Several ministers talked, during the weekly cabinet meeting, of the ring of Evangelists who were operating in Morocco and have been recently expelled for proselytizing activities aimed at little children, the Communication Minister and government spokesman said at a press briefing at the end of the meeting.

     Khalid Naciri said that Morocco is, by the virtue of the Constitution and the law, a land of openness, tolerance and freedom for all faiths, adding that the kingdom does not only guarantee the freedom of worship, but also the building of worship places for Christians and Jews as well as the exercising of their rites in full freedom and in a spirit of respect.

    He noted that the investigations, carried out on the basis of complaints by the citizens and the parents of proselytism victims, showed that the acts of the expelled persons run counter to the law, because they exploit the economic and social situation of the poor people.

    They exploit the innocence of the children, knowing that the eldest is under 10, to convert them to Christianity under the cover of charity actions, through the management of an orphanage accommodating 33 children.

    The fact that these children were supervised by 16 people (at a rate of one supervisor for each two children, the highest in the world) shows that it is not a sincere and true charity action, the minister said, noting that evangelization materials meant for the children were found, including books, leaflets and CDs.