For my friends over here in Morocco

[KittyPollitt 284]

Got this email this morning, its troubling for those of us who are here for extended periods

Warden Message- Expelled Americans

March 11, 2010

Dear Fellow Americans,

The events of the last few days are undoubtedly of concern.

As most of you already know, a number of Americans have been expelled

from Morocco. Many of those expelled were long-time Moroccan residents.

While we have not communicated with each person who was expelled, we

believe that, in each case, alleged proselytizing is the Moroccan

government's stated reason for such action.

My colleagues and I have been continuously in touch with the Ministry of

Foreign Affairs to express our dismay over the action taken. We have

not disputed or questioned the laws of Morocco. While the Moroccan

Constitution provides for the individual right to practice one's

religion, proselytizing is strictly prohibited. Rather, we have

expressed, in the strongest possible terms, our distress over the manner

in which the expulsions were carried out.

The refusal of the Government to grant a hearing where the affected

parties could be heard violates fundamental rules of due process.

Moreover, the failure of the Government to grant an appropriate period

for those expelled to attempt to put their affairs in order is neither

fair nor excusable. In addition, the potential harm to those left

behind is obvious and real.

We do not seek to alter the laws of Morocco. We need to be assured that

our citizens are treated in accordance with universally accepted

standards of fairness.

I will continue to monitor this situation, and will speak out for the

interests of American citizens.

The U.S. Embassy in Rabat is located at 2 Avenue Mohamed El Fassi and

can be reached at 0537-76-22-65. Consular Services are located at the

U.S. Consulate General in Casablanca at 8 Blvd. Moulay Youssef.

Should you have questions, I urge you to contact our American Citizens'

Services Unit at the U.S. Consulate in Casablanca at 0661-79-70-00

Monday through Friday from 8 AM until 5 PM. After hours or on weekends,

please call 0661-17-23-67

Sincerely,

Samuel L. Kaplan

Ambassador

[Kenza 1]

They are probably talking about missionaries who got caught...

[love is great 0]

Yes, this was in reference to missionaries there from different countries including US. It had to do with an orphanage that missionaries where teaching the children christianty and trying to convert them from Islam. (which happens to be against the law in Morocco).

http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/morocco...an-missionaries

Edited March 12, 2010 by super men morocco

[KittyPollitt 284]

Yes, this was in reference to missionaries there from different countries including US. It had to do with an orphanage that missionaries where teaching the children christianty and trying to convert them from Islam. (which happens to be against the law in Morocco).

http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/morocco...an-missionaries

oh, well in that case, . People's religious preferences should be respected... it's one thing to bring God to the Godless, but Christian missionaries going into Muslim countries looking to convert people is no better than Jehovah's Witnesses knocking on the door during dinner... i hate that.

[love is great 0]

I totally agree. If you come into a county with certain religous beliefs dont expect to be welcomed to try to convert them. I am all for sharing you beliefs and religion but dont break the law in doing so.

[Beauty for Ashes 257]

oh, well in that case, . People's religious preferences should be respected... it's one thing to bring God to the Godless, but Christian missionaries going into Muslim countries looking to convert people is no better than Jehovah's Witnesses knocking on the door during dinner... i hate that.

Kind of clues you in to how wonderful the US is. People come from all over the world trying to convert people and no one throws them out based on their choice of religion. I think people in the USA are more able to practice what they want than any other country

Side note

There are orphanages in great numbers because adoption is not allowed there legally and if a girl has a child out of wedlock, there are little or no resources for her or the child. You have hundreds to thousands of abandoned children every year in Morocco, a supposedly religious country with little or no rights for these children nor help for their moms. I think the people worrying about the missionaries should take a harder look at helping these kids. I am not agreeing with what they did but they themselves are not helping these babies enough.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/864994.stm

[MHandMB 0]

According to the members of the organization, there has been no proselytizing and they have followed the laws of Morocco:

http://www.voh-ainleuh.org/

"For the past 10 years the Village of Hope has offered an outstanding level of care and love to Moroccan Children. The unique model of care offered by VOH means that children have been raised in family units with a Mum and Dad rather than the more traditional dormitory style orphanage set up. VOH has always operated with the full knowledge and agreement of the Moroccan authorities with the overt understanding that the overseas workers are Christian. It has also always been understood that the children would be raised in a Muslim/Christian environment but would also be fully immersed in their Moroccan culture in terms of love for their country, language, education and knowledge of Islam.

