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Rabat — Abdelilah Benkirane, current leader of the Justice and Development Party (PJD) and former Head of Government, said Morocco is fundamentally an “Islamic state” and not secular.
Benkirane made his remarks during a communication meeting on Sunday, where he explicitly responded to recent remarks made by Minister of Islamic Affairs Ahmed Toufiq.
Last week, Toufiq sparked popular debate and widespread controversy for saying that Morocco is secular.
The minister, who made his remarks during a parliamentary session, recalled a recent discussion he had with French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau.
“He told me, and I quote, ‘Secularism shocks you.’ I replied, ‘No.’ Surprised, he asked, ‘How so?’ I explained, ‘We are secular in our own way. We don’t have the 1905 laws, but anyone can practice what they want freely because there is no compulsion in religion.’ He was left speechless,” Toufiq recounted.
In contradiction toToufiq’s recent remarks, Benkirane said Morocco is an Islamic country and not secular.
He also recalled King Mohammed VI’s title as “Commander of the Faithful,”adding that this title has been prominent for a long time.
“He has been the commander of the faithful not just today, yesterday, a month ago, a year ago, or even 50 years ago, but for many centuries,” he said.
Benkirane has been vehemently criticizing the policies of the current Moroccan government, including recent reform proposals.
In September, Benkirane criticized Minister of Justice Abdellatif Ouahbi for his controverial proposal to legalize sexual relations outside of marriage in Morocco.
“How is it possible for a Minister of Justice to defend what is called consensual relations? These are just names, and there is no need to mix things up. There is no such thing as consensual relations; there is only adultery, sodomy, and rape,” he said.
Morocco criminalizes sexual relations outside marriage under Article 490 of the Moroccan Penal code. Under this code, the act is prohibited and can be penalized with a prison sentence between one to two years.
