MOROCCO: Moroccans who secretly converted to Christianity are demanding the right to practice their faith openly in a country where Islam is the state religion and “apostasy” is condemned.
At an apartment in a working-class part of the southern town of Agadir, Mustapha listened to hymns emanating from a hi-fi under a silver crucifix hung on the wall.
The 46-year-old civil servant, son of an expert on Islamic law from nearby Taroudant, was once an active member of the banned but tolerated Islamist Charity and Justice movement.
He said he converted in 1994 to “fill a spiritual void.”
“I was tired of the contradictions in Islam,” said Mustapha.
“I became interested in Christianity through a long correspondence with a religious center in Spain in the late 1980s.”
He went on to qualify as a Protestant pastor and received a certificate from the United States after taking a correspondence course.
Mustapha kept his faith secret for two decades, but a year and a half ago he published a video online in which he spoke openly about his conversion. The reaction was immediate.
“Family and close friends turned their backs on me, I was shunned at work. My children were bullied at school,” he said.
Converts to Christianity form a tiny minority of Moroccans. While no official statistics exist, the American State Department estimates their numbers at between 2,000 and 6,000.
Over the Easter weekend, Mustapha and a dozen fellow converts met for an “afternoon of prayers” in the living room of Rachid, who like Mustapha did not wish to give his full name.
Rachid, who hails from a family of Sufis — a mystical trend of Islam — embraced Christianity in 2004 and eventually became a Protestant pastor.
A father of two, Rachid said he became interested in Christianity when he was a teenager after listening to a program broadcast by a Paris-based radio station.
He researched Christianity at a cyber-cafe, contacted a specialized website and they sent him a copy of the Bible.
“I read the entire thing, studied the word of God, took courses,” he said. “At the age of 24, I was baptised in a Casablanca apartment.”
In April, Mustapha, Rachid and other Moroccan converts submitted a request to the official National Council of Human Rights (CNDH) calling for “an end to persecution” against them.
“We demand the right to give our children Christian names, to pray in churches, to be buried in Christian cemeteries and to marry according to our religion,” Mustapha said.
Islam is the state faith of Morocco but the country’s 2011 constitution, drafted after it was rocked by Arab Spring-inspired demonstrations, guarantees freedom of religion.
Foreign Christians and the country’s tiny Jewish community — of about 2,500 people — practice their faiths openly.
Moroccan authorities boast of promoting religious tolerance and a “moderate” form of Islam, and the country’s penal code does not explicitly prohibit apostasy — the act of rejecting Islam or any of its main tenets.
But in Morocco proselytising is punishable by law and anyone found guilty of “attempting to undermine the faith of a Muslim or convert him to another religion” can be jailed for up to three years.
“The subject is ultra-sensitive because it relates to the history of colonization and to the idea that Christianity constitutes a danger to the unity of Morocco,” a sociologist of religion told AFP.
But Rachid said the lines are shifting.
“The arrests have almost stopped, which is a big step,” he said. “Harassment has become scarce.”
Rachid, who says “I am Moroccan before being Christian, practices his faith openly and lives a normal life in a working-class district of Agadir alongside his Muslim neighbors.
Most Moroccans who have converted to Christianity live in Agadir and the central city of Marrakesh, and the majority have said they are Protestants.
With the exception of local Jews, Moroccans are automatically considered Muslims and King Mohamed VI holds the official title of Commander of the Faithful.
Mustapha said the 2011 constitution and actions by the king “in favor of tolerance and coexistence” have helped bolster human rights in Morocco.
But “the penal code, political parties and society have not followed suit,” he said.
Morocco’s Christian converts emerge from the shadows
Morocco’s Christian converts emerge from the shadows
India foreign minister says vandalism of Hindu temples deeply concerning
- Vandalism incident happened weeks after Ottawa expelled six Indian diplomats, linking them to killing of Sikh separatist leader in 2023
- Canada has accused India of conducting a broad campaign against South Asian dissidents in Canada, which New Delhi denies
SYDNEY: India foreign minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said on Tuesday the vandalism of a Hindu temple in Canada on Monday was deeply concerning.
“What happened yesterday at the Hindu temple in Canada was obviously deeply concerning,” he told reporters in the Australian capital Canberra while on an official visit.
