RABAT, Morocco — Moroccan authorities deported more than 40 foreign Christian aid workers during one week in an ongoing nationwide crackdown that included the expulsion of foster parents caring for 33 Moroccan orphans.
Deportations of foreign Christians continued at press time, with Moroccan authorities expressing their intention to deport specifically U.S. nationals. Sources in Morocco said the government gave the U.S. Embassy in Rabat a list of 40 citizens to be deported.
Citing Western diplomats and aid groups, Reuters reported that as many as 70 foreign aid workers had been deported since the beginning of March, including U.S., Dutch, British and New Zealand citizens. At the Village of Hope orphanage near Ain Leuh, 50 miles south of Fez, the government March 8 expelled 16 staff workers, 10 foster parents and 13 natural-born dependents from the country. The orphanage arranges for orphaned children to live with a set of foster parents rather than in a traditional dormitory setting.
Police first came to the orphanage the afternoon of March 6 questioning children and looking for Bibles and evidence of Christian evangelism; by late Sunday night, they had told all foster parents and staff that they had to leave March 8.
New Zealand-native Chris Broadbent, a worker at Village of Hope, said the separation of the foster families and the children under their care was traumatic. As much as they hoped to be reunited, he said that did not seem likely; officials told them they could visit as tourists in the future, but in reality, authorities do not allow re-entry for those who have been expelled.
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