Political leaders denounce Islamist's allegations
Morocco, Politics, 2/25/2000

Several Moroccan political leaders have decried the memorandum, published recently by leader of Al-Adl Wa Al-Ihsane association (Justice and Spirituality/unauthorized), Abdeslam Yassine, and described it as an ill-intentioned tactic meant to destabilize Morocco.

Yassine's memorandum seeks to destabilize Morocco, said Mahjoubi Aherdane, leader of the National Popular Movement (MNP, represented in the government).

Yassine, who is under house arrest in his house in Sale (Rabat twin city), published recently a memorandum under the title "To Whom it May Concern." The document contained blasphemous statements to the memory of the Late King Hassan II, founder of modern Morocco and architect of the country's progress in human rights and democracy. It also attacked Moroccan values, especially Al-Beia (Allegiance oath) to the Throne.

The memorandum is an attempt to blow up the national consensus around the Throne and a denial of all the achievements scored by Morocco since independence, Aherdane said in a letter, published by several papers, including Liberation daily of the Socialist Union of Popular Forces of Prime Minister, Abderrahmane Youssoufi.

Aherdane decried Yassine's discourse that he termed "irrespectful to Morocco's sacred institutions."

The MNP leader stressed that the Late King Hassan II made of Morocco a stable country that enjoys a remarkable rank in the community of nations, despite the successive seisms, perpetrated by extremists and traitors.

King Mohammed VI is perfecting the foundations of the rule of law and the development of Morocco, he said, adding that the King's actions highlight his humanism and reflect the large popularity he enjoys among his people.

Aherdane insisted that Sheikh Yassine's criticism to the political, economic and social situation in Morocco does not bring anything new. He added that the country's ailments, including corruption, injustice and the illegal wealth have always topped the concerns of the nation's living forces, under the leadership of the King.

For Abbas Al-Fassi, leader of the Istiqlal Party (PI-in government), the situation is difficult and requires all citizens to mobilize around King Mohammed VI.

The three opposition parties, gathered in the national entente block, denounced Yassine's memorandum as hurting the feelings of the Moroccan people, which is infallibly attached to the Alawite Throne.

The three parties --namely the Constitutional Union, the National Democrat Party and the Popular Movement-- said that although they call for lifting the house arrest on the sheikh, they decry his attempts to violate the country's sacred institutions and values.

Leader of the Islamist movement Al-Islah Wa Attajdid (Reform and Renewal), Ahmed Raissouni, on his part told a Moroccan weekly that "Sheikh Yassine is wrong."

Raissouni, a 47-year-old university professor, described Yassine's memorandum as an attempt to the Late King Hassan II.

Previous Stories:
  Moroccan religious scholars decry Islamist leader's letter   (2/25/2000)

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