DESIGNATION: Restricted
OVERVIEW: Morocco is ruled by a monarch who is purportedly a direct descendant of the prophet Muhammad and intends to govern the nation with Islamic principles. Although the North African country has experienced more than 1,100 years of Islamic oppression, Morocco’s original inhabitants, the Berbers, were not Muslim. Islam was brought to the country by invading Arabs in the eighth century. Today, less than 1 percent of the population is Christian. The growth of Christianity has been slow, with a major setback occurring in 2010 when hundreds of missionaries were forced out of the country. With the rise of digital technology and social media, more Moroccans are coming to faith.
MAJOR RELIGIONS: Nearly all Moroccans are Sunni Muslim.
PERSECUTOR: The government is the main persecutor. Family, friends and communities also persecute Christian converts.
WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A CHRISTIAN IN MOROCCO: There are no church buildings in Morocco. Bible distributions and missionaries are not allowed in the country. It takes a while for believers to trust one another and connect with other believers. It is difficult to find fellowship. Underground churches take years to organize. Only in the past 10 years have underground churches become numerous. Most believers have not had access to God’s Word or discipleship. There are a number of Christian prisoners accused of apostasy or proselytizing.
ACCESS TO BIBLES: About 35 million people live in Morocco, but only a few printed Bibles exist in the country. It is difficult to get a Bible, but believers access Scripture through creative methods like SD cards loaded with God’s Word, which they can use on their mobile phones and tablets.
VOM WORK: VOM supports various forms of outreach and provide aid to new converts.
