 |
[ login or create an account ]
|
|
[ login or create an account ]
|
Birkenhead residents Chris and Tina Broadbent, and their two small children, have been caught up in a Moroccan religious crack-down which has seen them interrogated and now forced to leave the country.
The couple has been volunteering in a Moroccan orphanage. The orphanage, called ‘Village of Hope’ (VoH) is run by Christian volunteers and currently cares for 33 Moroccan children. All the foreign staff have been given a day to leave the country. The fate of the orphans is now unknown.
“The reason given for forcing us out is that the abandoned children in the care of VoH have been proselytised by us, that we are trying to make them Christian. This is despite the fact that we have always been open about our faith to the authorities, and for 10 years they have allowed VoH to take in and foster children abandoned by this society, children who would otherwise be killed or placed in state run ‘mega’ orphanages,” says Mr Broadbent, a former member of the New Zealand Police Force.
The problems started a few days ago when the kiwi couple were called at midnight and told they were to be interrogated.
“We were interrogated for 2.5 hours, without recourse to representation, any explanation of our rights and obligations, or any explanation for the purpose of the interrogation. They wanted to interrogate us separately but I insisted that this not happen. There were between four and seven people in the room with us at varying times, some in uniform, some not. This was all done in the presence of our two children. The questions asked included how we came to know about VoH, how we were personally financed, whether we were ‘sent’ by any agency, what we did when we meet together in our Sunday morning services at VoH, whether we were ‘evangelising’, and similar questions,” says Mr Broadbent.
The kiwi couple is in Morocco on residency visas but they were forced to surrender these to officials.
They are able to escape the country however the future of the 33 orphans is weighing heavily on them.
“33 children have just been abandoned again by the actions of the Moroccan state. Their foster mothers, fathers, sisters, and brothers, must now leave them in Morocco and return to their home countries. These 33 children have never known another family. Some of them have been here for 10 years, since the start of VoH. One of the older children just said to Tina, ‘Why couldn’t I have real parents?’ Watching the children be told by their parents that they had to leave, that they would maybe never see them again, is the most painful thing I have ever witnessed,” says Mr Broadbent.
Author: Libby Kirkby-McLeod
Popular competitions and giveaways from Gimme.co.nz: NZ's People Powered Guide to Free Stuff. Links will open on Gimme.
Health Tips, Recommended Movies, Recommended Books, Recommended Places.
Links will open on recommended.co.nz.
All articles and comments on Voxy.co.nz have been submitted by our community of users. Please notify us through our contact form if you believe an item on this site breaches our community guidelines.
Voxy: Your Voice - Uncensored
Got Something to Say But No One’s Listening?
Message to Spread? – Distribute News
Product to Promote? – Run a Promotion
We Can Help You Spread The Word.
Comments
You have four hours to stop
You have four hours to stop this disaster -
those children's lives will be destroyed.
Their deportation flights begin at 11:00 am from Casablanca....
Thought maybe you could
Thought maybe you could help...
FOX6 News Tip or Issue: HELP NOW! Morocco - 11:00 AM tomorrow (from Casa Airport) deadline for the Christian Missionaries of the VOH
Get press, do what you can - 20 workers (and 33 orphans) will have their lives destroyed by 11:00 AM unless you can stop them.
Village of Hope, Morocco
Here's the tragic story -
http://www.voh-ainleuh.org/?p=Start
These people are under police supervision right now...but you can reach them...
Phone of Herman Boonstra, Managing Director: (00212) 663204254 or within the country 0663204254
Phone of CHris Broadbent, Human Resources Manager - 00212 650 731 307 .... or within the country 0650 731 307
newsmanager@foxnews.com
The Moroccan government is at this moment expelling the members of The Village of Hope, based on their religious beliefs and falsehoods that they are prosyltizing. This organisation has 33 abandoned or orphaned Moroccan children under it's care. Most of the children have been fostered since birth and this is their home, these are their parents.
