ABSTRACT
The Moroccan migratory context witnessed the growth of an African Christian group. Over the long run, the establishment of Christianity in Morocco would relate to African immigrants. With a resident status or just on the move, they often gather in house churches that also function as support networks. This community worries about their children’s schooling. Then, the intersection between migration and religion might help to better understand the migratory situation and elucidate the ways that migrants embrace to adapt in different sociocultural environments. In the Moroccan -non-secular- context, the intersection between religion and migration is relevant because the debate about religious freedom and cultural diversity shapes public space. Migration might reinforce this issue by challenging the political and religious foundations that the Moroccan State is based on. We argue that migration, religion, religious freedom and individual rights are all intertwined and correlated.
Notes
1 Syrians and European Expatriates are two small groups present in Moroccan territory.
2 For the questionnaire, the nationalities involved: Senegal, Guinea Conakry, Mali, DR Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Central Africa. For the focus groups: Côte d'Ivoire (5) DR Congo (5), Nigeria (1), Cameroon (1), Guinea Conakry (1).
3 We examine religious freedom in the Moroccan context in the last section.
4 Focus Group, Tangier 2019
5 Interview. February 10, 2023. City of Rabat, Amal (neighborhood).
7 Finding by SNIA 2013- 2017, conducted by Ministry in charge of Moroccans Living Abroad and Migration Affairs.
8 In 2016, the investigation by the Ministry of Health introduced nationality identification for migrants who visit public hospitals for care services.
9 Framework law 51–17 (2017), articles 2 and 19, circular 0101–19 (2019), circular 135–18 (2018), directives 139/18 (2018), ministerial directive 487/13 (2013).
10 National Immigration and Asylum Strategy.
11 Covering the region Rabat-Salé-Kénitra. Interview 12 March 2019.
12 I will discuss this issue further in an upcoming article and the schooling of non-Muslim migrants.
13 Notably the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, article 18.
14 Constitution, 2011, Preamble, Paragraph 2 and Paragraph 3; article 3; article 5.
15 Constitution, 2011, article 25, paragraph 1.
16 Constitution, 2011, article 30, paragraph 3.
17 Article 30 paragraph 4.
18 The Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, Article 10.
19 Universal Declaration of Human Rights, article 18.
21 Interview. March 16, 2022. https://febrayer.com/ : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3jmcRo3y618
22 Penal Code, Ministry of Justice, Moroccan Kingdom, https://www.ilo.org/dyn/natlex/docs/SERIAL/69975/69182/F1186528577/MAR-69975.pdf
23 See the articles 220 and 223 of the Penal Code.
24 cf. http//www.habous.gov.ma