The Kafala, the adoption regime in force in Morocco, allows non-Muslim families to adopt Moroccan children.
However, in practice, foreigners are not authorised to adopt Moroccan children, or at least do not have priority. Numerous adoption requests from foreigners are rejected by the Moroccan authorities.
The main reason for these rejections is religion because, according to the minister, the majority of the children adopted would be pressured towards Christianity.
Questioned recently on these remarks by Spaniards whose adoption requests had been rejected, Mustapha Ramid declared that he was not able to intervene, as Justice Minister, in judgements made in matters of adoption.
In Morocco, almost 5000 children are abandoned each year, but there are only 2,500 adoption requests from Moroccan and foreign families.