Morocco: Church Accused of Fraud

“A” private company has filed a lawsuit against the Catholic Church in Tangier, accusing the religious organization of fraud over a contract the two parties signed for the construction of a private school.

The dispute concerns the lack of agreement between the Catholic Church and the private company regarding a project to create a private school near this religious organization located in the heart of the administrative district of Tangier. The company had signed a contract with the church administration on December 7, 2022, for the creation of a school on a plot of land measuring 1,000 square meters belonging to the religious organization. This project took off in the same month. A similar contract was then signed for the rental of an office belonging to the church in order to use it as an administrative and legal headquarters for the company concerned. Along the way, the company encountered delays in obtaining permits. This situation had a negative impact on the progress of the project, which was nevertheless ready to welcome students for the next school year. Against all expectations, the church administration refused to honor its contractual commitments and failed to issue the permits necessary for the operation of the school, it is reported. It announced its intention to no longer pursue the project and offered the company two solutions: the destruction of the building or its sale at a symbolic price. These two solutions were not approved by the company. The latter then took the matter to court.