Interview: Morocco's national jigsaw includes Jews
2007-08-31
Maguy Kakon heads the list of candidates representing the Social Centre Party (PCS) in Morocco's 2007 legislative elections. In an interview with Magharebia, the first Jewish woman to stand for election reveals her decisions and ambitions.
Interview by Hassan Benmehdi for Magharebia in Casablanca – 31/08/2007
 [Hassan Benmehdi] Maguy Kakon (right) with a group of women in Derb Sultan neighbourhood of Casablanca. |
Social Centre Party candidate Maguy Kakon aims to be the first Jewish woman elected to serve in the Moroccan parliament. Kakon took a break from her campaign to speak with Magharebia about her Moroccan identity and her political intentions.
Magharebia: Why are you standing for office in a Muslim country when you're Jewish?
Maguy Kakon: I consider myself to be a Moroccan citizen. I’m a Moroccan first and foremost. I’m not in politics to preach my religion or to say that I belong to this or that religion. My religion is an asset and a difference which will bring cultural diversity, and so much the better for that. But for me, the most important thing is to be involved as a citizen of Morocco.
Getting into politics is a right and I'm exercising it freely and without any obstacles. I'm now running my election campaign and doing so on a non-religious basis. As for my religion, it’s purely a personal faith which I put to one side. I believe religion is something inside us which shouldn’t interfere with politics.
Magharebia: During your election campaign you went to Hay Moulay Rachid, one of Casablanca’s most deprived districts. Tell us, how did people welcome you?
Kakon: I was truly happy. I got a warm welcome. We spoke to young and not-so-young people, women wearing the veil and old men. We went around the whole district. As women on an election visit lasting over three hours, we didn’t have any problems or difficulties. We talked to young people who are disappointed but still hopeful that change will come about. We were still able to awaken some hope in them. We tried to explain to them that they have to believe in change. I hope we’ll continue in the same vein. People told us about their problems, too. We answered not by making promises, but by telling them that change is a battle which has to be fought from one day to the next. Magharebia: Why did you choose the Social Centre Party?
Kakon: Firstly, I’ve always been a woman who is committed to supporting various causes. I joined the PCS and support its programme and ideas because quite simply, they’re in tune with my beliefs and my vision. Also, the PCS is a young party at the centre of the political field, because we want to be moderate and innovative. The centre is set to become the true path for politics. What’s more, the PCS hasn’t been worn away by the workings of politics.
Magharebia: What are the strong points of your election programme?
Kakon: Our programme focuses on education, employment, young people and rural areas. We plan to continue with our efforts to further women’s rights under the Moudawana.
Our [main assets] are… our credibility and the strength of the message we’re going to send out to voters. Whatever happens, though, we’ll have to wait and see what the verdict is from the ballot boxes.
Magharebia: What do you think about the idea of women participating in politics?
Kakon: I think Moroccan women have made convincing progress so far. We can’t go back now. The democratic process has made great strides in our country.
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acharif moulay abdellah bouskraoui Posted 2007-08-31
May Praise be to God Alone! First of all: congratulations my dear sister, Maguy Kakon! I wish for your success and to hear your voice in the future parliament. For years now, I have called Moroccan Jews to play their role in Morocco’s politics; I have told them that they have all rights and respects. Morocco, under the leadership of His Majesty, Mohammed VI, is a state of tolerance and fraternity between the descendants of Abraham. I am very happy that my appeals have finally been heard and here are the fruits of them. The majority of Moroccan Jews know me directly, either by my call-outs on the internet on dozens of Israeli, American and Moroccan-Jewish web-forums. Congratulations my dear sister Maguy Kakon! Again, I wish your success and to hear your voice in the future parliament. –Shalom
chihab chahid Posted 2007-08-31
Though, before August 25, 2007, the day that marks the debut of her kingdom-wide campaign, I never knew of her in her capacity as a Jewish politician at the national level, I still wish Miss Maguy Kakon complete success. A Jewish candidate on the 2007 National Legislative Election ballots is an honour and she is someone to be proud of for us Moroccans. This brings much to Morocco’s cultural diversity. If I were in Casablanca, given her absence on the national ballot, I would without a doubt in my mind vote for Miss Maguy Kakon in the local district elections. I would like to give you a strong hand shake Miss Maguy as you have left your place on the national ballot empty so that other women who are quietly involved in politics behind the curtain. –Chihab, age 25, resident of a South-East Moroccan oasis
Mohamed EL BAKI Posted 2007-08-31
Congratulations to this young Moroccan woman of Jewish confession. And, why not? She is first of all Moroccan and a citizen. Her religion is something else altogether. Morocco does have a population that is extremely diverse, but all men and all women form a single nation!