After 10 years the Moroccan government has suddenly decided that they can no longer care for these children because they are Christians and are proslytizing to the children. There is no proof, yet despite this, the entire organization is being expelled from the country, I believe they are being forced to fly out tomorrow morning at 11:30 AM from Casablanca, and the children will be ababdoned once more, left to fend for themselves.
You can read more from their website: www.voh-ainleuh.org
This is a horrible injustice and tragic beyond belief for the children who will be left alone and defenseless in a country that has virtually no child welfare system. Where most orphans end up as street children. Not forgetting the families who have loved and fostered these children their entire lives, whose only crime is being Christian.
Please look into the story, don't let this occur in a vacuum.
Dear Sir:Madam Hi I am a
Dear Sir:Madam
Hi I am a kiwi also living and working in Morocco and i have just read the article about village of Hope
Please get the Moroccans authorities side of the story as this all seems a little contrived by the management of the village of hope
There are fine lines regarding Christianity teachings as there should be, this is a Muslim country
and the Village of Hope must respect this at all times that is not to say that these children should be aware of Christianity but certainly not taught as the main religion which is what would have been done
People no matter who or what they are in whatever line of business or charity when in a foreign country must at all times respect and adhere to the religion and the laws of the country at all times not change the rules as they go when then make the children like in this case the victims and then contact overseas media with a one sided story making out the moroccan authorities are to fault
These find out the other side of this story
I have lived in Morocco for 4 years and owe and operate 2x businesses and at no time has religion encroached on my business
I respect the laws and the religion of the country I choose to live here this is paramount
I would like to see the human outcry if missionaries came to NZ and opened a orphanage then slowly but surly started teaching Islam to our children there would be a human outcry
These people have a good heart i would imagine but they lose the way with religion
Also there is a part of the story that I am concerned with that these children will be killed I find this incorrect killed by whom this i find a tad ott this comment can cause damage for the kingdom which is one of the most liberal Islamic countries
The Kingdom of Morocco is striding ahead with new laws and practices regarding Human rights , Woman Rights, Tourism etc all under the guidence of His Majesty Mohammed VI and this article can do nothing but help a little to undermine this amazing acheivements that is now occuring in Morocco; the difficulties that Morocco has faced has taken many years to achieve and then we want it fixed in a day impossible
Please lets get to the real story here
Religion ........ cant they just care for the children and let them practice the religion that they have been born into and let this children grow into healthy valued human beings without the teaching of Christianity
do gooders some times do more harm than good and then use the children like in this case a pawn
feed them love them clothe them teach them but leave religion out of it
thank you for your time
i can get the correct info from the authorities for you if you like
Dear Kiwi Business
Dear Kiwi Business Person.
Your naivity is alarming and your willingness to pass judgement on caring people is most distressing. I too am a business man with property in Morocco and I am committed to caring for the poor and needy of this country. I have also enjoyed the friendship of many Moroccan neighbours and friends. I have visited this orphanage and have met many of the adults and children involved.
Of this I am certain a large number of those children would be dead today but for the caring intervention of the orphanage leaders, often faced with the systematic starving of the babies and the neglect from desperate young unmarried mothers who felt they had no other choice in their lives, accepting many of these children in to care for in every possible way.
Why do you jump to the defence of the authorities assuming they are guilty as charged? Is it not natural for any parents, foster, adopted or natural to model their values and beliefs? Where were the Moroccon authorities when these poor mothers and their babies were in serious distress. I know that many small shoe boxes of trinkets, notes and clothes were stored away to help each individual child deal with their abandonment and perhaps help in the search for their birth mothers if they so wished at a later date, such was the level of longterm planning and concern expressed by the foster parents in this project.
Please be big enough to consider that these are good people who dared to care about the unloved, excluded and vulnerable in that society. I too work with enough wonderful Moroccon people to know this is not representative of the people of Morocco. It is I suspect the work of a small number of official zealots wishing to make a name for themselves and build their own power base.
