FEZ, Morocco — An appeals court judge in Morocco on Feb. 6 overturned a conviction against a Christian convert from Islam who had been sentenced to 30 months in prison for alleged proselytizing. The judge in the Court of Appeal in Fez dismissed the case against Mohamed El Baladi, 31, because of lack of evidence, sources close to him said.
On Aug. 28, 2013, in the remote town of Ain Aicha, Taounate Province, 50 miles from Fez, security officials arrested El Baladi for alleged proselytizing of two Muslims after someone complained to police about a conversation he allegedly had with them about his faith.
On Sept. 3, 2013, a court in Taounate found El Baladi guilty of attempting to incite at least one young Muslim to leave Islam and sentenced him to 30 months in prison, along with fining him $182.
The penal code describes proselytizing as any attempt to stop someone from exercising their religious beliefs or from attending religious services.
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