Baladi Posted 2007-08-31
Jews in Moroccan politics :) :) :) Won’t this just tickle al-Qaeda in the Maghreb ???
souad Posted 2007-09-01
Salam alaikoum, we the Moroccans are very proud of our Islamic religion. We don't approve that a Jewish woman enters the Moroccan parliament. How do we allow the Jews, after they have violated our land Palestine, to entrust them our rights and our money? The rights of Moroccan people are protected by the Moroccans, we don't need foreigners. Frankly, this is utterly unacceptable behaviour in a Moroccan party, instead of a Jew who doesn't believe in our religion and beliefs, it would be better if she were Moroccan, and could not exploit us in turn for her own interests. Thank you.
karim Posted 2007-09-01
This election is a circus. I do not know a single Moroccan who is going to vote for a pro-Israeli and anti-Palestinian candidate, let alone give her 200 dirhams.
jalal Posted 2007-09-02
Hello, For Moroccans this is all pretty normal! For others this is something completely different! For a long time now Moroccan Jews have taken part in the elections! The real exception is that Miss Maguy Kakon is the first FEMALE Moroccan Jew to put herself up for the legislative elections! I wish her and all the other candidates the best of luck! Morocco forever forever (peace/openness/tolerance)
acharif moulay abdellah bouskraoui Posted 2007-09-02
-Mr. Karim, Our elections are not a circus; Moroccans are truly proud and they will not sell their vote for a 200 dihrams, let alone a million! Moreover, these elections will be held transparently and without fraud. As for Moroccan Jews, they are Moroccan in every sense.
zineb Posted 2007-09-03
I would just like to congratulate you, Miss Kakon. I hope you keep up the good work. As for Karim’s reaction, I think you are wholly a part of this plague: being a Jew does not mean being Zionist or anti-Palestinian. We have always had Jewish people in Morocco who are for the Palestinian cause and who defend it better than we Muslims do. So stop mincing words and try to be a little more serious!
Ibn Kafka Posted 2007-09-03
Such good news! I am thinking about voting for her so that all of Morocco will be represented in parliament.
hicham Posted 2007-09-03
We have to try Jewish and Christian candidates as our Muslim deputies did nothing... Maybe good will come from the others.
houssine Posted 2007-09-03
Hello, I would like to wish Miss Kakon good luck. I do not understand why everyone is talking about religion: she is above all else Moroccan and has been so long into her ancestry. Good Luck!
BEN Posted 2007-09-04
While I wish a big success to the Moroccan candidate of Jewish confession, she must also recognize that her voters, both male and female, will be voting for the simple reason of establishing a dialogue on the real-life conditions in this community where people are living under colonial-era laws dating back to Methuselah. I am absolutely shocked by Mr. Karim butting in from Germany with those remarks; he is no better than those who stereotype all Muslims as being terrorists. He should not forget that he might be talking about our ancestors, parents or even our future descendants. This is about citizens being able to live with other religions and express themselves freely. Everyone knows that there are kind-hearted Israelis who voluntarily support the Palestinians with solidarity. It is not right to group everyone into the same category. I hope that he will be able to take my words and turn them into actions. In relation to the Palestine, the one thing that could be more viable for achieving peace and founding one united country in the future is solidarity between its brothers. –Amen.
zahraoui Hakim Posted 2007-09-05
Moroccan Jew or not, we should have a lot more like you: the world would be a better place. -Good luck, from Algeria
Hachim Posted 2007-09-07
The most essential building block in any positive human relationship is Trust. unfortunately, as has been seen throughout history, Jews are not known for their trustworthiness. I do not expect this lady to do well in the election unless she's a muslim. Morocco is not a secular country and Moroccans do not separate between religion and Politics. So very few people if any will be willing to put their trust in her.
LH.BOUFOUSS Posted 2007-09-07
Good evening, I am also of the same point of view as the people who support this woman. I do not think that being a Jew automatically means being Zionist and anti-Arab. This is completely false, just like being Arab does not mean being a terrorist.
An Irishman Posted 2007-09-07
I have travelled through various Muslim countries and, truth be told, the only one I felt comfortable in was yours, and reading these posts makes me see why! You seem to be able to balance a love for Allah with a love for humanity that I found sadly lacking in Syria for instance. More people like you and this split between Muslims and everyone else seems less inevitable. Now, I was planning on looking into buying a retirement home in New Zealand, but I think I'll do some research on Morocco ;-)
drissi Posted 2007-09-07
I voted for her.
Lazrak Mohamed Posted 2007-09-07
Above all else, one must be Moroccan. This woman is courageous; I hope she wins.
momo Posted 2007-09-09
Hi, I wish Miss Kakon good luck!!! I do not think Karim understood a thing about her life. (You are just running your mouth.)
رجل من المغرب Posted 2007-09-16
What is this Moroccans run Israel
daniella Posted 2007-09-26
salam / shalom i think this is a hope for peace and understanding, i love morocco and i wish miss kakon good luck..
سعودي Posted 2007-11-24
I will tell it like it is. What is the problem if Maguy Kakon serves the poor while Moroccan society does nothing? You must know, dear brother, Ali (May the blessing of God be upon him), the official delegate to the Khaouarej, was a Jew. And when Al Hassan and Al Houssein wanted to play he used to send them to their Jewish neighbours. The question is: what did you or radical Islam give to society apart from evil? Thank you.
اسماعيلي علوي Posted 2009-04-12
Firstly, Morocco is known as the country of tolerance and political openness where there is no religious discrimination. Concerning the elections, it is a kind of play in which the role of everyone is known. So don't waste the money of the people uselessly. It is known what people who want to serve this safe country lack (work, sharing out resources to the people, fighting Fassi people because they are like mushroom, they have dominated all the resources of the country...). Finally, I wish Kanoune success in her career. She is a pride to all Moroccans because Jews are an integral part of the Moroccan identity.
dounia Posted 22 days ago
Elections are necessary but many don't deserve them, sorry.
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