I hope your interests are well protected when they next come looking to rob you of your hard earned assets and fruit of your labour because rest assured if they are allowed to get away with this man-made disaster/attrocity then you will be next somewhere down the line. Don't think that because you bring commerce and foreign currency to the country that you will be protected. When religious extremeist come looking for a soft target your head will look fine on their rope simply because it does not fit their model.
This is an emotional response triggered by your obvious willingness to judge good people who simply cared enough to try and help babies that no one else cared about. Please think again before offering such ill informed judgements and comments.
"Please get the Moroccans
"Please get the Moroccans authorities side of the story as this all seems a little contrived by the management of the village of hope"
What side is that? The one you are making up for them?
"There are fine lines regarding Christianity teachings as there should be, this is a Muslim country
and the Village of Hope must respect this at all times that is not to say that these children should be aware of Christianity but certainly not taught as the main religion which is what would have been done"
They had a cop stationed at the orphanage at all times who made sure the kids were not learning about Christianity, and in fact they children were being brought up Muslim. (as required by law)
"People no matter who or what they are in whatever line of business or charity when in a foreign country must at all times respect and adhere to the religion and the laws of the country at all times not change the rules as they go when then make the children like in this case the victims and then contact overseas media with a one sided story making out the moroccan authorities are to fault
These find out the other side of this story"
Second time you said that: what other side? Shouldn't this newsworthy event have been publicized by now? 2M, Maghrebia, anywhere?
"I have lived in Morocco for 4 years and owe and operate 2x businesses and at no time has religion encroached on my business
I respect the laws and the religion of the country I choose to live here this is paramount"
That has nothing to do with the lives that are now being violently uprooted - the insensitivity to the future of the orphans is both un-Islamic and inhumane.
"I would like to see the human outcry if missionaries came to NZ and opened a orphanage then slowly but surly started teaching Islam to our children there would be a human outcry"
Well, we have places like that in the States and the UK - as long as it's privately funded, I don't see what the problem is. Hell, the Hari Krishnas do that kind of stuff. We certainly have something to teach Morocco about religious tolerance.
"These people have a good heart i would imagine but they lose the way with religion
Also there is a part of the story that I am concerned with that these children will be killed I find this incorrect killed by whom this i find a tad ott this comment can cause damage for the kingdom which is one of the most liberal Islamic countries"
What? where in the article did it say children would be killed?
"The Kingdom of Morocco is striding ahead with new laws and practices regarding Human rights , Woman Rights, Tourism etc all under the guidence of His Majesty Mohammed VI and this article can do nothing but help a little to undermine this amazing acheivements that is now occuring in Morocco; the difficulties that Morocco has faced has taken many years to achieve and then we want it fixed in a day impossible"
More political bullshit - meaningless tripe.
"Please lets get to the real story here"
Which is...?
"Religion ........ cant they just care for the children and let them practice the religion that they have been born into and let this children grow into healthy valued human beings without the teaching of Christianity"
What religion were they born into? They have no parents, no one to care for them... please don't tell me that is part of Islam! These people did the work that Morocco should have done. "Healthy valued human beings"? Is that what you call the little children selling cigarettes, Kleenex and chewing gum in the middle of city traffic?
"do gooders some times do more harm than good and then use the children like in this case a pawn"
True. And that is exactly what has happened here: some 'do-gooder' Moroccans have just destroyed the lives of these children.
"feed them love them clothe them teach them but leave religion out of it"
Again - great advice for the Moroccans who have committed this horrible act.
1)"Please get the Moroccans
1)"Please get the Moroccans authorities side of the story as this all seems a little contrived by the management of the village of hope"
What side is that? The one you are making up for them?
