In an interview with the Arabic daily “Al Massae”, the Secretary General of the Council of the Moroccan Community Abroad (CCME), Mr. Abdellah Boussouf, said that the political participation of the Moroccans of the world is in the hands of the legislative and executive organs refuting criticism addressed to the CCME on this matter.
Mr. Boussouf said, in the interview published Monday, March 9, that there is “a kind of confusion which aims to confer ambiguous character to the mission and functions of the CCME and its place in the Moroccan institutional space”, adding that” the Council has an advisory and prospective mission, non-executive, which is the responsibility of the government. ”
“The CCME is referred to whenever the issue of political participation is mentioned, yet our position is clear: we do not refuse the political participation of Moroccan expatriates,” said Mr. Boussouf. “In a book published by the CCME, which includes the internal discussions about this among members of the council, we proposed for the political participation to be done gradually, starting with the House of Councilors to a maturing experience which means a representation in the First Chamber. ”
Mr. Boussouf further clarified that the book has even proposed rules for the application of this process and stressed the need to reach a consensus after serene and participatory discussions, while each institution accepts joint responsibility “as this matter cannot handle any politicization”
On another subject, the Secretary General of the CCME said that “the lack of religious guidance and coaching of young Moroccans abroad made them easy targets for terrorists merchants of death”, inviting ” to review the approach adopted in religious guidance. ”
“You could say that our religious product is very modest when you consider that the product that prevails on the field came from various religious schools different from Moroccan society. It is very important for the purpose of translating the book in the languages of the host countries so that it can reach the Moroccan communities in the world. I can say that the Moroccan religious model adapts to today’s world and is able to provide answers to the problems posed to Western societies, it is a model that can convince even the Europeans “.
Regarding the reflection on Islam in Europe, Boussouf said that the CCME has been treating this subject since 2009, “we had already proposed that the supervision and training of imams be in line with European societies and have devoted to this, a symposium in partnership with the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, which resulted in the publication of a reference book. We also organized a meeting in Casablanca under the theme “Islam in Europe: what model?” And we invited academics and experts discussing the cult of Islam and its ability to adapt to societies in which Muslims represent a minority.”
In this interview, Boussouf also expressed that the CCME is being marginalized by the government and the parliament, which has never previously requested an advisory opinion from the Council: “I think the consultative institutions have not yet reached the place they deserve as a support for the democratic process in our country. ”
“The government could have consulted the CCME before submitting the bills, even if the Dahir has not specified it, we sense there are feelings of contempt for the Council,” said Mr. Boussouf.
The text of the interview of Mr. Boussouf (in Arabic)
Browse Mr Boussouf’s intervention:
