UN : Morocco Reaffirms Demand to Combat Islamophobia
Morocco reiterated its call for increased multilateral efforts to promote the values of coexistence, dialogue, and pluralism in order to combat Islamophobia and strengthen respect for religions and beliefs at a high-level United Nations event held in New York on the occasion of the celebration of the first anniversary of the International Day against Islamophobia.
HM King Mohammed VI reiterated the significance of these values in the royal message addressed to the 9th Global Forum of the Alliance during this event, which was organized on Friday by the President of the UN General Assembly and the Pakistani Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari in his capacity as Chairman of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
The Sovereign emphasized that “politics talks to citizens, religion speaks to their souls, and conversation speaks to their civilizations” in this message. We must speak out for peace in all languages. This edict was viewed through the eyes of present and upcoming generations.
In addition, Mr. Kadiri reaffirmed Morocco’s dedication and “unwavering” allegiance to the principles of inclusivity, peace, and productive communication between all religions and ideologies.
He said that the Kingdom of Morocco preserves and strengthens its long tradition of coexistence between religions and civilizations, as well as its leading role at the international level to promote these sacred values, under the wise leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, a zealous defender of the values of peace and coexistence.
According to Mr. Kadiri, Morocco has always placed respect for others at the center of its national, regional, and international priorities. He cited the Moroccan Constitution’s preamble, which declares that cohabitation of religions and cultures is a necessary precondition. He also referred to Morocco’s national immigration and asylum policy, which is founded on the principles of acceptance, integration, and humanism.
The Mohammed VI Institute for the Training of Imams, Morchidines, and Morchidates was established in 2014 and offers religious preachers a humanistic and moderate training in both the practical and theoretical aspects of Islamic teachings. According to the Deputy Permanent Representative, this structure represents a practical and especially moderate model of religious training that has drawn many African, Arab, and European imams. The latter are introduced to the Institute’s values of respect for one another and learn how to dissect the hazards of stories that promote hate, extremism, radicalization, and terrorism.
The Moroccan envoy added that the Kingdom places great emphasis on include young people, women, and members of civil society in the formation of public policies, which has greatly aided in the advancement of democracy and human rights.
Morocco places a high value on the effective implementation of the UN’s tools for fostering interfaith and intercultural understanding and combating hate speech, in particular the “Rabat Action Plan on the Prohibition of Advocacy of National, Racial or Religious Hatred, racial or religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility, or violence” and the “Fez Plan of Action on the Role of Religious Leaders and Actors in Preventing Incitement.”