Im not taking sides all im doing is suggesting that we look at both sides of the story there are always 2 sides and we have to think of the children only
2) "There are fine lines regarding Christianity teachings as there should be, this is a Muslim country
and the Village of Hope must respect this at all times that is not to say that these children should be aware of Christianity but certainly not taught as the main religion which is what would have been done"
They had a cop stationed at the orphanage at all times who made sure the kids were not learning about Christianity, and in fact they children were being brought up Muslim. (as required by law)
I realise this perhaps do u think that it was the cop that notified the authorities (doing his job) just a thought
3)People no matter who or what they are in whatever line of business or charity when in a foreign country must at all times respect and adhere to the religion and the laws of the country at all times not change the rules as they go when then make the children like in this case the victims and then contact overseas media with a one sided story making out the Moroccan authorities are to fault
These find out the other side of this story"
Second time you said that: what other side? Shouldn't this newsworthy event have been publicized by now? 2M, Maghrebia, anywhere?
I read this in a NZ Internet news page and heard it on the morocco radio today that's what im saying good media wont touch this story until they have all the facts (which is my point)
4)"I have lived in Morocco for 4 years and owe and operate 2x businesses and at no time has religion encroached on my business
I respect the laws and the religion of the country I choose to live here this is paramount"
That has nothing to do with the lives that are now being violently uprooted - the insensitivity to the future of the orphans is both un-Islamic and inhumane.
You are right I was just explaining who I was and explaining that the religion of the country doesn't encroach on me in everyday life
we dont know exactly what has happened to the children at this point and again u are right we must look after the children of the world I have never said any different
But when one is setting up a organisation or a business there are guidelines one must follow and they must be adhered to especially a organisation such as this they must adhere to the rules for the continuing support for these children
all i am saying is did they stick to the rules to ensure the children could continue to enjoy and grow in this environment
did they stick to the guidelines in which this organisation was originally set up?
5)"I would like to see the human outcry if missionaries came to NZ and opened a orphanage then slowly but surly started teaching Islam to our children there would be a human outcry"
Well, we have places like that in the States and the UK - as long as it's privately funded, I don't see what the problem is. Hell, the Hari Krishnas do that kind of stuff. We certainly have something to teach Morocco about religious tolerance.
"These people have a good heart i would imagine but they lose the way with religion
All i can say is that did the organisation follow the guidelines under which this organisation was originally set up??
thats the question that needs to answered
I agree these people have a good heart but got lost with religion
6)The Kingdom of Morocco is striding ahead with new laws and practices regarding Human rights , Woman Rights, Tourism etc all under the guidance of His Majesty Mohammed VI and this article can do nothing but help a little to undermine this amazing achievements that is now occurring in Morocco; the difficulties that Morocco has faced has taken many years to achieve and then we want it fixed in a day impossible"
More political bullshit - meaningless tripe.
I would normally say yes this is political BS but it is a fact small steps not as fast as u or i would like but indeed small steps
and that no one should knock at all but to encourage so greater steps can be achieved in the future. is there still a long way to go for sure but one can not knock progress regardless how insignificant it may seems to others
7)What religion were they born into? They have no parents, no one to care for them... please don't tell me that is part of Islam! These people did the work that Morocco should have done. "Healthy valued human beings"? Is that what you call the little children selling cigarettes, Kleenex and chewing gum in the middle of city traffic?
I never said it was part of Islam all im asking as to whether this organisation followed the guidelines
Of course morocco should look after there own but surely we can say that about every country in the world and i havent said these people didn't do good but did they follow the guidelines as per original agreement with the Moroccan govt???
8)do gooders some times do more harm than good and then use the children like in this case a pawn"
True. And that is exactly what has happened here: some 'do-gooder' Moroccans have just destroyed the lives of these children.
Have they or not do u know i don't
I haven't said i did I'm just asking the question that has resulted in this tragedy did the organisation follow the guidelines and was this the reason I hope they did but thats all im asking
there are always 2 sides and we need to hear it before making rash and unjustified comments about any one and so we the public can make a education opinion of this subject
9)"feed them love them clothe them teach them but leave religion out of it"
Again - great advice for the Moroccans who have committed this horrible act.
