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Morocco: On Legalizing the Banned Islamic group "Al Adl" PDF Print
HASSAN MASIKY
Thursday, 16 February 2012 11:40

Washington  / Morocco Board News--Recent developments in Morocco make the banning of a politico-religious group such as Al Adl wal Ihsane, with its large followings, counterproductive, shortsighted and unproductive. It is political unwise to keep such a significant player outside the political arena. Keeping the banned Islamist association Al Adl wal Ihsane (Justice and Spirituality-AJS) underground jeopardizes the stability and security of Morocco and shrink the legitimacy of Morocco’s recent political openings.

 The ascendance of a number of anti-government groups in Morocco with diverge agendas and “unknown” demands is a signal that the time to legalize and court Al Adl wal Ihsane has come. The success of the Muslim Brotherhood, a group with similar program, in Egypt to assimilate into the political life is a reassuring sign that AJS can pacify some of the political demands of more Moroccans.

The decision of the AJS to hold “its criticism” and give the new government in Morocco time to implement changes is a “good faith” decision that should hasten the decision to legitimize the work of the Association. Such political maneuvers make the reasons behind the banning to the group mute and irrelevant in today’s political life in Morocco.

Despite its banned status, Al Adl wal Ihsane is very active in the four corners of Morocco with thousands of supporters involved in political and social activities on regular bases and without restrictions.
 
Notwithstanding government “unofficial and unenforced restrictions”, Cheikh Abdesslam Yassine, AJS spiritual leader, is free to move around, meet his supporters and undertake political and religious activities of his choosing. AJS holds meetings issues statement and freely broadcasts public statement. Nadia Yassin, the group’s spokesperson and daughter of his leader, speaks to the press on a regular basis and without restrictions.
 
AJS supporters were in the forefront during the early pro-democracy demonstrations of the February 20 movement (F20M). In fact, several observers argue that the pro-democracy drive in Morocco was weakened once the AJS withdrew its support to the F20M. The AJS highlighted its “popular muscles” by demonstrating its ability to rock the Moroccan streets, as it likes. The Moroccan authority is well aware and tolerant of these activities making the banning of Al Adl wal Ihsane a political contradiction and a relic of past policies.
 
The banning the Al Adl wal Ihsane is consider an abnormality in today’s Morocco. The newly formed government in Rabat is headed by a Prime Minister who, not long ago, was a sympathizer and an advocate of the AJS founder, Cheikh Abdesslam Yassine. In fact, a good number of activists belonging to the ruling Islamist party (PJD) harbor sympathy and support for the association Al Adl wal Ihsane.
 
The resent release of a number of Salafists prisoners by Royal pardon makes the political prohibition of AJS more irrational. Whether or not Moroccans agree with the positions and teaching of Al Adl wal Ihsane on the role of religion in the life of citizens is not at issue today. For a majority of political observers, Al Adl wal Ihsane is a significant political force that must be brought into the fold. It will be up to the Moroccan public to choose the extent of the AJS role on the political and social scenes in the Kingdom.
 

 

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Haqq said:

If AJS goes mainstream they would lose their popularity...
Unfortunately in Morocco there are only a handful of groups who are willing to challenge the status quo in Morocco. AJS can only become mainstream IF they abandon some of their values and official views of the King, the elite , etc.

There is no way given the present situation of both the Makhzen and the AJS that either one of them would compromise their values. The Makhzen can't allow the "unconstitutional" attitudes of the AJS to become mainstream and the AJS will lose their popularity and standing amongst the majority of people if they compromise.
02/23/12

HKR said:

To MP with respect,
What people do in their private and personal sphere is a business that concerns them, and them alone. When their antics start to encroach on the public domain, then we, as the public, are entitled to proffer our take on them and their actions.

I do apologize if you read my interjection as a slur on Islam or Muslims. I assure you it is nothing of the sort. I also sympathize with your critique of some of the "cultural elite"; although I, personally, wouldn't go as far as calling someone who chooses to ignore his or her own roots "cultural"; and as for the term "elite", I think in this instance, the less said the better.

