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Morocco: New liberal government heralds greater freedom for Christians

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) – Christians in Morocco are expected to enjoy greater religious freedom since the September 8 election of a new liberal government, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports. The recent election resulted in victory for the National Rally of Independents party, bringing the 10-year reign of the Islamist Justice and Development Party to an end.

Historically connected to the Muslim Brotherhood, the Justice and Development Party had provided a means for Islamists to wield wide-ranging control over the country, including the suppression of active Christianity, ICC reports. Since the election, however, the Islamist party has only 13 out of 395 seats in the House of Representatives and 12 out of 120 seats in the House of Councillors.

King Mohammed VI of Morocco has now tasked politically liberal Aziz Akhannouch with forming a new government together with entities that “share the same principles and values.” In a statement to ICC, Moroccan Professor Mustafa Akalay noted that the election of a liberal government heralds “a new era of reform looms and there are glimpses and good intentions of change, such as the election of women mayors in the three main cities: Rabat, Casablanca, Marrakesh.”

In regard to religious freedom, Akalay said he anticipates a new environment “which will favor efficient religious diversity and fruitful inter-religious dialogue,” ICC reports.

Giving their reaction to ICC, Christians in Morocco have said: “We thank Jesus, the Islamists are gone. God has answered our prayers and now we have the government we wanted.”