Yes blame the Moroccan so true for the original dilemma that these children face but again did the organisation follow the guideline under the original agreement of this organiation
And we must make every Govt responsible for the welfare of there children to ensure that the lifestyle that we enjoy and relish is enjoyed and relished by all citizens of the world
The question I asked is very simple
DID THE ORGANISATION FOLLOW THE GUIDELINES AS PER THE ORIGINAL AGREEMENT MADE BETWEEN THE ORGANISATION AND THE ADMINISTRATION ???
I hope they did for the sake of these children
just as a point of interest
It is illegal for a foreigner to adopt children like in so many other countries I am perplexed as to why these people are now considered to be these childrens parents, as a parent once u have children they are your children for life
have these people committed themselves to a life time in Morocco ?
If so I congratulate them but as i have checked they are only here for a period of time and then the children get new parents
I am have not and would never under mine good work but sometimes it gets twisted all i ask is one simple question did they follow the rules for the sake of the children
YES or NO
please reread my comments
please reread my comments and this time understand i did not condemn what they where doing i questioned their teaching Christianity please dont turn something i said into something that you think I have said
Please It is important not to confuse caring and religious issues
as i said love them feed them care for them but dont teach Christianity to Muslim children
It is our job has human beings to love and respect so lets not get all silly over this and let not pretend that you know what type of poezrson I am lets stay logical and realistic the people involved changed the rules contrary to the Moroccan Rules so hence the consequences
As i said that you must have passed over LOVE THESE CHILDREN CARE FOR THESE CHILDREN NURTURE THESE CHILDREN FEED THESE CHILDREN but all I say follow the rules of which this orphanage was set up and then maybe these children would still have this loving environment
Be realistic and reread my first comments slowly and then maybe this time you will understand that i did not criticize these people per say want i said and will reiterate for you
HAVE RESPECT FOR THE COUNTRY YOU LIVE IN
please reread my comments
please reread my comments and this time understand i did not condemn what they where doing i questioned their teaching Christianity please dont turn something i said into something that you think I have said
Please It is important not to confuse caring and religious issues
as i said love them feed them care for them but dont teach Christianity to Muslim children
It is our job has human beings to love and respect so lets not get all silly over this and let not pretend that you know what type of poezrson I am lets stay logical and realistic the people involved changed the rules contrary to the Moroccan Rules so hence the consequences
As i said that you must have passed over LOVE THESE CHILDREN CARE FOR THESE CHILDREN NURTURE THESE CHILDREN FEED THESE CHILDREN but all I say follow the rules of which this orphanage was set up and then maybe these children would still have this loving environment
Be realistic and reread my first comments slowly and then maybe this time you will understand that i did not criticize these people per say want i said and will reiterate for you
HAVE RESPECT FOR THE COUNTRY YOU LIVE IN
Another orphinage is most
Another orphinage is most likely going to be closed and i a person who was not wanted bye my parents was taken to that orphinage at age 4 i was taught to love my enimies and be kind to one another just as your parents taught you. But now police are storming in the place and taking away people i cald DAD AND MOM and told i will never see them again now at age 17 again the way it was when i was 4.
i was with the most loveing people. hours go bye as i watch my little brothers and sisters who are only 9 years old .CRY. PLEASE HELP US!!!!!!!!!!!
I was blessed to spend an
I was blessed to spend an amazing 5 weeks at the Village of Hope in Morocco, and what they did there was nothing short of amazing! The children there were abondoned by everyone and these wonderful people took them in. They cared for them, fed them, clothed them and most importantly loved them. The children live in families, each couple are given up to 8 children and they become their mum and dad until they leave high school. They have known no other parents. My heart is breaking for these children. Can you imagine how they are feeling right now, they have just had their parents forcibly removed and are now who knows where? The older children have for the last 9 years had a mum, dad, brothers and sisters and now they don't. I can attest to the fact that they were not preaching to the people or anything of the kind. These kids were happy and loved, if this was to happen in any western country it would be a crime to take them away. Shame on the Moroccan government for allowing this to happen. I used to have respect for the King of Morocco for the work he was doing in Morocco, but now I have none. The only question now is what can be done to help the children?
