Belief In recent years, the Kingdom of Morocco has undertaken several radical reforms related to freedom of religion and belief (FoRB) and the promotion of coexistence and inclusive citizenship that embraces diversity. These measures encompassed changes to educational curricula, issuing fatwas, issuing royal decrees to establish institutions and civil society initiatives.
First: Positive Initiatives by State Authority and Law
In Legislation and Councils:
- Establishment of the Jewish Religious Institution and Organization of the Jewish Sect in Morocco
- Establishment of the Mohammed VI Institute for the Training of Imams, and religious educators and preachers (women and men)
- Establishment of the National Human Rights Council (NHRC)
- Participation of Moroccan Christians and Baha’is in the National Dialogue for Family Code Reform
Ministry of National Education
Early Education:
In 2023, the Ministry of National Education issued a guide for compulsory early education (preschool) that aims to reframe teachers and sector workers and improve pedagogical performance.
Primary and Elementary Education
The Ministry of National Education, Vocational Training, and Practical Research has improved 18 educational curricula by adding texts on the history and heritage of Moroccan Jews. This initiative is part of a more extensive program launched in 2014 to reform Moroccan educational curricula.
Higher Education
The Mohammed VI Polytechnic University in Marrakech witnessed the inauguration of the first synagogue on campus in the Arab world due to a joint work agreement between the Maimouna Association and the American Sephardic Federation.
In a tweet on his account, El Mehdi Boudra, president of Maimouna Association, said: “This synagogue is considered the first of its kind in Arab universities. It is expected to provide Jewish students a place to pray while preserving the mosque on the same campus.”
Ministry of Endowment and Islamic Affairs
The Marrakech Declaration on the Rights of Religious Minorities in the Muslim World:
The Moroccan Ministry of Endowment and Islamic Affairs, in partnership with the Forum for Promoting Peace in Muslim Societies, organized the Conference on the Rights of Religious Minorities in the Islamic World, held in the United Arab Emirates from 25 to 27 January 2016 (14 to 16 Rabi’ al-Thani 1437), which resulted in the issuance of the Declaration on the Rights of Religious Minorities in the Islamic World.
Second: Initiatives by Religious Institutions
At the level of jurisprudence:
Retraction of the Fatwa to Kill Apostates:In 2017, the Supreme Council of Religious Scholars issued a document entitled “The Path of Scholars”, distributed to scholars at the Council’s session on “Issues of Justice, Solidarity, Rights, and Freedoms in the Nation” in Rabat.
Although this document is not yet official, and hasn’t been distributed except on a limited scale to members of the Supreme Council of Religious Scholars, nor has it been published on the official website for the Ministry of Endowment and Islamic Affairs, it remains important because it addresses a significant obstacle to FoRB in Muslim majority societies: the punishment of apostates.
It is worth noting that punishment for apostasy is part of Moroccan jurisprudence, but Moroccan law doesn’t include a single chapter dedicated to this topic. Instead, the right to change religion is restricted by laws related to undermining religious and political security.
In 2012, the Supreme Council of Religious Scholars issued a fatwa to implement the punishment for apostasy in Islam. This was in response to a request for a consultation submitted by the Inter-Ministerial Delegation for Human Rights to the Supreme Council on the subject of apostasy punishment and freedom of belief. The fatwa was issued in preparation for the sixth periodic report on implementing the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights recommendations, which stipulates FoRB and which Morocco has signed.
In 2017, the Supreme Council of Religious Scholars issued a document entitled “The Path of Scholars”, distributed to scholars at the Council’s session on “Issues of Justice, Solidarity, Rights, and Freedoms in the Nation” in Rabat.
Retraction of the Fatwa to Kill Apostates:In 2017, the Supreme Council of Religious Scholars issued a document entitled “The Path of Scholars”, distributed to scholars at the Council’s session on “Issues of Justice, Solidarity, Rights, and Freedoms in the Nation” in Rabat.
Although this document is not yet official, and hasn’t been distributed except on a limited scale to members of the Supreme Council of Religious Scholars, nor has it been published on the official website for the Ministry of Endowment and Islamic Affairs, it remains important because it addresses a significant obstacle to FoRB in Muslim majority societies: the punishment of apostates.
It is worth noting that punishment for apostasy is part of Moroccan jurisprudence, but Moroccan law doesn’t include a single chapter dedicated to this topic. Instead, the right to change religion is restricted by laws related to undermining religious and political security.
In 2012, the Supreme Council of Religious Scholars issued a fatwa to implement the punishment for apostasy in Islam. This was in response to a request for a consultation submitted by the Inter-Ministerial Delegation for Human Rights to the Supreme Council on the subject of apostasy punishment and freedom of belief. The fatwa was issued in preparation for the sixth periodic report on implementing the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights recommendations, which stipulates FoRB and which Morocco has signed.
In 2017, the Supreme Council of Religious Scholars issued a document entitled “The Path of Scholars”, distributed to scholars at the Council’s session on “Issues of Justice, Solidarity, Rights, and Freedoms in the Nation” in Rabat.
Although this document is not yet official, and hasn’t been distributed except on a limited scale to members of the Supreme Council of Religious Scholars, nor has it been published on the official website for the Ministry of Endowment and Islamic Affairs, it remains important because it addresses a significant obstacle to FoRB in Muslim majority societies: the punishment of apostates.