I have nothing against the pursuit of wisdom in antiquity, or in the eight century for that matter: history is strewn with great minds that we can all learn a great deal from, provided we use our God-given wit to sift through our findings, before applying them to modern times.
02/20/12

riffi said:

...
HKR agree but you can not shove or force your eight century's ideas on other people.Islam is religion not a culture it is also a way of life i mean yours not others.I am a muslim as I said before,i follow the koran not a madahib ,you know when you start saying I am malikite ,sunni,shyaa,malekite and etc..then you start politicizing the religion.The islam is a religion between you and god with no clergy,it seems for me all this madahibs are bringing this great religion to a catholic religion(my respect to the catholics Idid not mean it as insult).keep it in your home and family .by the way and as I said I follow the five pilars of the islam and it is between me and god and the rest can catch the wind of hell.And also you can be a laic and a muslim yes and yes and yes.
02/19/12

Moroccan Patriot said:

HKR is right to an extent
I agree that they should be brought into the political process, but I don't see anything wrong with people CHOOSING to live in the 8th Century, particularly if they are adhering to their religious beliefs.

The Amish live in the 17th Century perpetually. Jews live in the 2nd Century BC once a week on the Sabbath.

I personally happen to be a big believer in doing Sunnah, that is following in the exact foot steps of the Rasul (pbuh). However, I am not looking to force my way of thought, nor my religion for that matter, on anyone.

I agree that if they were allowed to join the process, they very well may falter under the glaring headlights and no longer bring in people and do things which may not be productive.

However, I have a general problem with the Anti-Islam sentiment I get from a lot of people out there.

There seems to be this notion that if you have strong faith that you are somehow against democracy or against advancement, or that you do not want to see girls educated,etc... It seems that being a believer in Islam, praying 5 times a day, giving charity and rendering Zakat is almost looked down upon these days by the, "cultural elite" - well I must admit that I kind of look down on a lot of the, "cultural elite".

The "cultural elite" have children that speak French at home, learn English at Language schools, but have no concept of the value of Islam, Integrity or honesty, because their parents do not teach them these things. Can you be a good person, and not be Muslim? Of course you can. However, the Happiest people I know, are the people that feel "Iman" (faith) in their hearts. The most successful people I know wake up every morning to pray Fajr at the Mosque. The kids that I see that are most impressive come from families that stress, first and foremost the value of Islam.

Unfortunately, Islam in Morocco has become a a political tool. I hope that this is something that is examined in the retooling of the constitution.
02/19/12

HKR said:

Once the current farce is played out an age of reason awaits
To ban a party with an adequate and loyal following, only drives it underground where it continues to promulgate its doctrine with impunity. It also endows it with street credentials -of sorts- that renders it more alluring, especially, to impressionable minds.

The Salfist discourse is a stale discourse that finds resonance in stale minds; a personal opinion that can be widely shared and appreciated if these theological troglodytes are brought back in from the wilderness (a place where they, I daresay, feel more at home) and given a breadth in the national political spectrum. Under the spotlight of scrutiny, surely, they are bound to be found out for the ossified frauds they really are.

Bear in mind, these are the same people who have, unbeknown to us all, cracked the concept of time travel, whereby in an effort to seek enlightenment and from the comfort of their own front-rooms they can -at will and with consummate ease- teleport from the twenty-first century to the eighth and back; shamelessly bypassing all the monumental achievements that took place in between. A feat moneyed solely by the Wahabi petrodollar, I hasten to add.
02/17/12

man en blanc said:

LEGITIMACY! THE KING DOESN'T HAVE IT, WHY SHOULD ANYONE ELSE ASPIRE TO EVEN THINK ABOUT MAYBE CONSIDER PONDERING...
Hell no! Look at what's happening in the Arab world. Look at what the Arab misery breeds, look at the shape that these oh-so-ever-pious-Muslim dictators left their countries in after they got kicked out of their palaces.
The king and his fabulously wealthy entourage of thieves, know that their days are numbered. And in the true fashion of your basic Arab dictator, M6, "the king of the poor", will decamp to his cushy exile in France, with his band of criminals while Morocco would ignite into fiery hell that would send us back to a Somalia-like quandary!
Dictators annihilate anyone whom they perceive as a contender. Thus ensuring that there would be a power vacuum once they meet their inevitable ouster. Because dictators hate their own people, the very people that afforded them a life of debauchery and luxurious..well, debauchery. It is the Arab World after all, so they make sure that their own country gets destroyed. Their perverted idea of payback.

