King appoints members of Higher Council of scholars
Morocco, Politics, 5/1/2004

Morocco's King Mohammed VI of Morocco chaired in Casablanca Friday the ceremony of appointment of the members of the Higher Council and of the chairmen of the local Councils of Ulemas (scholars), including, for the first time, a woman.

"I also want the membership of these Councils to include women well-versed in religious matters. We would thus be doing justice to women and treating them on an equal footing with men," said the King in a speech delivered on this occasion.

The royal appointment decrees were handed to the Minister of Habous (endowments) and Islamic Affairs, Ahmed Toufiq.

They concern 16 members, including a woman appointed in the Higher Council of Ulemas, 30 chairmen of the local Councils of Ulemas, and three high-ranking officials at the Ministry of Waqfs and Islamic Affairs.

During this ceremony, the monarch announced a three-part plan designed to overhaul and revamp the domain of religious affairs in order to "shield Morocco against the perils of extremism and terrorism."

He said this "comprehensive, multi-faceted and integrated strategy" is meant to "preserve the distinctive Moroccan identity, which is characterized by moderation and tolerance."

Eager to "shield the domain of religion from the influence of some intruders acting outside the legal institutional framework," the monarch asked the Higher Council of Ulema to submit to him, in his capacity of "Amir al Muminin" (Commander of the Faithfull) and President of the Council, Fatwas (religious ruling) "on events and matters with religious implications, lest others resort to expedient ploys or seek to spread confusion and chaos."

The king also vowed to remain "at the forefront of the struggle against all destructive currents that are alien to our society, which remains unwaveringly committed to the moderation and purity of Islam."

"This commitment applies to all Moroccans, including my loyal subjects who live abroad," he insisted.

The new Ulema Councils, he said, will be composed of learned persons known for their loyalty to the sacred institutions of the nation as well as for their erudition as religious scholars and their open-minded attitude to modern times.

The king urged their members to listen to the citizens, especially young people, and to protect their faith and minds against those who have strayed and those who distort the truth.

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