Fateh (56) and Afaf (25) Arrested in Morocco

Two members of the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light, Fateh Bennais and Afaf Ijaouane, are currently being held at a police station in the Assaada neighborhood of Marrakech, Morocco, following their peaceful distribution of religious materials.

Fateh Bennais had been publicly distributing flyers over the past two days in Marrakech, exercising his right to freedom of religion and expression. On 24 April, after requesting additional flyers from fellow believer Afaf Ijaouane, both individuals were taken into custody.

This follows a prior incident in which Fateh Bennais was briefly detained for the same peaceful activity and subsequently released without charge. The re-arrest of Fateh and the detention of Afaf raise serious concerns about the continued targeting of individuals on the basis of their faith.

Their detention comes amid an intensifying crackdown on religious minorities in Morocco, particularly targeting AROPL believers. Just two months ago, on February 27, 2025, two young members of our community, Yahya Marfouk (24) and Huzaifa Azuz, also known as Rack Dayne (19), were formally charged under Article 220 of the Moroccan Penal Code, which criminalizes “undermining the faith of Muslims through employing incitement or threats.” They were arrested following a peaceful missionary activity and remain in custody as we await a decision on whether they will face trial.

The arrests of Yahya and Huzaifa were widely condemned by human rights organizations, who highlighted the violent circumstances of their detention and the deeply concerning pattern of targeting individuals for nothing more than their religious beliefs.

We urge the Moroccan authorities to:

• Immediately and unconditionally release Fateh Bennais and Afaf Ijaouane, as they are detained solely for exercising their rights;

• Cease all forms of harassment and intimidation against members of the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light and other religious minorities;

• Uphold Morocco’s obligations under international human rights law, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Morocco is a State Party.

A video of 56 year old Benais spreading the faith in Morocco despite risk of detention can be seen here: