King Hassan II presides over allegiance ceremony in Marrakesh
Morocco, Politics, 3/5/1999

King Hassan II presided on Thursday in Marrakesh over the allegiance ceremony crowning the festivities of Throne Day (March 3), which marks this year the 38th anniversary of the king's enthronement.

At the beginning of the ceremony, Interior Minister Driss Basri, his close aides and the walis and governors of Moroccan provinces and prefectures renewed to the king their oath of allegiance.

Afterwards, delegations representing the 16 regions of the Kingdom renewed allegiance to the King.

The allegiance or "baiaa," a centuries-old pact between the Throne and the people, is a mutual commitment whereby the people pledges loyalty to the King and the King pledges to defend the independence, sovereignty and integrity of the country, to preserve the citizens' rights and to see to the prosperity and progress of the nation.

This tradition was instituted at the dawn of Islam when the new converted used to make an oath to Prophet Mohammed, pledging loyalty to the supreme authority of the messenger of God and requesting his protection and blessings.

Later on, the baiaa became the sacred form whereby a Muslim people recognize the supreme authority of the sultan, the khalif or the emir.

The oath of allegiance was introduced in Morocco in year 172 of the Hijra (end of 8th century) when Idriss I, founder of the Idrisside dynasty, was proclaimed King of Morocco by the berber notables of the country. Since then, ulemas (theologians) and notables perpetuated the tradition making the oath of allegiance to all the sovereigns that succeeded to the throne.

This act is a recognition of the authority of the king and of his sovereignty over the men and the territories they live in.

Previous Stories:
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  Education, justice, administration and employment are top priorities for Morocco, King Hassan II says   (3/4/1999)
  Morocco's alternation experience has become a model, King Hassan II says   (3/3/1999)

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