Islamist party's call for ulema quota in Moroccan Parliament sparks debate
2008-03-12
A major debate has sparked in Morocco following a call for ulemas to be given a political role. Some say a proposed parliamentary quota indicates respect, while others say the religious scholars should remain neutral and not carry political labels.
By Imrane Binoual for Magharebia in Casablanca – 12/03/08
 [Imrane Binoual] A meeting of Moroccan religious scholars discusses a call by the Party of Renaissance and Virtue to set a quota for ulemas in Parliament. The call sparked a debate in the country, with some for and others against the proposal. |
A call by a Moroccan Islamist party to set a quota for ulemas (religious scholars) in Parliament has sparked a debate on their role in politics.
Initiated by the Party of Renaissance and Virtue (PRV) during the 2007 electoral campaign, the recently renewed proposal calls on the Moroccan state to "give greater importance to Islamic doctrine and ulemas, and to show how much they are valued by giving them the place they deserve."
A document distributed during a March 1st party meeting called for granting scholars "a set quota in parliament, like the quota reserved for women."
Not all the religious scholars present at the meeting spoke in favour of the quota. Among the theologians invited to the discussion were Brahim Kamal and Mohamed Zohal, viewed as founding figures of the Chabiba Islamiya (Islamic Youth) movement, established in Morocco in the early 1970s.
"I’m astonished to hear such a proposal, because I feel that ulemas should follow the same route to parliament as everyone else," said Zohal.
Meanwhile, Kamal said he was in favour of the PRV proposal. "Ulemas have been the people’s guides throughout history," he said. "They must take on their responsibilities by getting involved in public affairs."
PRV Secretary-General Mohamed Khalidi explained his group's motivation: "In no way do we want to take the place of the Upper Council of Ulemas. What we want is to train ulemas and encourage them to become involved in public affairs. We are simply opening up the debate on the issue. We will then organise a national conference on the subject, to which we shall invite researchers, decision-makers, ulemas and so on."
The party stated in its printed materials that "Ulemas must play their full role, putting forward the true Islamic viewpoint, which preaches tolerance and rejects all forms of violence, whatever the reasons for this violence may be."
Supporters of secular government have demonstrated their opposition to the proposal. Speaking to Magharebia, Khadija Rouissi, president of the Bayt Al Hikma (House of Wisdom) association said, "We have enough complications blurring the line between politics and religion. We really have no need to add further complications. Rather we should be aiming for a separation of political and religious affairs."
"If a quota is set aside for ulemas within parliament," Rouissi continued, "we should expect these ulemas to ban women from speaking out, because it is forbidden in Sharia law. I feel that the Imarat Al Mouminine institution is sufficient, and confusion between politics and religion will only be perilous to Morocco’s future," she concluded.
Lahcen Daoudi of the Justice and Development Party also voiced his opposition to the proposal. He said ulemas should remain neutral, and should not carry political labels. "Ulemas are like the mosque: they belong to all Muslims. Added to which, if ulemas sit in parliament, this risks causing problems between them and the public, because the public will constantly ask them to solve their problems," he declared.
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ahmed Posted 2008-03-13
I ask you a question, a single question, just one, and I will ask it of all Muslims to all Arab Muslims and Muslims: “Why is it that all Arab Muslim and Muslim countries no longer have shamans, but just doctors, technicians and scientists?” We hear about doctors—so many doctors—in Muslim and Arab countries. In fact, they are just charlatans who got doctorates simply just to prostitute Islam. And, afterwards we are going to go beg from the Americans and Europeans so wee can eat and take care of ourselves. What a shame it is to hear a doctor in theology in Muslim countries nowadays. There are no more doctors of theology, only beggars.
Saidani Miloudi Posted 2008-03-13
I don't consider it so wise for our Olama to advocate for a seat in the Parliament.This is because their suitable and fit place is only the mosque.The house of Parliament is to me like a bathroom where people cleanse their dirt and wash their filthy clothes;whereas the mosque is the sacred place where the pious people arrange in raws behind the IMAM , the kind of devoted persons. Scholars of the oumma please stay where you are.You will regret it if the quota is granted.Women have regret it before you but they can't express it freely.They have felt they have been just mistaken to leave their true place:home.
chihab-25 Posted 2008-03-13
Indeed, the Moroccan State under the direction of El Fassi’s government should answer this call with a proposal to parliament for a law to these regards so that it can be debated in depth. Setting a quota for the country’s ulemas—such as a quota for women—is a very good idea! But, the caucuses must pass an internal election of the baia of the high council of Morocco’s ulemas via in order not to allow other Islamist ulemas to find an issue to make demands—to require the parliament, that is—and mix their Islamic values with our politics. *Indeed, this idea should not give way to parties with tendencies to become parliamentary representatives to speak about whatever they want. Their actions on the congressional floor will be in the name of religion, practicing politics just to get more seats and to stand out during election time. To be continued…* -Chihab-25
gol Posted 2008-03-13
If the ulema are religious intellectuals, then what do they have to do with doctors or engineers? This is really quite the switcheroo, “Mr. Ahmed”!
acharif moulay abdellah bouskraoui Posted 2008-03-13
Being that the King is the Amir Elmouminine, the ulemas do maintain a privileged position. The King holds the ulemas in a position of great importance in this princely kingdom. So, in my humble opinion, they have nothing to complain about.
