Casablanca women's forum targets Islamist extremism
2008-04-04
As part of an emergency programme to fight terrorism, women’s NGOs organised a symposium in Casablanca to help differentiate between benign religious movements and Islamist terror groups.
By Imrane Binoual for Magharebia in Casablanca – 04/04/08
 Imrane Binoual] Democratic League for Women’s Rights president Fouzia Aâssouli told a counter-terrorism symposium that preachers hostile to equality, tolerance and freedom embody "the main ideological breeding ground" for terrorism. |
The Democratic League for Women’s Rights (LDDF) and the Moroccan Women’s Information and Observation Centre held a national symposium in Casablanca last week under the theme, "The Islamist Movement’s Strategies: From Preaching to Terrorism". The goal of the March 28th-29th forum, organisers said, was to assess the threat of terrorism and extremism on Morocco's economic, social and political life.
Morocco is "in the middle of a deliberate blurring of religion and politics, facing opposition to the values of equality, citizenship and democracy", LDDF chair Fouzia Aâsouli asserted, adding that preaching based on "extremist interpretations [which are] hostile to humanitarian values of... tolerance and freedom" provides the "main ideological breeding ground" for terrorism.
Mohamed Darif, a specialist on Islamist movements in Morocco, agreed that the fight against extremism and terrorism is everyone’s responsibility, but told forum attendees that a distinction must be made between the three main religious currents. Not all are comprised of terrorists, he emphasised.
First, there is the Sufi movement, which is gaining ground in Morocco, he said, because it is encouraged by the authorities. The second movement – what he calls "Political Islam" – includes Islamists who act within political institutions, such as the Movement for Unity and Reform (MUR), ''elitist" Islamist movements (Al Badil Al Hadari and Al Haraka Min Ajli Al Oumma), and "confrontational" Islamists, such as those in the unrecognised association Al Adl Wal Ihssan (Justice and Spirituality).
According to Darif, it is the third current – that of the Salafist Jihadis – where extremists and terrorists proliferate.
Another specialist on Islamist movements, Abdellah Rami, told participants that the Moroccan Salafist movement moved on from its allegiance to the Wahhabi movement of Saudi Arabia, to its impregnation with the Jihadism of the Algerian GIA. He also added that the leaders of Salafism cannot control the young Jihadis.
"What pushed the members of these currents to their unreasonable state were the events of September 11th, 2001. After these events, the idea of individual Jihad developed. So each individual imbued with the ideas of Jihadist Salafism could move on from theory to execution," Rami argued.
To convey the danger of terrorism to Moroccans attending the symposium, the organisers invited a victim of terrorism in Algeria to offer her personal testimony. Algerian Chrifa Khada, whose mother and brother were assassinated by Islamist terrorists, spoke of Algerians’ tremendous suffering due to terrorism at several levels.
Email to a friend
Print version
محمد عمر Posted 2008-04-04
In the name of God most gracious most merciful. I thank you for your ideas and opinions which open a wide debate as to the meanings, understanding and interpretations. The terms terrorism and Islamic extremism are terms that should be understood in a precise way so that we don’t fall into the trap of disseminating an ideology which is exported to us from the west. Firstly, Islam doesn’t call for terrorism. So why do we attribute the word terrorism to Islam? Aren’t there many types of terrorism that aren’t associated with Islam? Islam is innocent of these serious accusations which are appreciated by the enemies of Islam when they are adopted by the sons of Islam in their discussions. There is extremism in understanding religion, in understanding the text of the Qur'an and the tradition of the prophet, this is in reference to the interpretations by “scholars” who take the literal meaning, not scholars who care for the general interest of the nation and who are not afraid to speak the truth to an oppressive ruler, by wisdom and good preaching. Haram is clear in Islam and Halal is clear in Islam. The responsibility of scholars is huge and serious in educating the nation and advising rulers. So either you raise a moderate generation or raise a violent generation which can blow up at any time. But the problem which encourages extremism lies in the dignity of the human being. Young people are oppressed, impoverished and ignorant, they can easily be influenced and might sacrifice his life for his dignity because he thinks that it is a way to express his indignation at the condition where he lives. In other words, he adopted the idea of jihad in reverse way, as if he thinks that he is a martyr if he blows himself up and that he has a cause???? From this forum, brothers and sisters, I ask you: aren’t we Muslims? Don’t we have the right to live in dignity so that we won’t be prone to extremism? Isn't this a test to grant justice to this deprived generation? Every illness has a remedy, isn’t this true? So we have to find the appropriate treatment to avoid a catastrophic outcome. As to democracy or other concepts, that is not the problem. The problem is in the contents and implementations. Otherwise, we will just be chewing over our words, and exchanging accusations. The matter is serious and the crisis is deeply rooted. So a way out is necessary or we will be eaten like the white bull was eaten.
maghrébin Posted 2008-04-05
Religion is the opium of people. It is a shame that when we tell the truth we are told to hurry up. Advancement takes a lot of work.
We welcome your comments on Magharebia's articles.
It is our hope that you will use this forum to interact with other readers across the Maghreb. In order to keep this experience interesting, we ask you to follow the rules outlined in the comments policy. By submitting comments, you are consenting to these rules. While Magharebia.com encourages discussion on all subjects, including sensitive ones, the comments posted are solely the views of those submitting them. Magharebia.com does not necessarily endorse or agree with the ideas, views, or opinions voiced in these comments. This is a moderated forum. Comments deemed abusive, offensive, or those containing profanity may not be published.
Magharebia's Comments Policy