The 12th annual African Consortium on Law and Religion Studies (ACLARS) was held from 18-21 May, 2025, at the Mohammed VI Polytechnic University in Ben Guerir, Morocco.
With the theme of "Law, Religion and Work in Africa," the conference attracted over 150 delegates from 21 African countries, as well as the United States, United Kingdom and Australia.
Delegates attend 12th annual ACLARS conference in Morocco, May 2025.
Delegates attend 12th annual African Consortium on Law and Religion Studies (ACLARS) conference in Ben Guerir, Morocco, on 18-21 May, 2025.© 2025 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.Speaking at the opening session, Elder Alfred Kyungu, General Authority Seventy and President of the Africa West Area of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, thanked the organizers for the opportunity to be at the conference.
"It is significant that we are meeting here in Morocco, which for many centuries has endeavored to be a model for religious and cultural diversity as well as interfaith respect and religious pluralism," he said. "It was Morocco who welcomed and provided safe harbor for thousands of Muslims and Jews who fled religious persecution in the Iberian Peninsula during the 15th and 16th centuries."
Elder Alfred Kyungu speaks at the 12th annual ACLARS conference in Morocco, May 2025.
Elder Alfred Kyungu, President of the Africa West Area of the Church of Jesus Christ, speaks at the 12th annual African Consortium on Law and Religion Studies (ACLARS) conference in Ben Guerir, Morocco, on 18-21 May, 2025.© 2025 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved."In addition to its history of cultivating religious pluralism, Morocco has also been a gathering place for meaningful discussions on law, religion and durable peace for many years," Elder Kyungu added. "May we all bring our best efforts to protecting religion and religious people in their labors as a means of bringing peace across Africa.”
A Lahcen Ben Brahim Sguenfle, president of the local Council of Ulamas of the Prefecture of Skhirate-Temara, speaking on the theme of the conference, said, "We cannot generate wealth without work. Man is the representative of God on the earth and God has placed him there to manage it without harming it or causing chaos. Our religion teaches us to protect our environment."
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- Professors-Brent-Scharffs-and-Cole-Durham-presenting-award-to-organizers-of-the-12th-annual-ACLARS-conference-in-Morocco,-May-2025.
- Delegates-attend-12th-annual-ACLARS-conference-in-Morocco,-May-2025.
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The conference is organized in plenaries, featuring discussion panels and in discussion sessions. Topics covered in the various sessions include:
- Law, Religion and Work in Africa — Case Studies, Religious Dress and Holidays in the Workplace
- Law Religion and Church Autonomy — the relationship between Religion and State in Africa
- Child Labor in Africa
- Religious Diversity and Religious Minorities in the Workplace, Exploitation of Women Workers in Africa etc.
The 13th edition of the conference will be held from 17-20 May, 2026, in Kigali, Rwanda.