No progress possible if women' rights are violated, says king
Morocco, Politics, 10/11/2003

Morocco's King Mohammed VI of Morocco has defended the right to equality between Moroccan men and women, and urged for a reform of the family law and the woman status "Mudawana."

"How can society achieve progress while women, who represent half the nation, see their rights violated and suffer as a result of injustice, violence and marginalisation, notwithstanding the dignity and justice granted them by our glorious religion?" asked the king who was addressing members of parliament at the opening Friday of the legislative year.

The monarch who had posed this very question in his speech on August 20, 1999 marking "the Revolution of the King and the People" day said that "in addition to taking significant decisions and initiatives to ensure that women enjoy a better and more equitable status, I did not hesitate to take steps to prevent the Moroccan society from being split over this issue." To this end, he went on, I set up a multi-disciplinary advisory committee to propose an in-depth review of the Family Law.

The Moroccan king took this opportunity to commend the efforts exerted by the chairman and all the members of the committee. "Views on certain issues may have differed at times, but in the case of Ulemas (religious scholars), I consider such differences rather as a blessing," he explained. "These reforms, the most important of which I have mentioned, should not be perceived as an indication of one side's victory over the other, but rather as gains for all Moroccans," he insisted. King Mohammed VI, in his capacity of "Amir Al-Muminin" (Commander of the Faithful), said: "I cannot make licit what God has forbidden, nor forbid what He has made lawful." "It is necessary to be mindful of the tolerant aims of Islam, which advocate human dignity, equality and harmonious relations, and also to rely on the cohesiveness of the Malikite rite and on ijtihad, thanks to which Islam is a suitable religion for all times and places," the king said, adding that "the aim is to draw up a modern Family Law which is consistent with the spirit of our glorious religion."

He also insisted that "the Family Law should not be considered as a legislation devised for women only, but rather as a code for the family: father, mother and children. The proposed legislation is meant to free women from the injustices they endure besides protecting children's rights and safeguarding men's dignity. "Would anyone of you want to see his wife and children thrown out of their home and into the street, or his daughter or sister treated brutally?" asked the sovereign, underlining that "as the King of all Moroccans, I do not make legislation for a given segment of the population or a specific party. Rather, I seek to reflect the general will of the Nation, which I consider to be my extended family."

King Mohammed VI also voiced resolve to "preserve the rights of my faithful subjects of Jewish faith," saying "I have seen to it that the new Family Law contains a provision which reaffirms that they shall continue to be governed by the Hebraic Moroccan Family Law."

He noted that although the 1957 Family Law was drawn up before the Parliament was established, and was subsequently amended by Dahirs (Royal Decrees) in 1993, during a constitutional transition period, "I have made a decision for the proposed Family Law to be submitted to Parliament, for the first time, in view of its implications with respect to civil law. As for the provisions of religious nature, they fall within the competence of Amir Al-Muminin (Commander of the Faithful)," said the monarch who expects from the members of parliament "to rise to this historic occasion and be worthy of the responsibilities assigned to you, not only by respecting the sacred nature of the proposed texts, which were prepared with due account being taken of the aims of our tolerant religion, but also when you adopt new legislation."

"These provisions, he said, should not be regarded as flawless, nor should they be perceived from a fanatic angle. Instead, you should address them with realism and clear-sightedness, keeping in mind that this is an Ijtihad (jurisprudence) effort which is suitable for Morocco at this point in time in its endeavors to achieve the development objective it is pursuing in a wise, gradual and determined manner." As King Mohammed VI finally called for "a large-scale media campaign to sensitize all segments of the population to the importance of this reform. Islamic law experts, intellectuals and political representatives should be involved," he concluded.

Previous Stories:
  Local elections: over 120 women elected   (9/15/2003)
  Visao: underlines King Mohammed's will to improve women's condition   (8/29/2003)
  New family code to be revolutionary, official   (3/11/2003)
  King Mohammed delivers Throne Day speech   (7/31/2002)
  King Mohammed chairs meeting on personal status code   (11/24/2001)

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