Morocco hailed as a model of religious freedom by US institute of religion and policy

"Morocco is a tremendously important model as an Arab Muslim state that recognizes the integrity and importance of religious freedom as a national policy," says Joseph K. Grieboski, founding chairman of the US institute on religion and public policy.

This came in a report submitted by Grieboski to a panel on "Religious Freedom, Terrorism, and National Security," held part of the Second Session of the Inter-parliamentary Conference on Human Rights and Religious Freedom organized by the Institute in Brussels this Aug. 5-7.

"The promotion and advancement of the religious rights of all religious minorities by the Moroccan government distinguish it as a unique paradigm in the Arab Muslim world," says the institute which also notes that "the King of Morocco also serves as head of religion, no one is persecuted or denied his rights because of his religious beliefs. No discrimination or privileges based on affiliation or rejection of affiliation to a religion is acceptable to the King or the Government."

The Kingdom was also credited for its efforts "to eradicate the pockets of extremism within its borders" and for the revamping of the Ulema (Islamic theologians) council to ward off religious terror ideologies. The report also cites as other positive developments in the Kingdom the initiative taken by King Mohammed VI last October, in an effort to provide equality for all of Morocco's citizens, and to introduce a Family Law, which aims to place men and women on equal footing in Morocco. Parliamentarians unanimously approved the monarch's proposal, the report notes.

The report recalls that Morocco has been on May 16, 2003 a target of terrorists that suddenly raised awareness about the dangers of Islamist extremist groups.

Participants in the conference expressed "gratefulness to "his Majesty King Mohammed VI for his generous appreciation to the conference." The sovereign had addressed a message to the conference opening session stressing the conference as a initiative that tends to replace confrontation by complementarity between humans and illusions of self-sufficiency and autarcy by the imperious need for cooperation.

Participants also agreed to hold the third session of this series of conferences in Morocco. The Morocco's session will explore the theme of "human rights and religious freedom."