Proposal to rename Agadir streets after Jewish figures sparks controversy

Ya Biladi

2 days ago

Abdellah El Feryadi, president of the Moroccan Institute for Human Rights, has sent an official letter to Aziz Akhannouch, president of the Municipal Council of Agadir, proposing that certain streets and public facilities in the city be named after Moroccan Jewish figures.
El Feryadi, known for sparking controversy with his frequent visits to Israel, has previously defended the travels of young Moroccans to Tel Aviv amid the ongoing war waged by the Israeli state against the Gaza Strip.
Dated May 21, 2025, the letter cites the preamble of the Moroccan Constitution, which recognizes the Hebrew component as an integral part of the national identity. It argues that the current absence of references to Moroccan Jewish figures in the naming of public facilities reflects a shortcoming in representing this cultural and religious heritage. The letter calls for completing this symbolic project by including names that reflect the diversity Agadir has experienced throughout its history.
Among the proposals is the renaming of Allal Al-Fassi Street to «Simon Levy Street», in honor of the late political and economic activist, and Abderrahim Bouabid Street to «Khalifa Ben Malka Street», in recognition of a prominent rabbi in Agadir's history.
The proposal has sparked a wave of controversy on social media, with many questioning the timing and motives behind the initiative—particularly given the ongoing war in Gaza. Aziz Hanaoui, secretary general of the Moroccan Observatory for Anti-Normalization, wrote on his Facebook page that the letter came from someone for whom «serving Zionism has become an existential creed—even at the expense of Morocco's national symbols».
Salima Belemkaddem, president of the Morocco Environment Movement 2050, described the letter as «a public call for Zionism from a Moroccan institution», adding that the proposal amounts to «a blessing of normalization with the Nazis».
Meanwhile, Adil Tchikitou, president of the Moroccan League for Human Rights, posted on Facebook that the individual behind the initiative is «one of the most prominent faces of blatant normalization with the Zionist entity». He accused El Feryadi of repeatedly visiting Israel and appearing in Zionist institutions, «smiling for the cameras over the bodies of victims, mocking the oppressed people of the occupied land».
Tchikitou added, «When certain individuals repeatedly visit the occupying entity, sit in its embrace, and return with initiatives that outwardly appear 'cultural' but inwardly undermine national principles, it is no longer a mere personal endeavor—it has become a systematic movement that demands a serious reckoning».
The National Organization for Human Rights and Anti-Corruption also condemned the proposal, describing it as «a clear offense to the symbols of the Moroccan national movement, who sacrificed their lives and years for the country's liberation from colonialism». It warned that «tampering with these names is an affront to the collective memory of thousands of Moroccan families who have imbibed patriotism from these names and regard them as a source of pride and a reference for citizenship».