The 2008 report on "Religious Freedoms around the World", released
by the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, stressed that Morocco
"continues to encourage tolerance, respect, and dialogue among religious
groups."
"Morocco participates in the Alliance of Civilizations and other
international groups that promote religious tolerance," according to the
annual report whose presentation took place at the State Department during a
press conference held by U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for International
Religious Freedom, John V. Hanford III.
The report, covering 198 countries, also stressed the coexistence
between the Muslim, Jewish, Christian and other communities.
The Moroccan government provides tax benefits, land and building
grants, subsidies, and customs exemptions for imports necessary for the
religious activities of the major religious groups, namely Muslims, Jews,
and Christians, the same source said.
“The Government's annual education budget funds the teaching of
Islam in many public schools, and Judaism in some public schools. The
Government also funds the study of Jewish culture and its artistic,
literary, and scientific heritage,” the report added, recalling that at the
University of Rabat, Hebrew and comparative religion are taught in the
Department of Islamic Studies.
“Throughout the country, approximately 13 professors teach Hebrew,”
the document pointed out, underlining that Morocco “is the only Arab nation
with a Jewish museum.”
The same source also mentioned the religious lectures organized
during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan and chaired by King Mohammed VI,
which are attended by Muslim religious scholars from around the world,
including the United States.
These lectures, the report went on, “consider ways to promote
moderate and peaceful religious interpretations and encourage tolerance and
mutual respect within Islam and between other religions.”
The report noted that the Jewish annual commemorations are held
throughout the country and Jewish pilgrims regularly visit the sacred
places, stressing that “a small foreign Christian community operates
churches, orphanages, hospitals, and schools without government
restriction.”
The Moroccan government “monitors and works to counter extremism in
the name of religion by promoting religious tolerance,” said the document.
It also recalled the annual “Fez Festival of Sacred Music, which
included musicians from Muslim, Christian, Jewish, Hindu, Buddhist, and
other spiritual traditions."
During the preparation of this report, U.S. officials “encountered
no interference from the Government in making contacts with members of any
religious group,” concluded the document, which will be submitted to the
Congress.