NZers kicked out of Morocco not missionaries

A New Zealand family kicked out of Morocco say that although they are Christians, they were not trying to convert Muslim orphans they looked after.

Aucklanders Chris and Tina Broadbent and their two young children were given an hour and a half to pack and leave the orphanage run by the Village of Hope charity before being given an armed escort to the border.

They had been voluntarily working at the village, established a decade ago, for the last 18 months.

Mr Broadbent told Radio Live they were deported for "proselytizing", attempting to convert the beliefs of, the children in their care.

"They've obviously decided they didn't like the way we were doing things, perhaps they didn't like the Christian component of who we are, although we're certainly not missionaries and we've never attempted to convert Muslims to Christianity or anything like that. That's not what we're about...

"The organisation has been running for 10 years, we've never tried to hide the fact that we're Christians doing this work ... We've been completely upfront with all the authorities."

Mr Broadbent said their house was searched on Saturday and he and his wife were interrogated on Sunday before the passports of the orphanage's workers were confiscated.

On Monday, the workers were told everything was fine and it was just a routine investigation, before all the workers were called together about 5pm and read a document that said their residency permits had been revoked and they would be deported, Mr Broadbent said.

They were allowed home for 90 minutes to pack before being escorted to a ferry to Spain.

Mr Broadbent did not feel his family was in any danger from the authorities.

"For us, we're just gutted about the children and the foster parents ... There's 33 children who have now been torn off their foster parents and who knows when they'll see them again, who knows what care or institution they'll be put in next."

The family would return to New Zealand in the next fortnight, he said.

Mr Broadbent's father, Dr Roland Broadbent, told NZPA Christian material had been found at the organisation.

In Morocco it was illegal to convert Muslims to Christianity, but as the group had been left alone for nearly two years, it wasn't clear why the orphanage workers were suddenly forced out of the property, leaving the 33 children with nowhere to go, Dr Broadbent said.

"It did sound as though there was a change in one of the government ministries, which meant that the lists of institutions - which were under surveillance anyway - were reviewed."

In 2002 the charity had registered with the Moroccan government and had permission to talk about Christianity to the children in their care.

But there appeared to be a "spate of activity" around the country with other Christian-run organisations, Dr Broadbent said.

Chris Broadbent had been working as a human resources manager for the Village of Hope.

- NZPA