Chicago – King Mohammed VI gave a comprehensive foreign policy speech in which he addressed immigration, religion, and terrorism on the 63rd anniversary of the Revolution of the King and the People in Morocco on Saturday August 20.
Mohammed VI’s speech focused on Africa, religion, terrorism and foreign policy as key themes.
The King’s speech was geared to reinforce the role of the kingdom as a strategic economic, religious and political player in Africa and the region. It came a few weeks after Morocco’s declaration of intent to return to the African Union after more than 30 years of absence from the continental organization.
The King reflected on the historical symbolism of the anniversary of the Revolution of the King and the People when the French colonizers sent his grandfather King Mohamed V into exile along with his family, including the young crown prince, Prince Hassan (Late King Hassan II), on August 20th 1953.
He connected the event with the coordination that Morocco’s Liberation Army and the resistance movement leaders used to have with their Algerian counter parts. He reminded the Algerians of the support that Morocco had provided for their independence along with many African nations.
The Moroccan monarch called for a similar cooperation in light of the economic and security challenges that the Arab world and the region is facing. He called for cooperation with Algeria to overcome the shared challenges of the tense security and political climate. The Moroccan monarch also emphasized the role that Morocco has been playing in Africa as a strategic ally with many other African countries and the mutual relationship between Morocco and the rest of Africa. He mentioned the growing sub-Saharan African immigrant populations in Morocco, and acknowledged the difficulties they face, but emphasized that they are treated equally under Moroccan law.
His speech also contained abundant religious content. He reiterated many Islamic concepts about the religious violence, criticized extremist Islamist doctrines, and quoted the Quran to prove points about Jihad.
The King emphasized that Islam is against the killing of innocent peopleand is a religion of peace. He emphasized that Jihad has many conditions some of which to be only defensive and to be authorized by the “Amir Al Moamenin,” the Prince of Believers, a title that he alone holds among Muslim leaders..
He emphasized that those who call for terrorizing people and misinterpret Quran and the Prophet Mohammed (SAWS) sayings, will be punished by hell fire. The King acknowledged that terrorists recruit those young Muslims in Europe who are not fluent in Arabic and know little about their religion. He pointed out that everyone is targeted by terrorism regardless of their religion or country as it hits everywhere. He called on the Moroccan Diaspora to hold on to their values of peace and tolerance that has characterized Morocco for centuries.