I don't know where I'm going with this diatribe. But I fear the future of our country.
Yes. I am scared.
02/16/12

Moroccan Patriot said:

Morcelli - you make AJS sound really good
When you ban people from choosing to join the democratic process, all you do is cast doubt as to the legitimacy of your political process.

If a majority of people in Morocco agree with AJS, then they should be in charge. If a majority of people don't agree with them, then they will be marginalized.

I think that the Constitution itself should be open to discussion and the points that make AJS joining political discourse should be examined.

There are far too many Kufar, Munafik and Alcoholics in Morocco for any Religiously oriented party to gain a majority. My position is that there is nothing wrong with having a discussion in parliament about it. By keeping these guys out of the game all together, all you do is breed instability and discontent.

What is wrong with putting the new constitution to a line item vote in Parliament? Better yet, why not hold a referendum on some of the items in the constitution and allow the Moroccan people themselves to decide if they want to worship living human beings?
02/16/12

Aziz El Alami said:

...
AJS has no place in the Moroccan political system. It is rightfully banded and any attempt from their part to try to infiltrate our government and poison it with their prehistoric beliefs should be fought back vigorously.

Morocco is not fit for an "Islamic" State. 90% of Moroccans are not "true" muslims anyway -- I don't have any real statistics to back up  this statement but I have lived in Morocco for over two decades and have visited most of it. A huge portion of the population does not pray at all. Another huge segment only prays on Fridays -- and most of those who pray regularly cannot explain a single verse of the Koran -- they pray out of fear of eternal hell than out of true belief!

I like my Morocco just the way it is -- with its hypocrisy and inconsistency, with it's diversity and uniqueness... Let's focus on our economic growth and leave religion out of it. 
02/16/12

riffi said:

...
Morcelli just a little statement, Al Adl want their leader to be Amir al mouminine, it is a conflict of wanna be. Their disciple always said the sheikh meet the prophet in his dream and tell him what to do, it is a little be loony don't you think. I wish if everybody leave their religion for themselves and let the country progress I mean from both side we will have a better Morocco and it is coming from me a Muslim who practice his religion fully but I am LAIC..
02/16/12

Hassan bnou Mammah said:

Vive la politique de M6!!!
I say... if you can't buy them, ban them. I think I've said tooo much!
02/16/12

man en blanc said:

With titles come responsibilities. Scratch that, I meant confusing conflicts.
To allow or not to allow? If I were Ameer Al Mouminin, would a religion-based party outrank me? But I am the King! No one is above me. Not on this earth anyway. What to do?
I would suggest to do away with the obsolete medieval practice of the bestowing of titles on oneself for starters.
02/16/12

S Hassi said:

hhhh
Morcelli you do remind me of the late Hassan II , he used to be 1st in everything hhhhhh . but good on you boy , you do make a lot of sense
02/16/12

Morcelli said:

...
As much as I agree with you, you missed the main part why AJS is banned. AJS does not recognize that M6 is Amir al mouminin, as a matter of fact they see it as a joke and an insult to each and every Moroccan, Moroccan CONstitution states that M6 is indeed amir al mouminin, Legalizing AJS if you believe in this constitution is unconstitutional.

The way things are right now, it would be conflict of interest to "unban" AJS. M6 and Hassan II before him made it impossible for them to ever be part of Moroccan politics.

PJD recognize the king as the commander of the faithful and therefore does not have as may problems with the elite.

Other than the constitution, it is against the law to have a party in Morocco based on religion, Everything AJS does is based on religion, this is another reason AJS will always be discarded. Is it a good move to keep them out? I don't know, on one side you want everyone to be involved, on the other side, implementing Shariaa law is not pretty either. I don't doubt that AJS in power is not a good thing for Morocco.

Religion when mal practiced is root of all evil. Religion in my opinion is between you and your god, not between you and me when you start imposing your voodoo thoughts on me.

We also need to keep in mind that sheikh Yassine asked M6 to give up his palaces and the money his father stole from Morocco, I am not sure how a Monarch that is worshiped including in this board would want to "unban" the beardos




02/16/12

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