To the children: I send my love and prayers. I wish it was more. xx
the foster parents at VOH
the foster parents at VOH make a committment to be there for 18 years, to see the children in their care make it through to adulthood. They don't come and go leaving the children in their care to deal with "new parents" every few years. The parents are (were) aware that under Islamic law, the could not adopt the children. But these adults were the only constant presence in the children's lives and so were regarded, by the children, as de facto parents. The emotional bond between adult and child was strong and this decisive cutting of those bonds is so painful to both parties. Such a tragedy. The VOH was sanctioned by the government- the first and only Christian organization to be sanctioned by the government. Amazingly, they taught the children to be good Muslims, realizing that they were in a Muslim country and their goal was that the children would be viable adults in their Muslim world. They were loved, clothed, fed and educated in the Muslim faith, tenets and also in languages so that they would have skills to get jobs as adults. The staff at VOH were always above board about their faith but also were aware that the most loving thing they could do for these children was to give them the best chance to make it in Morocco as adults- hence the education, bilingual training and being raised Muslim.
I am frankly appalled and shocked and greatly saddened by the recent events and can only begin to imagine the pain of the staff/adults and the children left behind.
VoH has a strict regulation
VoH has a strict regulation on proselytizing to the Moroccan, children or other aid workers. All are required to sign a document to abide by, not just the rules of VoH but by the laws of the land. No need for anyone to expect otherwise - it's not a religious issue as much as it is a humanitarian issue. If the Muslim people truly cared about these children, they should have opened up an orphanage to take in these otherwise discarded children and, if they suspected any wrong-doing at VoH, they should have sent someone to supervise or work alongside them to make sure. To just expel from the country without any explanation or justice to represent and defend, they are simply too ignorant of their own plights to know the difference. Even in Islam, this is not justifiable. So these people are not following their religious beliefs. No matter, God's work, His Word, WILL NOT RETURN VOID. God knows what He is doing - we can continue to pray for the children because it is them who will be most affected by this tragic event.
Are you kidding me? Wherever
Are you kidding me?
Wherever you are. the host country can ask you to leave at any time unless you are a citizen.
These people are hosting kids and behaved in an unlawful manner under the cover of charity.
Some evangelists think that they are the chosen ones and therefore take it upon themselves to "save" the abandoned.
Would you feel ok if I opened an orphanage and taught your abandoned kids Islam?
Or is it two weighs and two measures?
I say, get them out and actually deport anyone who thinks that he is above the law.
Everything points to their culpability in this matter. The government did them a favor by kicking them out, or they could have faced jail terms...way worse than anything they got now.
If you are going to volunteer do it sincerely without alter motives.
t man who ever u are thank
t man who ever u are thank you for been logical regarding this matter your statement i agree with 100 percent
The laws of the country were broken why should they get another chance no one else would and yes you are so right deportation - jail pick the first without question
perhaps they should have thought of the consequences and the children before breaking the law
No government in the world would tolerant this so why once again we
say u Muslims aren't doing your job and looking after these children
lets use the NZ as a example do we say you Christians aren't looking after your children No we don't
There always seems to two sets of rules
if you read a comment earlier one that i find rather supicious says it was written by a child from this home it says our parents taught us to love our enemies i find that a extremley disturbing statement it suggested that my parents taught me that
well in fact no they didn't and whats more that is something i would not teach my children
Not everyone likes everyone because of whatever reason but that does not make one a enemy and you certainly should not be bringing up children to love something that should not exist in their minds
If you are going to volunteer do it sincerely without alter motives.
100 percent true
And y on their VoH web site
And y on their VoH web site say that the children will be killed now and y did they say that this is a crackdown on all Christians living in the country
please provide prove on these two comments
many hundred of thousands of people from so called christian countries live here happily and there are hundreds of schools operated here by Catholic and the like with out problem
Please explain these comments
And y on their VoH web site
And y on their VoH web site say that the children will be killed now and y did they say that this is a crackdown on all Christians living in the country
please provide prove on these two comments
many hundred of thousands of people from so called christian countries live here happily and there are hundreds of schools operated here by Catholic and the like with out problem
Please explain these comments
Some of you guys are
Some of you guys are unbelievable. You call for an objective view to look at both sides but you seem totally unwilling to consider first hand direct evidence from people who have visited of the very good work that was done by VOH in partnership with the local authorities, police and civil! I visited this place myself and was required to sign an undertaking not to be involved in prosletising and not to defame the King, Islam and Mohammed while I was there. Maybe you should read the foster parents statement on their website with an open mind and then reconsider your position.
Regarding breaking the law - before going to Morocco I spent a great deal of time talking to Moroc Embassy about legal taxes and employment laws. Surprise surprise after a year I was advised by local authorities the embassy staff had advised me wrongly. 2 years later I was advised by senior government staff that both were wrong! Keeping the law in Morocco is not easy when there is so much business done without clear defined regulations understood by all involved in the application. Might be something to do with the practice of greasing the palm to supplement low official wage levels. Doesn't help if you refuse to pay bribes, an all too common practice at local authority level. The King is working very hard to eradicate corruption but has much still to do.
i have read and reread the
i have read and reread the website and i have a open mind but with comments like
the children will be killed please tell me by whom?
headlines in newspapers are incorrect example kiwis live in fear that they to will be kicked from morocco who said that so untrue
we are talking about following the law not tax law not business or employment law all very different to what has happened with this stay with the point in hand
i do have a open mind i understand there are some difficulties but when the community complains and evidence found was
incriminating what do you want the administration to do?
do u really think that this was done lightly or without evidence
(that would be very naive of you)
so stick to the point and try not to move to other issues
but if you choose to live in a country you have to obey the rules simple really whether u like or agree them and if u dont u leave
but when u are asked to go stop with the judgments and accept that you were caught doing some thing wrong
even in this blog some of the adjectives used against the Moroccan authorities sure isnt helping the cause is it?
Accept that they overstepped their mark and were caught and the consequences are the children Sad sad sad
I will deal with your points
I will deal with your points as they appear..
1.The VOH website never once said the children would be killed; some were literally left to die at birth 10 years ago and were rescued by foster parents. No one said they would be killed by authorities. Interestingly I am advised one baby with special needs has refused food and drink and has been rushed very ill to a special children's hospital in Rabat. 2.Let us agree that she pulls through. Let us also agree not to believe all that is printed both in NZ press AND also in Moroc press- both have a hidden agenda.3 Not only did the local community NOT complain (I do understand a small number of Islamic zealots have tried for years to stir the local people up against VOH but have largely been told by the local authorities to stop telling lies against VOH) You should note that hundreds and hundreds of locals from many miles around turned up to offer their condolances and support for the parents being expelled. A subsequent protest by proud local Berbers against the expulsions had to be quelled by soldiers from the nearby base!4. No incriminating evidence has been found, quite the opposite: statements signed and dated by all staff and visitors asking them to confirm their agreement not to proslytize, not to defame the King, Islam or Mohammed - a standard practice in VOH. 5. Every effort has been to work with the authorities regarding the legal care and education of all of the children, to the extent a number were actually approved to travel abroad with their foster parents - ALL RETURNED TO VOH! 6. It is my best guess that the expulsions were based on prejudice and deceit as a new political master seeks to placate Islamic extremists who were making trouble for senior officials trying hard to win EU approval for associate membership.7 I live in the country and I love its people and places, warts and all, but lets not pretend it is all hunkey dorey and without blemish. I have on numerous occasions faced the dilema of 'paying off' an official. I will be very surprised if you haven't!8. The VOH has been a life saver for 33 children, the staff always sought to carefully abide by the law and to respect all those in authority; the sad consequences are the outworking of religious intolerance and prejudice of that I am in no doubt. Tell me friend if you are falsely accused and asked to leave in 24 hours, giving up all your precious assets, will you go quietly as you appear to suggest the VOH parents should? I think not.