A/HRC/41/54/Add.1
received from Syrian refugees in the north, of their strong integration in communities there,
especially among the Syrian refugees who benefited from the regularization efforts of 2014
and 2017. Similar conditions are vital for all other refugees, irrespective of race or national
origin.
60.
Pressure to prevent migration from Africa to Europe also appears to be shifting the
situation of migrants, refugees, and also Moroccans, in regions in the south of the country.
Although Morocco has rejected policies of immigration detention, the forced relocation of
black sub-Saharan irregular migrants, and in some cases asylum seekers, from northern to
southern regions appears to be creating de facto regions of migrant containment that will
only become increasingly volatile. Such displacement is leading to human rights violations
against these migrants in the southern regions to which they are relocated.
61.
Under the current conditions, the growing presence of these migrants risks
escalating anti-migrant and xenophobic tensions within Moroccan communities that have
previously welcomed migrant and refugee populations. This volatile situation requires
urgent attention and requires that Morocco remain firm in an approach rooted in human
rights with no interference from Europe. Morocco must cease any and all immigration
enforcement policies that result in gross human rights violations, including in forests in the
north and other regions close to its frontiers with Europe. At the same time, regional and
international actors, in particular the European Union and its member States, must take
responsibility for the role they must play in ensuring migrants’ human rights in Morocco.
Europe must take active steps to create legal pathways for migration, including for
Moroccans and other African migrants who seek to migrate. And international
organizations, including the International Organization for Migration, must ensure that
human rights are front and centre in all of their work nationally and locally, with regular
and irregular migrants.
D.
Moroccan religious minorities
62.
Although the Constitution of Morocco emphasizes the importance of Islam and
establishes it as the official State religion, freedom of worship for all is guaranteed under
article 3. In this context, the Special Rapporteur commends Morocco for the remarkable
steps it has taken to ensure that Moroccan Jews have the full means to enjoy their rights to
freedoms of belief and association as well as other human rights. She had the benefit of
visiting the Moroccan Jewish Museum, in Casablanca, which is unique in the Arab world
and a good example of respect for religious tolerance and cultural pluralism.
63.
However, the Special Rapporteur received information about restrictions placed on
religions other than Islam, an issue that had previously been highlighted by the Human
Rights Committee in its concluding observations. 39 During her visit, the Special Rapporteur
met with representatives from religious minorities, including Moroccan Christians and
Baha’i, who reported facing various restrictions in practising their religion. For example,
some national religious minority groups reported difficulties in registering, noting that
government and judicial authorities had rejected registration requests, citing infringement
on the Muslim religion. In the absence of proper registration, some groups are reportedly
prevented from attending churches, gathering for religious purposes in public, and
establishing associations under which they can operate legally. In addition, some reported
living in fear of government harassment due to previous surveillance incidents, arrests and
questioning by local authorities. The Special Rapporteur calls upon the authorities to shed
light on these allegations, which she takes seriously.
64.
The Special Rapporteur recalls that the human rights enshrined in international
human rights treaties must be guaranteed for everyone, including racial, ethnic and
religious minorities. Indeed, under article 5 (d) (vii) of the International Convention on the
Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, Moroccan authorities are required to
ensure that all Moroccans can enjoy equally the right to freedom of thought, conscience and
39
16
CCPR/C/MAR/CO/6, paras. 39–40.