On Monday 8th March, all 16 overseas workers, including 10 parents, and 13 natural-born dependents, were told they were to be evicted from the site and country. The reason given was that the parents had been proselytizing, with no explanation of who, when, where or how this was alleged to have occurred. No charges concerning the welfare and care of the children have ever been raised as a concern by the Moroccan authorities in the 10 year history of VOH.

The Moroccan authorities have not produced any evidence of the alleged offence and they gave only a few hours for the parents to pack up belongings and explain to their children that they might never see them again.

This action against VOH was part of a nationwide crackdown against Christians living in Morocco. VOH fully understands that the Moroccan law prohibits people from promoting a faith other than Islam and has always sought to abide by this law and recognises the right of the authorities to enforce this law. All parents, volunteers and visitors to VOH were required to sign a declaration stating that they will abide by the Moroccan law prohibiting evangelism. A copy of this declaration is appended below. VOH strongly refutes the allegation made against its staff and confirms that the authorities have always been aware of its Christian ethos and that throughout the 10 years the authorities have placed children into the care of VOH. It is also a grave concern that no appeal process has been offered to challenge this decision and the action taken.

The eviction process was the most painful situation imaginable. The Moroccan authorities gathered the children together in the school and told them what was happening in the absence of the parents. After that, parents had to further explain to the devastated children what was about to happen. Some of the children have been with their parents for 10 years and the trauma caused was beyond description. VOH would like to make it very clear that during the eviction process, no member of the Moroccan authorities ill treated any of the staff or children and that the Moroccan authorities had a team of carers, albeit strangers to the children, ready to come in and offer temporary care. However, parents have no idea what is to happen to their children or how they are coping and have no point of contact with the Moroccan authorities.

VOH understands the action of the authorities in relation to any "missionaries" if there is real evidence against them of preaching the gospel. However, they feel the action against them was without foundation and completely unjust. VOH is not a missionary organisation and only exists to offer love, care and education to Moroccan children. There is a sense that VOH has been included in a nationwide action, but there is absolutely no legal merit to the action taken against VOH.

The parents of VOH want to clearly state their love for the Kingdom and people of Morocco and fear this act by the authorities will cause long term damage to the excellent reputation of Morocco. Morocco is viewed by the West as a moderate and safe Islamic state with an ever improving response to social issues. The King has been a driving force behind so much positive reform and he is to be honoured for all he has done for the betterment of his people. However, actions like this are only likely to tarnish Morocco's image and have a detrimental effect on inward investment, foreign aid and tourism. If a perception grows that non-Islamic guests in Morocco and foreign led organisations are being targeted then we fear for the damage that could be caused. Key relationships with the EU and other trading partners and supporters of Morocco could be affected unless a negotiated settlement can be seen to take place. VOH, through its international investors, have pumped Millions of Moroccan dirham into infrastructure, care of children, employment of Moroccans and the local economy only to have it taken away in a matter of hours. What signal does this send to others looking to support the development of Morocco either through trade, aid or simply as a tourist.

The parents only want to be reunited with their children. Every single set of parents would return to Morocco to continue with the care of the children and continue to live under the law and authority of the State. Equally, the parents would be willing to negotiate for the release of the children into their care to the parent’s country of origin. As parents, we plead with the Moroccan authorities to open a dialogue with us as to the future well being and care of our children.

