London's most prestigious security institute hosts Morocco — a model built on science, faith, and zero recidivism. Morocco’s strategy to combat extremism was the subject of a high-level debate at the Royal United Services Institute on Wednesday — one of the world’s most influential security think tanks, founded in 1831 and specializing in defense, security, and international relations. The debate, co-organized by Morocco’s Embassy in London and RUSI under the theme “Morocco’s Strategy to Counter Extremist Narratives in the Digital Age”, brought together Ahmed Abbadi, Secretary-General of the Rabita Mohammadia of Ulema, Morocco’s Ambassador to the United Kingdom Hakim Hajoui, and several prominent security experts.
Opening the debate, Ambassador Hajoui described the fight against extremism as a key pillar of the Morocco-United Kingdom partnership, noting that deradicalization and counterterrorism lie at the heart of the two countries’ security dialogue. In a world where extremism knows no borders, he said, strengthened cooperation and closer coordination are more essential than ever — and Morocco has extensive experience to share, the relevance of which has been demonstrated in various contexts.
Morocco has extensive experience in fighting extremism to share — experience whose relevance has been demonstrated in various contexts. At its core is the role of His Majesty King Mohammed VI as Commander of the Faithful.
— Hakim Hajoui, Morocco’s Ambassador to the United Kingdom · RUSI debate, London, May 21, 2026
How Morocco deconstructs extremist narratives
Abbadi walked the audience through the various components of Morocco’s strategy for dismantling extremist ideas. He described an approach built on a scientific framework aimed at addressing at-risk behaviors to better prevent radicalization, combined with close engagement with young people — particularly in schools — to strengthen their critical thinking skills. The Moroccan experience has drawn interest from many countries wanting to learn from it, he said, underlining that it centers on breaking down extremist ideas by promoting values of coexistence, tolerance, and acceptance of others. In the digital era, Abbadi added, equipping young people with the tools to protect themselves from extremist content online has become an essential component of the strategy.
Mossalaha: rehabilitation with zero recidivism
Abbadi also presented the “Mossalaha” programme to the RUSI audience — a rehabilitation initiative for inmates convicted in extremism and terrorism cases. The programme is structured around three pillars: reconciliation with oneself, reconciliation with religious texts, and reconciliation with society, including its laws, legislation, and institutions. Since its launch, the programme has recorded no cases of recidivism — a result Abbadi cited as evidence of its effectiveness.
- Source: MAP
