Marrakesh Declaration

The Marrakesh Declaration is a statement made in January 2016 by "more than 250 Muslim religious leaders, heads of state, and scholars",^[1] which champions "defending the rights of religious minorities in predominantly Muslim countries."^[2] The declaration was made in Morocco and "representatives of persecuted religious communities — including Chaldean Catholics from Iraq" were included in the conference.^[3] The conference, in which the Marrakesh Declaration was signed, was called in response to the persecution of religious minorities, such as Christians and Yazidis, by ISIS.^[4] The Marrakesh Declaration builds on historical Islamic sources such as the Charter of Medina.^[5] King Mohammed VI of Morocco stated "We in the kingdom of Morocco will not tolerate the violation of the rights of religious minorities in the name of Islam...I am enabling Christians and Jews to practice their faith and not just as minorities. They even serve in the government."^[6] It is as follows:

In the Name of God, the All-Merciful, the All-Compassionate

Executive Summary of the Marrakesh Declaration on the Rights of Religious Minorities in

Predominantly Muslim Majority Communities

25th-27th January 2016

WHEREAS, conditions in various parts of the Muslim World have deteriorated dangerously due to the use of violence and armed struggle as a tool for settling conflicts and imposing one's point of view;

WHEREAS, this situation has also weakened the authority of legitimate governments and enabled criminal groups to issue edicts attributed to Islam, but which, in fact, alarmingly distort its fundamental principles and goals in ways that have seriously harmed the population as a whole;

WHEREAS, this year marks the 1,400th anniversary of the Charter of Medina, a constitutional contract between the Prophet Muhammad, God's peace and blessings be upon him, and the people of Medina, which guaranteed the religious liberty of all, regardless of faith;

WHEREAS, hundreds of Muslim scholars and intellectuals from over 120 countries, along with representatives of Islamic and international organizations, as well as leaders from diverse religious groups and nationalities, gathered in Marrakesh on this date to reaffirm the principles of the Charter of Medina at a major conference;

WHEREAS, this conference was held under the auspices of His Majesty, King Mohammed VI of Morocco, and organized jointly by the Ministry of Endowment and Islamic Affairs in the Kingdom of Morocco and the Forum for Promoting Peace in Muslim Societies based in the United Arab Emirates;

AND NOTING the gravity of this situation afflicting Muslims as well as peoples of other faiths throughout the world, and after thorough deliberation and discussion, the convened Muslim scholars and intellectuals:^[7]

Responses

The declaration has been widely welcomed. Some commentators called for consistent legal and practical follow through of the sentiments expressed including in the country where the declaration was forged, which does not recognise its own indigenous Christians and persecutes and imprisons them,^[8]^[9] or in the birthplace of Islam, where there are reportedly many Saudi Christians.^[8]

References

^ Lee, Morgan (27 January 2016). "Morocco Declaration: Muslim Nations Should Protect Christians from Persecution". Christianity Today. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
^ "Muslim leaders reiterate support for minority rights in Islamic nations". Catholic News Service. 27 January 2016. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
^ Kandra, Greg (28 January 2016). "The Marrakesh Declaration: Muslim Leaders Pledge Support for Minority Rights". Aleteia. Retrieved 29 January 2016. The conference included Muslim leaders from more than 120 countries, representatives of persecuted religious communities — including Chaldean Catholics from Iraq — and government officials.
^ Gjelten, Tom (28 January 2016). "Muslim Leaders Vow To Protect Rights Of Religious Minorities". National Public Radio. Retrieved 29 January 2016. The rise of ISIS and other Muslim extremist groups in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia has brought horrific persecution of non-Muslims — Christians, Jews and other religious minorities. Now, a group of Islamic scholars, Muslim leaders and government ministers from Muslim-majority countries has promised to work together to protect those minorities, saying Islam forbids religious persecution. More than 100 countries were represented at the gathering of Muslim leaders in Marrakech this week, sponsored by the Moroccan government and the Forum for Promoting Peace in Muslim Societies, an organization led by Islamic scholar Sheikh Abdullah bin Bayyah.
^ Hayward, Susan (27 January 2016). "Crisis and Opportunity In the Muslim World". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 29 January 2016. Drawing from historic Islamic sources, particularly the Charter of Medina, a contract established by the Prophet (peace be upon him) with the Jewish community in Medina ensuring freedom of religion and vows of protection, the summit will issue a declaration at its conclusion.
^ Alami, Aida (27 January 2016). "Morocco summit pushes Muslim clerics to improve the lot of religious minorities". Religion News Service. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
^ "Marrakesh to issue a declaration protecting the rights of religious minorities in majority Muslim nations". www.marrakeshdeclaration.org. Retrieved 2021-11-16.
^ ^a ^b Ibrahim, Ayman (1 February 2016). "History suggests Marrakesh Declaration no guarantee of religious freedom". Religion News Service. Archived from the original on 2 February 2016. Retrieved 2 February 2016.
^ "Country profile Morocco from International Christian Concern". International Christian Concern. 2010-03-15. Archived from the original on 3 February 2016. Retrieved 2 February 2016.

