Afrati Forum promotes open, tolerant vision of Moroccan society

11/03/2009

A new Morocco forum hopes to boost dialogue between the Amazigh, Arab and Jewish communities.

By Imane Belhaj for Magharebia in Casablanca – 11/03/09

[File] Afrati Forum co-ordinator Mohammed Amnoun (right) aims to bridge Morocco's ethnic, religious divides.

A new forum promoting peace and understanding is taking shape in Morocco. Born out of a 2003 youth initiative for intercultural dialogue, the new Afrati Forum for Religious and Cultural Dialogue was announced March 1st in Inezgane. The initial meeting drew 96 young men and women from 17 Moroccan cities, many from the southern provinces.

A desire to reconcile modern ideas of Morocco's diverse history prompted the forum, Afrati said in its founding statement. Certain elements of society, the group claims, do not receive adequate levels of material support or attention; notably, the nation's Amazigh and Jewish populations.

The forum's resulting goal is to boost dialogue between Moroccans of Amazigh, Arab and Jewish origins. This dialogue, the group maintains, is an expression of the tolerance and respect that is central to Moroccan culture.

The organisation aims to bring Moroccan society together regardless of creed or ethnicity, said Mohammed Amnoun, who was elected national co-ordinator of the forum during the founding assembly.

Amnoun has been involved with the initiative since the foundation of the earlier Afrati Association for Friendship and Co-existence. The goal of the Association, he said, is to remind people of their Moroccan cultural heritage in all its dimensions: Berber, Jewish, African and Arab. Through the acknowledgment of this rich cultural heritage, members argue, Morocco can overcome violence and intolerance on the national level and achieve greater public freedoms.

The new forum was deemed necessary after members decided their efforts would gain greater momentum if Moroccans were reminded of their cultural origins. Amnoun said this task falls to young people who have studied the full scope of Moroccan history.

Members stressed that they will strive, through their scheduled jobs and over a short term, to re-orient religious address so that it may act as an essential tool in popularising values of tolerance and acceptance. Furthermore, they agreed Morocco's Amazigh and Jewish identity must not be ignored in education and training.

An open approach to the Moroccan past will contribute to a healthy national identity, promoting tolerance and co-existence between the nation's Muslims and Jews, and will serve to combat extremism and other ideological dangers.

Amnoun stressed that the forum does not serve the agenda of one group over another.

"We have been critically censured for allegedly seeking to normalise relations with Israel, or for being an Amazigh movement," Amnoun said. "I affirm here for Magharebia that we are Moroccan youth addressing all Moroccans; Arabs, Amazighs and Jews. We call on those who criticize us to stop taking advantage of the Palestinian cause, and to listen to us before they pass judgments."

He also reprimanded the region's press for presenting certain news with "exaggerated hype".

Royal Adviser André Azoulay gave his support for the new forum, speaking to the forum co-ordinator by telephone from Germany. "As a Moroccan, I support ambitious young people and support every initiative that is in favour of our homeland."

"I am for anything that benefits Moroccan youth and that helps to distance them from extremism and racism," he added.