Paranoia in the Maghreb

Maghreb is the real name for Morocco - it means "Land of the setting sun (or the west)" meaning it is the western-most Islamic country. "Maghreb" also can refer to the general area of Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria.

A few weeks ago the most-read Arabic newspaper in Morocco published an article blasting AUI (the university where Gerald works) as being a 'hotbed of proselytization.’

When AUI was founded by the former King, Hassan II, he established it as a place where the three Abrahamic faiths (Judaism, Christianity & Islam) could coexist and dialogue. Though there is no synagogue because there are almost no Jews left in Morocco, the university does allow a chaplain and gives the church an apartment in which to worship. Our tiny services are made up of mostly of faculty and American exchange students. Moroccans are allowed to visit, but cannot attend regularly. Conversely, the mosque on campus is one of the few in Morocco which foreigners are allowed to visit.

Karen, our chaplain, is very visible in the community and is famous literally all over Morocco for being someone who has actively done a great deal to help Morocco. AUI has also allowed several dialogue groups - most recently, we had an Imam (Muslim preacher), Karen and a Rabbi discuss poverty on a panel last week. The year before we came, the Moroccan students decided to watch "The Passion of the Christ" and asked questions of Karen afterward.

We believe all these factors provide a healthy atmosphere and that talking across, about and through our differences is the first step to a more peaceful world. But many in Morocco just don't get it. They are afraid that Christians are pushing their faith on Muslims and they cannot fathom that dialogue is possible or helpful.

This short-sighted paranoia puts those of us who are Christians here in the hot-seat even though we are abiding by the guidelines of the university and Morocco. It also puts our chaplain yet again in an unpleasant spotlight (this has happened before).

About a month ago, the entire Iranian embassy in Morocco was shut down and kicked about because of accusations of proselytizing their brand of Islam which of course doesn't look good to other Muslim countries. So now it seems that something has to happen against the Christians in Morocco to please other Muslim countries. Who knows – Morocco seems to always be in a delicate dance of pleasing western nations and the Middle East.

AUI has chosen to ignore the allegations hoping they will blow over and holding onto its firm belief that progress and peace need to start somewhere.