Religion in Morocco
According to The World Factbook maintained by the American Central Intelligence Agency, and a 2009 report by the Pew Research Center, about 99% of Moroccans are Muslims.
[citation needed] Relations between Sunni and Shiite have been strained in recent years, with a Moroccan crackdown on material and organisations originating from Shia-majority Iran and the group Hezbollah.
However, after the arrival of Islam, Christianity ceased to have a significant population in the country until finally being reduced to near extinction under the Almohad's forced conversion policy.
[15][16] Due to the Spanish and French colonization beginning in the 19th century, Roman Catholicism grew in Morocco, albeit mainly being the European colonists.
Conversions of Moroccan Muslims to Christianity, mainly by American Protestants in the remote and mountainous south of the country, have taken place despite the risk of legal consequences.
Pointing out the absence of official data, Service de presse Common Ground, cites unspecified sources that stated that about 5,000 Moroccans became Christians between 2005 and 2010.
After the creation of the Jewish state of Israel in 1948, the population of Moroccan Jews decreased significantly due to emigration.
[32] The Baháʼí Faith, which originated in the 19th century, is documented as starting its missions in Morocco in 1946, while the country was still under colonial rule.
A Ten Year Crusade was initiated to spread the belief, establishing assemblies and schools in Morocco.
In the early 1960s, shortly after independence, mass arrests were made of Baháʼís, and death sentences given to the most prominent believers, sparking international outrage.
[6][37] The government plays an active role in determining and policing religious practice for Muslims, and disrespecting Islam in public can carry punishments in the forms of fines and imprisonment.
In particular, Shia Muslims and members of the Baháʼí Faith face discrimination from the government, as do some Christian groups.
