Morocco: "spiritual security" as an imperative of the national counter-terrorism strategy

 
PIIS032150750014657-4-1
DOI10.31857/S032150750014657-4
Publication type Article
Status Published
Authors
Occupation: Senior Research Fellow, Institute for African Studies, RAS
Affiliation: Institute for African Studies, Russian Academy of Sciences
Address: Russian Federation, Moscow
Journal nameAsia and Africa Today
EditionIssue 4
Pages59-65
Abstract

The article is devoted to the study of the unique approach of the Kingdom of Morocco to fight against terrorism, which consists in a special policy towards the religious institutions of the country. In order to limit the penetration of foreign ideological influences, the Moroccan authorities focused on the creation of a religious bureaucracy and institutional control over this area.

Morocco's control over the religious sphere stems from the religious identity of the State and the monarch's unique position as a descendant of the Prophet Mohammed and leader of the Muslim religious community of the Kingdom. In order to limit opposition from religious elites, the Moroccan authorities focused on the creation of a religious bureaucracy and institutional control. Existing religious institutions had become State institutions and religious educational institutions had been monitored. By placing the training of religious scholars under State control and then incorporating these scholars into the State bureaucracy, the Moroccan authorities had largely succeeded in establishing control over a class of persons who have historically been a source of opposition to the regime. As a result, a system was created that provides strong incentives for the participation of religious elites in the state project.

Morocco has a pragmatic, long-term and active international policy on religion in the Sahel countries. Its goal is to proactively protect the Kingdom's national security based on a shared Moroccan and African spiritual heritage. Morocco's strategy is to spread the policy of "spiritual security" not only within the country, but also on a regional scale to remotely combat potential threats.

KeywordsMorocco, counter-terrorism strategies, security, religious policy, de-radicalization, religious education reform, public opinion formation
AcknowledgmentThe article was prepared within the framework of the Russian Science Foundation grant 19-18-00155 "Islamist extremism in the context of international security: threats to Russia and opportunities for countering"
Received23.01.2021
Publication date28.04.2021
Number of characters27368
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