The incident happened weeks after Ottawa expelled six Indian diplomats, linking them to the killing of a Sikh separatist leader in 2023 in Canada. Canada has accused the Indian government of conducting a broad campaign against South Asian dissidents in Canada, which New Delhi denies.
The incident has increased tensions between Canada and India, and between Sikh separatists and Indian diplomats.
Two Hindu temples were also vandalized in Canberra last month, which Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said was upsetting for members of the Indian community.
“People across Australia have a right to be safe and respected, people also have a right to peaceful protest, people have a right to express their views peacefully,” she told reporters.
“We draw a line between that and violence, incitement of hatred or vandalism,” she added.
Wong said Australia had expressed its views to India about Canada’s allegations over the targeting of Sikh separatists, and Canberra respected Canada’s judicial process. Jaishankar said it was unacceptable that Indian diplomats had been placed under surveillance by Canada.
“Canada has developed a pattern of making allegations without providing specifics,” he said.
Cavaliers stay perfect with win over Bucks, Pistons beat Lakers
- The Golden State Warriors welcomed Stephen Curry back from a three-game injury absence with a 125-112 victory over the Wizards in Washington
- The reigning champion Boston Celtics romped past the Hawks 123-93 in Atlanta
LOS ANGELES: Darius Garland poured in 39 points as the Cleveland Cavaliers fended off a late Milwaukee surge to beat the Bucks 116-114 on Monday and push their perfect NBA record to 8-0.
Garland drilled a step-back three-pointer to put Cleveland up 113-111 with 45 seconds to play, then fed Jarrett Allen for a dagger layup as the Cavs, who led by as many as 19 in the second quarter, matched the franchise’s best start to a season also achieved in 1976.
“It’s hard to get one (win) so eight is crazy,” Garland said. “I’m happy we got eight (we’ve) got to keep this thing going.”
The Bucks, with two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Giannis Antetokounmpo a late scratch with an adductor strain, dropped their sixth straight game, coming up short again after a one-point home loss to the Cavs on Saturday.
Milwaukee point guard Damian Lillard scored 14 of his 36 points in the third quarter as the Bucks battled back to lead 91-89 heading into the fourth.
They pushed the lead to eight points midway through the fourth, but a three-pointer from Garland ignited a 10-0 scoring run that put the Cavs up by two. Lillard would briefly put Milwaukee back in front but the Cavs had enough.
Evan Mobley added 17 points and Allen finished with 14 points, 15 rebounds and a massive block on Lillard with 8.8 seconds to play that sealed the win.
“We had to fight for 48 minutes,” Garland said. “We knew they were going to come out in the second half and try to be more aggressive. It was a great all-around team effort.”
On a busy night that saw every team in action before a pause for the US presidential election on Tuesday, the Detroit Pistons upset the Los Angeles Lakers 115-103 while the reigning champion Boston Celtics romped past the Hawks 123-93 in Atlanta.
The Golden State Warriors welcomed Stephen Curry back from a three-game injury absence with a 125-112 victory over the Wizards in Washington.
In Detroit, Cade Cunningham scored 17 points with 11 rebounds and 11 assists for the third triple-double of his career and Jaden Ivey scored 26 points to power the Pistons to their third win of the season.
Anthony Davis scored 37 points for the Lakers but appeared to be troubled by a left foot or ankle injury in the fourth quarter. He stayed in the game and threw down an alley-oop dunk that cut the Pistons’ lead to five points with 4:10 to play but Detroit pulled away again.
LeBron James scored 20 points with eight rebounds and 11 assists, but the Pistons seized the lead in the first quarter and remained in control the rest of the way.
The Warriors led all the way in Washington, Curry scoring a team-high 24 points in his first game since he tweaked his left ankle on October 27.
Jayson Tatum led the way for Boston with 28 points. Derrick White added 21 as the Celtics again barely missed injured star Jaylen Brown.
50 new Indian products launched at LuLu Hypermarket
In a significant move reflecting the depth of trade cooperation between Saudi Arabia and India, LuLu Hypermarket introduced a wide range of Indian-made products across its stores as part of the Diwali festival.
Indian Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal inaugurated the Diwali Utsav at LuLu Hypermarket, which also saw the debut of several India-made products across their stores. The minister expressed appreciation for LuLu’s efforts in promoting Indian products in the Kingdom. He also praised the Indian community in Saudi Arabia for their hard work, resilience, and commitment to both their home and host countries, as he said they play an integral role in building bridges between cultures and economies.
