By Loubna Flah
By Loubna Flah
Morocco World News
Casablanca, July 3, 2012
Despite the attempts of the Ministry of Interior to hamper the accreditation process of the new Islamist party Al Oumma, the administrative court in Rabat approved the party’s request.
According to the Moroccan daily Al Massae, the administrative court considered that the party has fulfilled all the requirements stipulated in the Parties Law regarding the formation of political parties.
The Al Oumma party was represented at the administrative court by a number of renowned barristers namely Abderrahmane Benamrou, Abderrahim Al Jamai and Abderrahim ben Baraka reminding the judge that the Ministry of Interior‘s opposition to their request to form a legal party was often groundless.
The party’s Secretary General, Mohammed Al Merouani expressed his satisfaction with the court’s decision after his attempts to obtain acknowledgment were repeatedly hindered by the Ministry of Interior.
The party submitted its first request on March 21, 2012 and received the receipt the following day. The application file was then transferred to the administrative justice department on May 14. The ministry deemed it necessary to transfer the application again to the administrative justice for examination.
Mohammed Merouani was imprisoned in the Billarij case when many Islamist politicians were accused of belonging to a Belgian Moroccan terrorist network. Merouani along with political prisoners from the Islamist group Al Adl wal Ihsane were granted royal amnesty on April 14, 2011.
When released from prison Mohammed Merouani declared, “I wish that all those who were unjustly detained be released very soon. Morocco is opening a brand new page in the process of self reconciliation.”
With a new Islamist party officially recognized by the administrative court, the Moroccan political scene may become the theater of fierce competition among Islamists themselves. These new arrivals may also pave the way for a strong Islamist coalition. When the PJD was the major forerunner of political Islam in Morocco, the electorate could easily distinguish the main political forces.
Now, with the emergence of more Islamist parties advocating the prevalence of Sharia based politics, the task is more intricate. Not to mention, the alacrity of some Salafists to take part in the political game. Nevertheless, the political practice since the PJD won the elections has shown that the Islamist rhetoric matters less for Moroccans than the government’s real ability to launch social, economic and political reforms.
© 2012 Morocco World News. All Rights Reserved
