Rabat – Morocco’s King Mohammed VI has sent a message of condolences and compassion to the family of French philosopher and sociologist Edgar Morin, who died on Friday, May 29.
In the message, the King said he received the news with deep emotion and sadness, describing Morin as a major figure in global thought. He referred to him as an intellectual voice of rare stature, one that carried a generous and insightful vision of the world’s complexity.
The monarch recalled Morin’s strong ties to Morocco, noting that the late thinker maintained lasting friendships in the country. Morin often spoke of Morocco’s historical depth, commending a civilization that preserved a sense of collective identity in a time marked by withdrawal and denial of the Other.
The King also noted that Morin shared his ideas openly during meetings held in Morocco and abroad within leading institutions. His intellectual authority and personal warmth, the message states, left a lasting impression on generations of scholars and students.
“All those who had the honor of knowing him hold a particular esteem and affection for him and will not forget him,” the King said in his message.
Morocco held a special place in Morin’s later life, both personally and intellectually.
A key moment came in 2009 at the Fez Festival of World Sacred Music, where he met Sabah Abouessalam. Their relationship developed through shared intellectual interests and similar childhood experiences marked by early parental loss. They married in Paris in 2012.
The couple later co-authored “Vivre le Maroc, relier le Nord et le Sud,” published in 2011, where they presented Morocco as a bridge between the global North and South, combining modern institutions with long-standing traditions of solidarity and hospitality.
Morin regularly spent time in Marrakech, which he described as his “country of the heart.” In 2025, he marked his 103rd birthday in the city and presented his book “Y a-t-il des leçons de l’Histoire?”
His ties to Morocco also received official recognition. King Mohammed VI awarded him the Wissam Al Kafaa Al Fikria in 2014, and he later attended a royal dinner in Rabat in 2024 during a state visit.
His work and presence left a lasting imprint across Moroccan intellectual and academic circles.
