and then get thrown out of the country, when the same thing happen to them, they start saying Morocco is bad, call your congressman, call you senator, call your president, call Le monde, call elmundo.es ,call new york times, call every christian organization there is.
Well Morocco is finally standing up to these people.
Now don't get me wrong, I do feel for these children and if the Moroccan authorities are to take care of them, they I wish them the best of luck, Morocco does not take care of anyone except if you bribe your way. Life in Morocco has no value and if you are poor, you are out of luck.
Should we allow Christians to covert Helpless Muslim children? Should we look the other way when laws are broken?
If you ask me, my answer is YESSSSSSSSSSS.
Why these children have to suffer because of these laws that do not make sense and only serve the few?

03/10/10

Warren Buffet said:

May dirou, may khaliw men ydir !
Maybe the Moroccan government got jealous to see foreigners caring for Moroccans more than Moroccans care for each-other.

The authorities don't give a damn about the Moroccan orphans who can't afford buying a pencil, and wear plastic sandals during the freezing winters.

The decision is very s****d and arrogant.

Allah yan3al li maye7shem !







03/10/10

Enoch said:

and the struggle goes on
As a christian expat in the regio Fes, i feel more forces against me and my believes and friends. I hope that the real muslims have learned the wise lesson here.Peace seems to be far away. I let my tears flow for the children and their fosterparents and volunteers.
03/10/10

Moussa said:

une tres mauvaise idee
je pense que c'est une tres mauvaise idee que le Maroc suive la voie de l'Algerie dans la persecution des chretiens, cela va dégrader l'image du Maroc aux yeux des francais qui vont taxer les marocains d'intolerance et de fanatisme. Je connais ces gens de l'orphelinat ils ne font pas de proselytisme et n'abusent pas des enfants mais font un tres bon travail et l'ecole est bien, il y a beaucoup des musulmans qui sont acceptes pour travailler la bas on essaye pas de convertir. Meme les institutrices de l'ecole sont musulmanes. Je pense qu'il vaudrait mieux lutter contre la prostitution plutot que contre les gens du Livre qui vivent leur religion mieux que beaucoup de musulmans. Ils font des œuvres belles pour obeir aux ordres de leur Livre. Les autorites locales les connaissent tres bien et savent que c'est des chretiens depuis le debut. Beaucoup de chretiens sont mauvais et vivent sans respect pour la religion mais ceux la sont justes je le dit parce que je les ai vu vivre. En plus ils amenent de l'argent dans cette region ou c'est trop la misere, la drogue et la prostitution,
J'implore le Très-Haut d'accorder aux autorités gouvernementales marocaines sagesse et justice, et de prémunir le Maroc et spécialement ces enfants d'Ain Leuh contre les causes de souffrance et de malheur
03/10/10

Lorraine said:

...
I have been so priviledged to have visited the VoH and watch first hand what loving and caring parents these people are. They never tried to "hide" the fact that they were Christians, they simply got on with the job of raising those kids. Please note that these kids are not orphans - they are abandoned. They were not wanted by their mothers due to the shame that is tied to having a child out of wedlock. So these kids came to VoH from a day old....it is a tragedy. But ultimately God is in control of this whole situation. Even the Moroccan government officials is in His Mighty Hand
03/10/10

Kevin said:

Morocco: Orphanage shut down and Missionaries Expelled
For the Moroccan Ministry of Justice and of the Interior, I pray the following famous prayer: "Father forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing."
03/09/10

Jillian Roche said:

...
Yes the children were taught about Islam in school and rather than exploiting their poverty the staff were raising them as their own when they had no one else to help them. Go to www.savevillageofhope.com for the full story from the staff. (Also the home is called Village of Hope, not Voice)
03/09/10

A Moroccan Dude said:

So what...
You know what. If the moroccan govt can not take care its own and all it does is marginalize all moroccans including little orphane then it's time for an outsider to do our job for us. We have always and still do rely on outsiders to lead us in every field so why not take care of the innocent little children who, without help will most likely face an uncertain future filled with drugs, prostitution and crime. But guess what, the Moroccan govt does not give a **** about deprived moroccans. I welcome, christian, jews or whoever to come and help if we can't get off our a$$$ and do something. So be it if these kids embrace christianity...
03/09/10

Joseph said:

Mr
What a disgrace to take loving caring adults away from poor vulnerable children and Morocco clams to allow all faiths to live together what a joke this is Islamic love and tolerance imagine the outcry in the Islamic world if the situation was reversed the would be riping up the streets calling for blood by now we should boycott all moroccan produce and stop going there for sun holidays
03/09/10

Sura 107 said:

Disaster at Ain Leuh
Some facts, observations and a few questions:

They had a cop stationed at the orphanage at all times who made sure the kids were not learning about Christianity, and in fact they children were being brought up Muslim. (as required by law)

20 expats were given two hours yesterday night to pack their things - nearly all were taken in a police truck to Casa - deported this morning. (Shouldn't this newsworthy event have been publicized by now on 2M? Our do we need another promotional documentary on artisans in the old medinas)

The insensitivity to the future of the orphans is both un-Islamic and inhumane.

What religion were they born into? They have no parents, no one to care for them... please don't tell me that is part of Islam! These people did the work that Morocco should have done as instructed repeatedly throughout the Quran. Soon we won't have the risk of their exposure to Christianity; the little children will be selling cigarettes, Kleenex and chewing gum in the middle of city traffic.




03/09/10

Write comment

busy