Two Young Members of AROPL Charged With "Undermining the Faith of Muslims"

UPDATE 27.02.2025 - Today, February 27, 2025, we received news that Yahya Marfouk and Huzaifa Azuz were presented before the public prosecutor at the Tribunal of First Instance in Khouribga, Morocco. They are being formally charged under Article 220 of the Moroccan Penal Code, which criminalizes “Undermining the faith of Muslims through employing incitement or threats.”

The two young men remain in custody as we await the prosecutor’s decision on whether they will face trial. This development marks yet another escalation in Morocco’s crackdown on religious minorities, particularly against members of the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light, who are being targeted for their peaceful expression of faith.

We continue to call for the immediate and unconditional release of Yahya Marfouk and Huzaifa Azuz and urge the Moroccan authorities to respect freedom of belief and religious expression, in accordance with international human rights standards.

Khouribga, Morocco - Today, the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light is deeply concerned to report the arrest of two of our young members, Yahya Marfouk, 24, and Huzaifa Azuz (also known as Rack Dayne), 19, in the city of Khouribga, Morocco. Both were detained this afternoon by Moroccan security forces during a violent raid at the home of Yahya’s parents.

This afternoon, several police vans arrived at the residence, blocking the street and surrounding the house. Security personnel stormed the home, conducted a search, and forcibly arrested Yahya and Huzaifa. The arrest occurred following a peaceful missionary activity the night before, when the two young men displayed posters of the faith and our banner that reads, “Allegiance is to God.”

Video of the arrest of Yahya Marfouk and Huzaifa Azuz

Yahya and Huzaifa had fled to Khouribga after enduring significant persecution in the city of Tetouan. Huzaifa’s father had repeatedly threatened him for practicing the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light, even going so far as to report him to the authorities. This led to a series of cruel events, including forced institutionalization in a mental asylum—twice. Seeking safety, Huzaifa sought refuge with Yahya’s family. Authorities had reportedly summoned him to appear before them on Monday, but today, it seems they have both become victims of a broader campaign to suppress their right to religious freedom.

While the exact charges against them remain unclear, the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light is deeply alarmed by the growing persecution against our members in Muslim-majority countries. These young men, like so many others, are simply trying to live in peace and follow their deeply held beliefs. Instead, they are being targeted with arbitrary arrests and violence for manifesting their faith—an inherent human right protected by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light demands that the Moroccan authorities release Yahya Marfouk and Huzaifa Azuz immediately and to cease all actions aimed at suppressing the fundamental right of our members to practice their faith freely. We urge the international community to join us in standing up for religious freedom and human dignity.