Rabat – The Moroccan Ministry of Endowment and Islamic Affairs has announced that 100 preachers will be assigned to teach in Moroccan military bases.
The move is in line with the Moroccan policy in counter the Islamist radical ideology through a moderate religious discourse.
The preachers are due to begin teaching in the beginning of 2018, following training begun this year at the Mohammed VI Institute for the Training of Imams and Preachers in Rabat. These newly assigned clerics will join 146 other preachers serving in Moroccan military bases.
Security institutions such as the military are key in Morocco’s strategy to fight the terrorist threat.
The rise of armed radical groups and the spread of their propaganda, especially through social media, has increased Morocco’s concerns that this discourse might infiltrate the ranks of the army.
But, ensuring that the radical ideology does not sneak into the military institution is not the only challenge facing Morocco, as corruption among some military elements might also expose the kingdom to danger.
As some military elements have been caught taking bribes from smugglers, terrorist networks might be able to exploit this weakness to get weapons through.
In January 2011 the Moroccan Ministry of Interior announced the dismantling of a terrorist network in Amgala in the buffer zone of Western Sahara. A large quantity of weapons was seized during the operation, including 33 Kalashnikov rifles, two anti-tank rifles, a mortar and 1998 bullets of 7.62 mm.
Investigations revealed that some members of the military helped smuggle the weapons in exchange for bribes.