It is worth noting that punishment for apostasy is part of Moroccan jurisprudence, but Moroccan law doesn’t include a single chapter dedicated to this topic. Instead, the right to change religion is restricted by laws related to undermining religious and political security.
In 2012, the Supreme Council of Religious Scholars issued a fatwa to implement the punishment for apostasy in Islam. This was in response to a request for a consultation submitted by the Inter-Ministerial Delegation for Human Rights to the Supreme Council on the subject of apostasy punishment and freedom of belief. The fatwa was issued in preparation for the sixth periodic report on implementing the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights recommendations, which stipulates FoRB and which Morocco has signed.
It is worth noting that punishment for apostasy is part of Moroccan jurisprudence, but Moroccan law doesn’t include a single chapter dedicated to this topic. Instead, the right to change religion is restricted by laws related to undermining religious and political security.
In 2012, the Supreme Council of Religious Scholars issued a fatwa to implement the punishment for apostasy in Islam. This was in response to a request for a consultation submitted by the Inter-Ministerial Delegation for Human Rights to the Supreme Council on the subject of apostasy punishment and freedom of belief. The fatwa was issued in preparation for the sixth periodic report on implementing the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights recommendations, which stipulates FoRB and which Morocco has signed.
Removal of the requirement of having two Muslim witnesses attest to marriages concluded outside Morocco:
The Moroccan Family Code used to require that two Muslim witnesses attest to marriage contracts of Moroccans. However, in late 2024, several amendments and revisions to the Family Code were proposed, including measures that simplify legal processes for Moroccans residing outside the Kingdom. Thus, it was suggested that “the condition of the two Muslim witnesses be eliminated if it is not possible to comply with it.”
The Moroccan Family Code used to require that two Muslim witnesses attest to marriage contracts of Moroccans. However, in late 2024, several amendments and revisions to the Family Code were proposed, including measures that simplify legal processes for Moroccans residing outside the Kingdom. Thus, it was suggested that “the condition of the two Muslim witnesses be eliminated if it is not possible to comply with it.”
Third: Positive Community Initiatives
On the cultural level:
Moroccan Jewish Museum:The Moroccan Jewish Museum (also known as the Museum of Moroccan Judaism) is located in the Oasis neighborhood of Casablanca. It is a cultural space that introduces visitors to Moroccan Jewish history, customs, heritage, lifestyle, religious rituals, and celebrations.
The 700 square-meter building was initially a Jewish orphanage established by Mrs. Celia Bengio and named after her late husband, Murdoch Bengio.
Bayt Dakira in Essaouira:Essaouira is a coastal city in southern Morocco known for its coexistence and good neighborliness with Jews in the Mellah neighborhood. The House of Memory, Bayt Dakira, was inaugurated in Essaouira with the Moroccan King, the director of UNESCO, and many other figures.
Bayt Dakira contains many historical documents about prominent Jewish figures who assumed diplomatic positions, such as advisors to Alaouite sultans. It also contains old photographs, films, and traditional Jewish music.
The King’s advisor, Mr. Andre Azoulay, commented on the inauguration: “We want to protect our heritage and the manifestations of coexistence within the framework of mutual respect.”
He expressed hope that this history would constitute a lever for the future.
Al Mowafaqa Ecumenical Institute of Theology:
In April 2013, the Protestant Church and its Catholic counterpart established a Christian theological training institute known as Al Mowafaqa Institute, primarily targeting Christians in sub-Saharan Africa. The training centers on interfaith and intercultural dialogue, the history of Muslim-Christian relations, and specialized theological topics.
Al Mowafaqa Ecumenical Institute of Theology:
In April 2013, the Protestant Church and its Catholic counterpart established a Christian theological training institute known as Al Mowafaqa Institute, primarily targeting Christians in sub-Saharan Africa. The training centers on interfaith and intercultural dialogue, the history of Muslim-Christian relations, and specialized theological topics.
On the media level
Nass El Mellah Radio Program:
“Nass El Mellah” is the first Moroccan-Arabic radio show about Jewish cultural heritage. It was created and presented by Zhor Rehihil, an anthropologist and curator of the Moroccan Jewish Museum in Casablanca.
In her statements to the “Bilwadeh” newspaper, Zhor Rehihil, the first Muslim woman to establish a Jewish heritage museum, said that the name “Nass El Mellah” holds a strong connotation related to Moroccan Jewish history because Mellah is an indigenous Moroccan term used to refer to the Jewish neighborhood.
She added that “Nass El Mellah” is an awareness and informational program targeting all Moroccans. Its goal is to introduce them to new aspects of Moroccan culture and society. The program also aims to introduce people to coexistence and to Muslim and Jewish Moroccans’ shared customs and traditions.
Dr. Youssef Al Kallam’s Page for the Science of Beliefs and Religions:
Youssef Al Kallam, a professor of Comparative Religions at the University of Al-Qarawiyyin and Dar al-Hadith Al Hassania, organizes monthly scientific meetings on his official Facebook page addressing religious diversity and new interpretations and readings of religious texts. The meetings are open to students of religious students and anyone interested in these topics.
Youssef Al Kallam, a professor of Comparative Religions at the University of Al-Qarawiyyin and Dar al-Hadith Al Hassania, organizes monthly scientific meetings on his official Facebook page addressing religious diversity and new interpretations and readings of religious texts. The meetings are open to students of religious students and anyone interested in these topics.
