Morocco nearing Abrahamic religion promotion: Anti-normalization chief

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Al Mayadeen English
28 Feb 2025 23:12
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A joint prayer led by an imam, a priest, and a rabbi has been considered a step toward the promotion of the so-called Abrahamic religion in Morocco.

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Muslim worshippers observe social distancing inside a mosque during Friday prayers in Rabat, Morocco, Friday, Oct. 16, 2020. (AP)

Morocco is nearing the promotion of the so-called Abrahamic religion, a belief that unites the three major religions—Christianity, Islam, and Judaism—the head of the Moroccan Observatory Against Normalization, Ahmed Wihman, stated on Thursday.

According to Wihman, a joint prayer bringing together an imam, a priest, and a rabbi was held in Agadir—where Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch heads the municipal council—under the theme of "spiritual pluralism."

In a post on Facebook, Wihman said "this event comes as part of a series of measures that have sparked widespread controversy."

He pointed to various developments, including the allocation of hundreds of millions from the municipal budget to festivals that "revive pagan rituals," the removal of the name of Palestinian martyr Mohammed Jamal al-Durra from the entrance of the arts complex, and the announcement of the launch of Radio Abraham by the group "We Are All Israelis."

He added that "in this same city, an issue of the Moroccan magazine Haqaeq Maghribia was published with a cover headline declaring: ‘Morocco, the Holy Kingdom of the Children of Israel!’”

According to Wihman, these steps are seen as part of a strategy aimed at distorting Islamic beliefs and targeting vital state institutions, "in alignment with the policies of Zionist officials."

Moroccans growing opposed to normalization with 'Israel'

Analytical data from the Arab Barometer has revealed a significant shift in Moroccan public opinion regarding normalization with the Israeli occupation, largely influenced by the ongoing war in Gaza.

The survey, titled "The Future of Normalization and the War in Gaza," found that 48% of Moroccan participants support the "two-state solution" as the best resolution for the Palestinian issue.

The findings highlight a sharp decline in support for normalization between Rabat and Tel Aviv. According to the Arab Barometer, the war in Gaza has profoundly altered public attitudes toward normalization, with the harrowing images from Gaza turning previous supporters of "peace accords" with the Israeli occupation into opponents.

The data shows that Moroccan support for normalization plummeted from 31% in 2021 to just 13% in surveys conducted in 2023 and 2024. Additionally, only 9% of respondents expressed approval of normalization, with some describing the Israeli occupation's military campaign in Gaza as "genocide." Support for the two-state solution, meanwhile, increased by 7% compared to earlier survey cycles conducted in 2021 and 2022.