More than 50 new products have been introduced, including premium A2 ghee, millet-based breakfast cereals, and organic beauty items. Ladakh apples, supported by international trade initiatives, alongside Indian Cavendish bananas, and dragon fruit, have also been launched.
Describing LuLu Chairman Yusuff Ali M.A. as the “Roving Ambassador of India,” Goyal said: “As the leading retail organization in the Middle East, LuLu’s commitment to showcasing high quality Indian products exemplifies the diverse acceptance of Indian products across the nations. This initiative not only supports local industries but also strengthens the economic ties between India and Saudi Arabia.”
“This initiative aims to promote the products of India, including the taste and culture of our country, among the national population and the large expatriate community residing in the region. We are on track to open our 100th store in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia within two years, which will ensure direct job opportunities for 10,000 Saudi nationals,” said Chairman Ali.
The launch event also included vibrant cultural performances, with local students presenting traditional dances to celebrate cultural diversity, complemented by a Saudi drumming troupe performing traditional music, creating a festive atmosphere.
This initiative is part of Lulu’s broader strategy to expand its offerings, having added more than 10,000 products to the store.
LuLu recently announced an Initial Public Offering for 25 percent of its share capital on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange, offering an opportunity for public investment in the GCC’s largest and fastest-growing full-line retailer. The subscriptions are open till Nov. 5. The final offer price will be announced on Nov. 6, with the listing anticipated on Nov. 14.
Toxic smog wreathes India’s capital, Pakistan’s Lahore as winter nears
- Punjab government has blamed pollution wafting in from India for Lahore’s worsening air quality
- Authorities in Punjab have taken emergency measures in wake of unprecedented pollution levels
NEW DELHI: A toxic smog shrouded the Indian capital on Tuesday, driving air quality in some areas into the “severe” range ahead of winter, when cold air traps pollutants and brings a spike in respiratory illnesses.
The mix of smoke, emissions, and dust is an annual problem for authorities in New Delhi, with vehicles, construction dust, and smoke from farm fires in the adjoining northern states of Punjab and Haryana among the major contributors.
“The outlook for the subsequent six days: the air quality is likely to be in the ‘very poor’ to ‘severe’ category,” said the earth sciences ministry.
The city’s overall score on an air quality index kept by India’s top pollution authorities was ‘very poor’ at 384, the ministry added, and was likely to stay there until Thursday.
An index range of 401 to 500 falls into the ‘severe’ category, implying it affects healthy people, but is more serious for those already fighting disease.
Ministry data showed farm fires have increasingly swelled the pollution over the last three days, for a share of more than 23 percent on Monday, from about 15 percent on Saturday.
About a third of the city’s 39 monitoring stations showed a ‘severe’ score of more than 400 on Tuesday, said the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), well short of an air quality score of zero to 50 that it rates as ‘good’.
Swiss group IQAir also rated Delhi the world’s second most polluted city on Tuesday, after Lahore in neighboring Pakistan, where authorities also took emergency measures in the wake of Sunday’s unprecedented pollution levels.
The government in the eastern province of Punjab, home to Lahore, has blamed deteriorating air quality on pollution wafting in from India, an issue it has vowed to take up with its neighbor through the foreign ministry.
SAB receives prestigious ISO certification
Saudi Awwal Bank has achieved the ISO 9001:2015 certification from the International Organization for Standardization, becoming the first bank in the Kingdom to receive this prestigious recognition. This certification is awarded to organizations that effectively manage and enhance quality in their operations.
The certification process involved thorough audits conducted by experts from the British Standards Institution over the past three months, assessing various processes and procedures within the bank.
Ghada Al-Jarbou, chief operating officer at SAB, said: “We are pleased to be the first bank in the Kingdom to obtain the ISO 9001:2015 certification. This achievement reflects our commitment to delivering quality services and our focus on improving performance across the bank.”
She added: “This certification represents the hard work and teamwork of our staff. It strengthens our position in the banking sector and supports our goals in line with Saudi Vision 2030.”
This certification highlights SAB’s ongoing commitment to improving its services and meeting the needs of its customers, contributing to the broader economic growth in the Kingdom.
