King Hassan calls for revolution in religious teaching in Morocco
Morocco, Politics, 7/9/1999

King Hassan II called for a genuine revolution in religious teaching in Morocco and said that such an action has already been started.

Religious teaching is the major problem facing Islamic countries, the king said in an interview he granted to French Le Nouvel Observateur weekly.

He deplored that people in charge of the education of 4 to 5-year-old children do not have a sufficient culture. "We have to admit that persons in charge of the religious education of children aged between 4 and 5 do not have a sufficient culture. They make the children learn by heart (rote learning) the holy verses without giving the necessary explanations on the Koran's message that is beyond any doubt tolerant and democratic," he said.

The king underlined that "in a non-secular country, you cannot draw a line between what is allowed by the private life and what is forbidden by religion. You must have an accurate, attentive and precise idea of what religion can be."

He said in this respect that you cannot get married or inherit out of the religion. However, he added, in all these domains forming the personal status "an open and modern interpretation should convey the improvements and perfections that are in the spirit of Islam."

"This is particularly true when it comes to women's condition," King Hassan II said, stressing the need not to confuse "criticism of the patriarchal society with criticism of Islam." He said as an instance that nothing in the Quran allows a father to give his daughter for marriage without her consent.

Previous Stories:
  King of Morocco congratulates Muslim leaders on new Hegira year   (4/19/1999)
  Morocco attends Catholic patriarch-bishops congress next May   (4/9/1999)
  King Hassan II stresses that Muslims need uniting factors more than ever   (2/27/1999)

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