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Doha – A legislative petition calling for Morocco to grant Moroccan citizenship to all children and grandchildren of Moroccan Jews has been submitted to parliament this week through the national citizen participation portal “Eparticipation.ma.”
The petition, which has garnered only 16 votes online so far, has reignited discussions about Morocco’s relationship with its Jewish diaspora and drawn criticism from anti-normalization activists.
The petition, submitted by Moroccan citizen El Houssain Ben Messaoud, proposes granting Moroccan nationality to “all children and grandchildren of Moroccan Jews, subjects of the Commander of the Faithful.”
It cites the historical presence of Jewish people in Morocco and their contributions to the country, stating that “the Moroccan Jewish community, as one of the components of the Moroccan nation, holds deep love and strong attachment to the glorious Alaouite throne.”
The document outlines specific details about who would be eligible for citizenship under this proposal.
It defines “children” and “grandchildren” as “descendants of both sexes who do not hold Moroccan nationality from one of the Moroccan or non-Moroccan origins who in turn have Moroccan origins, even if they had died without holding Moroccan nationality, and who had previously renounced or were stripped of Moroccan nationality.”
The petition argues that Moroccan Jews living abroad have suffered from the loss of the right to Moroccan citizenship by descent, unlike those residing within the kingdom.
It claims this is due to “compelling reasons beyond their control,” including distance from Morocco and difficulties related to travel or political, security, economic, or social situations in their countries of residence.
However, the proposal has faced strong opposition from anti-normalization activists. Critics argue that granting citizenship to descendants of Moroccan Jews could potentially include individuals who have served in the Israeli military or supported the ongoing genocide against Palestinians.
This legislative petition, which has been circulating for over a year, has resurfaced in public debate despite its continuous presence on the national citizen participation portal.
This concern is heightened by the devastating impact of Israel’s genocide in Gaza over the past year. With over 42,000 Palestinians killed, over 97,000 injured, and two-thirds of Gaza’s buildings damaged or destroyed, the scale of suffering and destruction is staggering. The human-made catastrophe is severe, with 1.9 million people displaced and widespread food insecurity.
Aziz Hanaoui, secretary general of the Moroccan Observatory Against Normalization, warned about the petition on his Facebook account, describing it as “a Zionist petition aimed at Zionizing and Israelizing the Moroccan state, its position, stance, constitutional institutions, and public policies.”
In a previous interview with Morocco World News (MWN), Hanaoui cautioned about what he sees as pervasive Israeli infiltration across Moroccan society.
He stated, “The current wave of normalization has dangerously permeated many sectors of public policy in the country. It has infiltrated culture, education, agriculture, economy, technology, security, military, archaeology, and even religious affairs.”
The Moroccan Front for Supporting Palestine and Opposing Normalization also issued a statement condemning the petition.
The Front described it as a “treasonous act against the Moroccan people” and warned that it “poses a danger to Morocco’s sovereignty as it would grant citizenship to settlers, criminals, and recruits in an army known for its terrorism, criminality, and genocide against the Palestinian people.”
The Front’s statement further emphasized that the petition “represents only a handful of mercenaries paid by Zionists and their tools” and “constitutes a penetration of the societal fabric by Zionist criminals.”
The organization vowed to confront this petition through various forms of popular protest, legal, and institutional means.
This controversy unfolds against the backdrop of Morocco’s complex history with its Jewish community. Morocco was once home to the largest Jewish community in the Arab world, with an estimated population of 250,000-350,000 at its peak in the 1950s.
However, due to large-scale emigration, primarily to Israel, France, and Canada, this number has dwindled to approximately 2,250 today.
Despite this decline, Morocco has made efforts in recent years to preserve its Jewish heritage. According to The Economist, “No Arab country has gone to the lengths of Morocco to revive its Jewish heritage.” The country has restored 110 synagogues and houses the Arab world’s only Jewish museum.
Read also: One Year After October 7: Moroccan Jews in Israel Caught Between Two Worlds
