Global Post
A moratorium on adoptions to parents in other countries could be detrimental to the development of Morocco’s orphans.
Experts says that a moratorium on international adoptions could have lasting negative effects on Morocco’s orphans, many of whom were previously adopted by parents in other countries. (FADEL SENNA/AFP/Getty Images)
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Ibrahim is like a lot of two year olds. He eats a big bowl of oatmeal for breakfast, goes to play groups, and “is a lovely, bright child. God has given him the gift of gab,” said his mother, an American named Hadija (not her real name, since she wishes to protect Ibrahim’s identity.)
Two years ago, Hadija, 38, and her American husband, adopted Ibrahim from Morocco and brought him to Qatar.
Today, it would be impossible for them to adopt Ibrahim and raise him outside Morocco, because in September of last year, the Moroccan government imposed a moratorium on international adoptions out of fear that children raised outside the country will lose their religion and national heritage.
When the moratorium was adopted, prospective parents from around the world were caught in the process of adopting Moroccan children, including more than 40 families from Spain that had reportedly moved to Morocco to improve their chances of adopting a child.
Late last month, after lengthy negotiations, Morocco and Spain reached an agreement that would allow Spanish families to adopt Moroccan children and raise them outside Morocco with one condition: Moroccan religious authorities must monitor the children to make sure they are raised as Muslims.
