23. Morocco

Violence

55.6%

Morocco’s monarchy claims descent from the Prophet Muhammad, and it’s estimated that 99% of the population is Muslim. It highlights just how rare and risky it is for anyone to convert to Christianity – so unusual that some Christians assume they are the only believers in their region or the entire country.

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Despite being increasingly influenced by the West, Morocco retains a strong Islamic identity, making it dangerous for anyone who chooses to follow Jesus, particularly young people. A massive challenge for Christians, both Moroccan and foreign, is that it is illegal to “shake the faith of a Muslim”. That means that any conversation about faith can be fraught with risk, potentially leading to arrest.

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Converts can encounter intense pressure to renounce their faith, with tactics including isolation, expulsion, violence and even superstitious treatments by imams (Muslim leaders). Converts can lose their jobs. Even if some judges do uphold the cases of converts in court, family pressures can often render their verdicts irrelevant. Understandably, many believers keep their faith secret.

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Despite at times engaging with advocates over the rights of Christians, the authorities monitor Christian activities and question church leaders. Several Christians have been pressured to report on their own communities.