The Moroccan sovereign endorsed a new approach to promote a moderate, open and tolerant form of Islam which, according to many political observers, has proved to be very successful in countering religious extremism and Al Qaeda?s influence in the region. ?Morocco then emerged ?as a beacon in the Arab world in terms of countering extremist ideology and promoting tolerance, respect and dialogue among religious groups. ?The main goal of the religious reforms that Morocco has pursued since 2004 has been to safeguard the country against extremism and backward thinking.Morocco pioneered open diologue to counter extremist ideology and to convince ?those who do not believe in the value of tolerance. Moroco was able to inspire hope in many extremist religious preachers?by explaining to them the virtues of dialogue and respect for others. ?King Mohammed VI has always stressed that Morocco espouses Sunni Islam, which advocates compromise and tolerance and outlaws extremism, fanaticism and ostracism. ?Religious laws (fatwas) are issued only by the High Council of Ulemas (senior religious scholars) as a constitutional institution which fulfils its duties with regard to fatwas. ?The?Ministry of Religious Affairs tackled the intellectual roots of extremism and created ?two departments designed to control mosques (32,000 throughout Morocco) and oversee religious education in the country.
?Salafist ideology in Morocco has seen a major shift in focus. Adherents began to engage in political activism such as involvement with the ruling moderate Islamist Justice and Development Party (PJD) or the Virtue party that splited from PJD.
?The unusual type of Islam in Morocco, its life-style, its calligraphic art, its mosque architecture, and the coherently crystalline nature of its urban architecture?to say nothing of its Malikism?existed from the very early generations of Islam. Morocco would like to continue promoting a Sufi Maliki Islam based on tolerance, love and respect. ?Apparenlty, the counterradicalization strategy in Morocco has proved to be very successful and could serve as a modal for other muslim countries that suffer from extremist doctrines.
Today MAP reported that King Mohammed VI launched in Rabat the building works of the Mohammed VI Institute for Imams, Murshidines and Murshidates Training. ?Worth 140 million dirhams, the future facility, meant to welcome Moroccan, African and Arab students, is part of the implementation of a strategy seeking to instill Islam’s values into next generations of Imams (religious leaders), Murshidines and Murshidates (preachers) in order to shield Morocco against extremism, safeguard its identity marked by balance, openness and tolerance and reinforce its religious influence.
?This integrated, comprehensive and multidimensional strategy relies on three bases namely the institutional pillar which concerns efficient supervision, healthy Islamic education and modern scientific training.
? The new institute will contribute, through training programs, to strengthening the Kingdom’s spiritual and religious immutable values, mainly the Ashaarit dogma, the Malekite rite and the Sunni Sufism which are shared Islamic precepts in several Western African countries.
? The Mohammed VI Institute for Imams, Murshidines and Murshidates Training, to be built over a surface area of 28,687 square meters, will comprise a pedagogical and administrative department, a housing and catering department and a socio-sports department.
?In addition to its role in preserving Morocco’s spiritual security and the Malekite rite’s unity, the future institute will foster Morocco’s partnership with Western African countries following HM the King’s decision to respond favorably to demands of providing training in Morocco for imams and preachers ?from these countries.
?Thanks to its pedagogical and administrative staff, the facility will also provide training for Arab and African imams mainly from Tunisia, Libya, Mali, Guinea, Gabon, C?te d’Ivoire and the Maldives.
