“Many people are watching Morocco. If these deportations are allowed to stand, then no Christian is safe. Christians should not be subjected to unequal or harsh treatment merely because of their faith,” said Kiska, who participated in the first part of the trial held in the country’s capital city of Rabat on Thursday.

WASHINGTON — Alliance Defense Fund Legal Counsel Roger Kiska will be available for media interviews following a hearing Thursday before the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission concerning the deportation of American Christians from Morocco. ADF represents Village of Hope, an orphanage whose staff was targeted for the deportations. Members of Village of Hope will testify as witnesses before members of the U.S. House of Representatives at the hearing.

“Christians shouldn’t be targeted for deportation simply because of their beliefs,” said Kiska. “None of the preconditions for lawful deportation under Moroccan law were met by the government officials in this case. It is vital that no precedent be set that will lead to more human rights violations of this sort, where Christian volunteers can be mass expelled simply because they are Christian.”

As mentioned in the commission’s press materials distributed by Rep. Frank R. Wolf, Time magazine reported that “the Village of Hope deportations are part of what appears to be a widespread crackdown on Christian aid workers in Morocco.” Other reports note that Morocco has been deficient on a host of other human rights issues over the course of the last year.

“Many people are watching Morocco. If these deportations are allowed to stand, then no Christian is safe. Christians should not be subjected to unequal or harsh treatment merely because of their faith,” said Kiska, who participated in the first part of the trial held in the country’s capital city of Rabat on Thursday. The trial in the case, titled In the matter of Village of Hope, will resume July 1, and no definitive decision is expected for several months.

Among the witnesses scheduled to testify at the hearing are Herman Boonstra, the director of Village of Hope, and Eddie and Lynn Padilla, foster parents with Village of Hope who were deported along with approximately 40 other American citizens in March.

• Pronunciation guide: Padilla (Pa-dee-ya)

ADF is a legal alliance of Christian attorneys and like-minded organizations defending the right of people to freely live out their faith.  Launched in 1994, ADF employs a unique combination of strategy, training, funding, and litigation to protect and preserve religious liberty, the sanctity of life, marriage, and the family.

Help Make A Difference By Sharing These Articles On Facebook, Twitter And Elsewhere:

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
•