Minister warns against use of mosques to electoral ends
Morocco, Politics, 9/4/2002

Moroccan Minister of Habous (endowments) and Islamic affairs, Abdelkebir Alaoui M'Daghri has warned against the use of mosques to electoral ends.

Mosques should not be exploited for electoral ends nor as premises for any party's electoral campaign, Alaoui M'daghri said at a meeting Monday with the Nadirs (delegates) of the ministry in the various regions of the country.

He insisted that he will not allow anyone to use religion as an electoral card, for, he explained, this would harm not only religion, but also the nation and democracy.

The minister said his department will re-structure and enlarge control over mosques, through increasing the number of supervisors determining the responsibility of everyone. "The aim is not to muzzle preachers and Imams, but to make sure they fulfill their religious duty without supporting such or such party," he said.

The control does not always target the preacher. It is a means to clarify, guarantee equity and show the truth, he said.

The minister said his department has drafted a short, mid and long term policy to promote mosques and integrate them all in the habous heritage, including the mosques depending on private individuals.

Alaoui M'Daghri called his ministry's regional officials to make an inventory of the mosques and all worship places and to update the inventory of Quranic and traditional schools and religious institutes.

Alaoui M'Daghri also insisted that Morocco "enjoys the necessary spiritual security, a natural climate for religious life and a natural management of mosques."

Touching on the arrest early August of members of a group belonging to what is called Salafya Jihadyia, Alaoui M'Daghri said these are isolated criminal acts, committed by individuals who have been identified by security services.

He insisted that they are mere criminal acts which have nothing to do with religion. Social and economic causes are behind these acts, committed in shanty towns and places that can not be considered as mosques.

Previous Stories:
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  Rights body decries extremist criminal acts in Morocco   (8/9/2002)
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