We openly and unashamedly appeal directly to the King, as a Father himself, to act with mercy and help us reach a point of compromise and reunite the 33 children with the only parents they know.

We also appeal to our supporters around the World to not react to this situation and use the internet or any other means to say anything that might be viewed as detrimental about the Moroccan authorities. We the parents are the only people who carry the authority to speak into this situation on behalf of our children and we are raising up a team of people whom we trust with our message to speak on our behalves. If you have posted "unauthorised" comments or started campaigns, we would plead with you to stop and remove information you have put into the public domain.

For offers of help and especially if you have access to the people of influence and power, please contact the following people:

USA

Allen Wolf

Tel: 310-314-3960

allen@morningstarpictures.com

UK

Mark Johnston

Pioneer People Wirral

Tel: 0798 654 0930

mcwirral@yahoo.co.uk

To make a donation:

cheques payable to Pioneer People Wirral - 33 Seven Acres Lane, Thingwall, Wirral CH61 7XZ.

Or online at:

http://www.justgiving.co.uk/pioneerpeople

Holland

Information coming

South Africa

Errol Muller

venita5045@swissmail.org

France

Michael Paita

La Gerbe

Tél : 01 34 75 56 15

michael.paita@lagerbe.org

As parents, we can't walk away from this situation. We need to work hard to make sure our children are safe and ultimately given back to us. We appeal for international support to help us campaign against this unjust decision. We urgently need finances to provide living costs for displaced families, provision of support for sacked Moroccan workers, legal representation, travel costs for staff to and from home countries and funding to fight this issue for as long as it takes. Again, please contact the above people to provide your financial support.

We conclude with just one story to make everyone understand the impact of what is happening.

Simo came to VoH as a very sick newborn baby boy. He had been born to a single teenage mother with mental health problems, who abandoned him at VoH on the day of his birth, and in a very unwell state. Within hours of his arrival, he developed breathing problems, and was rushed to hospital, where he stopped breathing and was revived by our Dutch nurse. Simo remained in hospital for eight weeks, and was then returned to VoH care and custody by the Moroccan authorities. He returned malnourished, and extremely unwell. He was unable to feed except through a tube, and then only in very small amounts. He weighed only 2.79kg, less than his original birth weight. Simo required, and received, one-on-one nursing care from our qualified Dutch and British nursing staff 24-7 for several months. Once Simo began putting on weight and his health improved, he was placed permanently with one of the VoH parents, who have provided him with love and all the other essential needs of a little baby. He has remained with his new parents and 9 siblings for the past year, up until the day that they were evicted. Simo was later diagnosed with severe cerebral palsy, and had a number of ongoing related complications. However, with a strict medication and care regime from his parents and our nursing staff, he became a happy, healthy little boy with a future and a hope.

Without VoH’s immediate intervention and action, Simo would have died. But at the time of the parent’s eviction from VoH, he was a happy and very healthy little boy who, whilst very handicapped, was well provided for and continues to be loved as a son and brother by his parents and siblings. We have been informed that Simo had a very bad night after his parents departed, and that within 15 hours of his mum and dad being torn from him, he was taken to a hospital to be cared for, as the temporary Moroccan staff were unable to cope with his needs. We reiterate that Simo was not unwell when his parents were taken away. But he requires a particular regime of medication and special care to ensure that he remains healthy and comfortable. We hope that he continues to receive the special care that he requires, that people will be permitted to visit and hold him, to talk to him and let him know that he is still loved. Ultimately, we want to see Simo back in the arms of his loving parents and siblings, restored to the love and hope that he so deserves.

We have another 32 stories to tell and will keep telling the stories until a just decision is made. This is not an issue of Islam vs Christianity, this is a issue of families torn apart, bewildered and devastated children and heartbroken parents. We call for Justice.

God bless and thank you for the uncountable acts and words of kindness and prayer already received. Please continue to stand with us.

From the Parents in exile and separated from their beautiful Children."