External links

Marrakesh Declaration

[1] Lee, Morgan (27 January 2016). "Morocco Declaration: Muslim Nations Should Protect Christians from Persecution". Christianity Today. Retrieved 29 January 2016.

[RCC-2] "Muslim leaders reiterate support for minority rights in Islamic nations". Catholic News Service. 27 January 2016. Retrieved 29 January 2016.

[3] Kandra, Greg (28 January 2016). "The Marrakesh Declaration: Muslim Leaders Pledge Support for Minority Rights". Aleteia. Retrieved 29 January 2016. The conference included Muslim leaders from more than 120 countries, representatives of persecuted religious communities — including Chaldean Catholics from Iraq — and government officials.

[4] Gjelten, Tom (28 January 2016). "Muslim Leaders Vow To Protect Rights Of Religious Minorities". National Public Radio. Retrieved 29 January 2016. The rise of ISIS and other Muslim extremist groups in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia has brought horrific persecution of non-Muslims — Christians, Jews and other religious minorities. Now, a group of Islamic scholars, Muslim leaders and government ministers from Muslim-majority countries has promised to work together to protect those minorities, saying Islam forbids religious persecution. More than 100 countries were represented at the gathering of Muslim leaders in Marrakech this week, sponsored by the Moroccan government and the Forum for Promoting Peace in Muslim Societies, an organization led by Islamic scholar Sheikh Abdullah bin Bayyah.

[hayward-5] Hayward, Susan (27 January 2016). "Crisis and Opportunity In the Muslim World". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 29 January 2016. Drawing from historic Islamic sources, particularly the Charter of Medina, a contract established by the Prophet (peace be upon him) with the Jewish community in Medina ensuring freedom of religion and vows of protection, the summit will issue a declaration at its conclusion.

[6] Alami, Aida (27 January 2016). "Morocco summit pushes Muslim clerics to improve the lot of religious minorities". Religion News Service. Retrieved 29 January 2016.

[7] "Marrakesh to issue a declaration protecting the rights of religious minorities in majority Muslim nations". www.marrakeshdeclaration.org. Retrieved 2021-11-16.

[Ibrahim-8] Ibrahim, Ayman (1 February 2016). "History suggests Marrakesh Declaration no guarantee of religious freedom". Religion News Service. Archived from the original on 2 February 2016. Retrieved 2 February 2016.

[index-9] "Country profile Morocco from International Christian Concern". International Christian Concern. 2010-03-15. Archived from the original on 3 February 2016. Retrieved 2 February 2016.

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v t e Substantive human rights
What is considered a human right is in some cases controversial; not all the topics listed are universally accepted as human rights
Civil and political	Equality before the law Freedom from arbitrary arrest and detention Freedom of assembly Freedom of association Cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment Freedom from discrimination Freedom of information Freedom of movement Freedom of religion Freedom from slavery Freedom of speech Freedom of thought Freedom from torture Legal aid LGBT rights Liberty Nationality Personhood Presumption of innocence Right of asylum Right to die Right to a fair trial Right to family life Right to keep and bear arms Right to life Right to petition Right to privacy Right to protest Right to refuse medical treatment Right to resist Right of self-defense Right to truth Security of person Suffrage right to be a candidate Right to homeland
Economic, social and cultural	Digital rights Equal pay for equal work Fair remuneration Labor rights Right to an adequate standard of living Right to clothing Right to development Right to education Right to food Right to health Right to a healthy environment Right to housing Right to Internet access Right to property Right to public participation Right of reply Right to rest and leisure Right of return Right to science and culture Right to social security Right to water Right to work
Sexual and reproductive	Abortion Family planning Freedom from involuntary female genital mutilation Intersex human rights LGBT rights Sexual and reproductive health Right to sexuality

Responses

See also

References

External links