Example of Islamic tolerance: Morocco expels five foreign Christian missionaries for holding "undeclared meetings"

Muslim tolerance is clearly a one way street. Expelling Christian missionaries when caught is standard practices in Morocco.

Just a few examples of Morocco's interpretation of religious tolerance - more here.

A person may be punished by three to six months' imprisonment and a fine of $14 to $71 (115 to 575 dirhams) - article applies to "anyone who employs incitements to shake the faith of a Muslim or to convert him to another religion."

The Ministry of Interior continued to monitor proselytizing activities, especially those of Shi'a Muslims and Christians. On April 2, 2009, a government spokesman stated, "the Kingdom, whose foundations are grounded in Islam and the Sunni Maliki rite, can never tolerate serving as a hotbed for spreading Shi'ism and Christian proselytizing. The fight against Christian proselytizing in accordance with law cannot be considered among human rights abuses, for it is an action aimed at preventing attempts to undermine the country's immutable religious values. The freedom of belief does not mean conversion to another religion."

The Government cites the Penal Code's prohibition on proselytizing in most cases in which courts ruled to expel foreign missionaries. Voluntary conversion is not a crime under the criminal or civil codes.

OUJDA, Dec 08, 2009 (AFP) - Morocco has expelled five foreign Christian missionaries for holding "undeclared meetings" in the mainly Muslim north African kingdom, police said Tuesday.

Police at Oujda in northeast Morocco also accused the five of "evangelist proselytism," or missionary preaching, according to a source contacted by AFP. The five were expelled on Saturday.

Two of the foreigners came from South Africa, two from Switzerland and one from Guatemala. They were part of a group that also included 12 Moroccans, who were freed the same day.

The whole group was arrested on Friday during a raid on a house in Saidia, a seaside resort 70 kilometres (45 miles) north of Oudja.

Three of the foreigners -- the two Swiss and the Guatemalan -- were "sent out through the frontier post with Melilla," one of the Spanish enclaves on Morocco's coast.

The two South Africans, who already had airline tickets, were taken to Casablanca airport, the police source told AFP.

Last March, four Spaniards and a German woman were similarly expelled after they held a missionary meeting with Moroccan nationals, according to a statement from the ministry of the interior.

Atlas Shrugs