عبد الله عصفور Posted 2008-03-13
I thank Magharebia for all the topics it publishes, they really deserve to be followed. I want to express my opinion as a Muslim about the call of the Islamic party to elect scholars to parliament. I was a member of Jamaat Al Adl Wa Ilhssana , I want want to say to the brothers ‘My dear scholar brothers, your place in the country that are loved by God are mosques, so stay away from the parliament dome, you might lose everything. My advice is that the tribunes of the mosque are enough for you, your claim for job posts wasn’t approved by the messenger of God peace and prayer on him. The prophet didn’t give function to those who claim it because of its weight and you know this. Sorry, my brothers, for my style- because I am neither a scholar or man of religion. I am just a taxi driver concerned about this religion.
ahmed Posted 2008-03-14
Gol; *Mr. Gol is trying to change the subject, thank you very much. I will ask you the same question again, being that my question was too “subtle” in the French language: “Don’t you think that we have a lot more theological Ph.D.’s than medical doctors? And, why are there more facilities for and a higher number of theological Ph.D.’s?” But, I guess I am changing the subject. There are a lot more “thinkers” have found that it is easier to do a Ph.D. in theology than become an engineer or medical doctor. These same Theological Ph.D.’s are masterminds and patented liars who prostitute our religion.*
bouboul Posted 2008-03-15
I have just discovered Magharebia and I am really happy. Thank you to everyone who has participated in its creation. It is a great thing, permitting all the people of the Maghreb to exchange their ideas in mutual respect and to be able to help each other for the benefit of everyone. You see how our leaders are mismanaging the tensions that have come up between them. And, we are doing the same. Once again, thank you Maghreb for having given us this opportunity.
BEN Posted 2008-03-15
Where is this debate over the quota for ulemas in parliament taking place? Is it in Morocco or Iran? Please, specify or confirm this! It needs to be quite clear! If we are indeed still going to have the chance to express ourselves, then we need to know in which country, under which regime, and in which religious democracy we are subsisting! I believe the political compass has lost its northern orientation in agreeing to such heresy, *especially the kind of which is being talked about here.* The world is watching us and surely beginning to worry.
gol Posted 2008-03-16
Look at the ulema in Morocco’s parliament. This is very disturbing; religion belongs in the Mosque, not in parliament! Good God! In France, there are no Catholic priests who impose the catechism on everyone without exception (meaning: making everyone go to mass), because in France there are beyond us in that they understand that the individual is free to believe or not.
ahmed 2 Posted 2008-04-05
Thank you to all those who participated and showed their interest in this question, proof that the idea deserves to be debated and discussed in depth. If we see the make-up of our parliament, its profiles, its activities and the centres of interest for all parliamentary representatives, we quickly come to understand that the management of public affairs deserves that all Moroccans be interested in it, especially those who have some notoriety and are respected by all. I do not agree with closing the ulema off in the mosques or in councils that distance them from decision-making positions. To this day, these positions have been monopolised by people who— as we all know— know how to manoeuvre on the serpentine path to the House. There is not a single country in the world that separates religion from the management of its public and social affairs.
مولاي محمد Posted 2008-04-05
Peace, mercy and blessings of God upon you. When Anahda and Fadila party makes this call, it is not practising political overbidding. This call emanates from its deep belief that scholars should go back to the practice of their role which they had during all this history of Islam especially because Morocco is ruled by the commander of the believers. Annahda and Fadila Party means by scholars not just religious scholars but all the scholars who will work on the protection of the authentic Moroccan values and conformity of the legal legislations with the ethics and values to which Moroccans have been educated for long eras. The statements of some people who consider the call unsound during this period and that the idea is old, is quite wrong because even in Europe where there are now Islamic banks which are authorized there and not authorized in our country, religious scholars are advisors and contribute to the sound management of the bank. I think that scholars should recover their position which they lost with time, not theologically but to guide, protect and preserve the institutes of this country whose constitution stipulates that the religion of Islam is its religion and one of its first sanctities. Scholars should play fully their role to counter destructive ideas from both sides and defend the moderation and temperance of Islam and face everyone who wants to damage Islam as a result of the acts of some ignorant people who don’t understand Islamic religion or its tolerant instructions. I bless this call and hope that it will find supporters. Greetings.
samya Posted 2008-06-14
Why don’t you try to study the problems of man and study them because you aren’t interested in the problems of all the people, you are only concerned about the problems of some people only.
saad eddine el amrani Posted 30 days ago
Having a quota for the ulemas is something that is absurd, and this is only a form of one-upsmanship between Mohamed Khalidi’s party and the PJD. However, the ulema do need to be represented in the constitutional assembly, but without the right to veto.
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