E/CN.4/1995/91
page 61
According to reports received, the distribution of the Bible is
restricted to foreigners."
In November 1994, the Special Rapporteur received the following
information from the Government of Morocco:
"The Baha’is do not constitute a religious minority; rather, they
are a heretical sect that threatens the foundations of Islam and distorts
its precepts.
Nevertheless, it is worth emphasizing that the Moroccan
Constitution and the Moroccan Penal Code guarantee respect for freedom of
religion, in conformity with the principles and provisions of the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights and International Covenants on
human rights.
Mr. Mustapha Zmamda was not released because he renounced
Christianity, but because he had been found not guilty by the Casablanca
Appeal Court on the proselytism charge, which is punishable under
articles 220 and 221 of the Penal Code.
Furthermore, Moroccan penal legislation does not prohibit
conversion to Christianity. Mr. Zmamda’s case does not therefore fall
within the province of Moroccan Penal Law applicable to cases of
proselytism, which is strictly forbidden."
Mexico
In a communication dated 17 August 1994, the Special Rapporteur sent the
following information to the Government of Mexico:
"According to certain reports, the following cases have been
brought to the attention of the Special Rapporteur.
In September 1992, Morelas Madrigal Lechino, an active member of a
popular religious organization, was reportedly taken in for questioning
in Mexico City by members of the Federal District judicial police. He
was held incommunicado for two days and beaten, threatened with death and
questioned about his activities.
In mid-January 1993, a dispute between the authorities of
Santiago Asajo (State of Michoacan) and an independent evangelical group
led to the destruction of their church and the temporary arrest of three
religious leaders. Several evangelists were injured in the attack which
was allegedly carried out by a group of about 40 Catholics.
The Rose of Sharon Presbyterian church, in the south-west of Mexico
City, has reportedly been the target of attacks by unidentified persons
who have repeatedly stoned the building, breaking its windows on
15 April 1993.
There have also been reports that in June 1993, some Catholics
stoned a group of 140 Baptists attending a service commemorating their