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.