Latest news with #AbdelilahBenkirane
Morocco World
5 days ago
- Politics
- Morocco World
After Uproar, Benkirane Digs In on Marriage over Education Stance
Days after igniting widespread outrage with remarks urging young women to choose marriage over education, Justice and Development Party (PJD) Secretary-General Abdelilah Benkirane has responded, and not with an apology, but with defiance. In a video posted to his Facebook page, the former head of government dismissed the backlash as a smear campaign orchestrated by unnamed actors ahead of the legislative elections and insisted that his words had been twisted by political opportunists. Women's rights slammed Rather than distance himself from the polemic he sparked during a regional party meeting in Souss-Massa, Benkirane repeated his claim that delaying marriage for academic reasons amounts to a 'crime against women,' a stance that continues to provoke strong reactions across the political and civil spectrum. He made no apology, no clarification, only a repetition of his position that women should marry when asked, and worry about education later. For him, delaying marriage for academic achievement constitutes not just a mistake but a 'crime against women.' This brand of paternalism is not new to Benkirane. What shocked many this time was the bluntness of his message and the utter disregard for decades of struggle by Moroccan women to gain access to education and freedom of choice. His reference to feminist movements, local and international, dripped with scorn, as he declared he had no fear of them. Benkirane claimed to support women's education, so long as it aligns with 'shared values,' a vague and self-serving phrase that seems to mean obedience to his worldview. In reality, his comments reduce women's lives to a narrow path dictated by early marriage, as if ambition, autonomy, or timing were luxuries women could not afford. The backlash was immediate. A number of women's rights advocates issued a scathing response, denouncing the remarks as an 'insult to women,' an attack on their dignity, and a betrayal of the long history of feminist struggle in Morocco. Party tries to contain fallout Even within his own party, damage control began. The PJD's Women's Organization released a statement attempting to clean up after their party leader, lamenting what they described as 'malicious' interpretations of his words. They tried to present Benkirane's comments as a call for balance between education and family life. But balance, in his terms, seems to mean sacrificing one's future for the sake of tradition. The group claimed it initially avoided responding to what it called 'pointless controversy,' but said it decided to intervene after what it described as 'coordinated efforts to derail public debate and discredit' Benkirane. In its view, the former head of government's remarks merely reflected a 'legitimate concern' over the country's declining fertility rates, delayed age of marriage, and shifting family structures, issues the party believes require urgent national attention. The statement rejected accusations that Benkirane opposes women's education or empowerment. Instead, it argued that he called for a balance between academic success and family life. The organization framed this position as one that respects women's right to learn and work, while also encouraging them not to 'miss natural opportunities' such as marriage, particularly, it claimed, in a context where families increasingly face social instability. The organization also went on the offensive, accusing some women's rights groups of 'double standards.' It criticized what it called the 'deafening silence' of certain associations regarding what it sees as real and ongoing hardships endured by Moroccan women, especially in rural and marginalized regions. However, the organization's defense did little to address the core concern raised by many feminists, which is the attempt to dictate the priorities of Moroccan women. By insisting that marriage must take precedence over education, even temporarily, Benkirane, and by extension, his defenders, appear to impose an outdated model of womanhood. The debate has clearly moved beyond the content of a single speech and into a deeper reckoning over whose vision of womanhood will shape Morocco's future. Benkirane's nostalgia for a Morocco where women waited quietly for marriage proposals while shelving their ambitions speaks less to morality and more to fear of change, of independence, of women who no longer ask for permission. Tags: BenkiraneGender GapMoroccowomen's right
Morocco World
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Morocco World
Marriage Before Education? Benkirane's Backward Advice Sparks Outrage
At a political rally in Agadir on July 5, Abdelilah Benkirane, Secretary General of the Justice and Development Party (PJD), decided to offer young Moroccan women some advice: forget school, forget work. Just get married. 'Girls, stop saying 'we'll study, work, and then get married,'' he said from the stage. 'You can do all that after marriage. But if you miss the chance to marry, your education won't matter. You'll end up like a lonely seagull.' The comment would be laughable if it weren't coming from a former Prime Minister, and if it didn't prove, once again, how far some politicians are willing to go to drag Moroccan women back into submission. The message is beyond clear and implies that ambition is cute when it comes to women, but marriage is your expiry date. Miss it, and you're doomed. Seagull status: women's new normal? Comparing a woman who prioritizes her education to a ' lonely seagull' is absurd, low, and dehumanizing. A seagull, isolated and aimless in Benkirane's metaphor, suggests failure, loss, and irrelevance. But what does that say about the thousands of Moroccan women who choose every day to study, work, and live on their own terms? It is a metaphor drenched in condescension, as if a woman without a husband is a creature to pity and not a human being. Benkirane's idea is more than just bad rhetoric; it's a deliberate insult to the countless women who carry this country forward in classrooms, hospitals, farms, houses, offices, and beyond. The speech went viral within hours, and not because it struck wisdom. Civil society groups, feminist organizations, and ordinary citizens reacted with outrage. 'When triviality controls the thought of a politician, the topics raised become worthless, and with it the essence of real issues is lost,' one Instagram user commented. Another commenter said, 'Let's hope you apply this to your daughter as well.' Yet many other comments, mostly by men, agreed with Benkirane's twisted rhetoric. One of many similar comments outrageously suggested: 'This is true religion. Women should, at the end of the day, marry, have a family, and serve their husbands.' Benkirane's remarks sparked a fierce polarization that laid bare Morocco's cultural fault lines. The diverse reactions show how much these issues continue to fracture public discourse, with some defending outdated norms as cultural or religious imperatives, while others demand a break from the past and insist on respecting individual autonomy and equality. The association Kif Mama Kif Baba also condemned what it called a 'retrograde sermon,' pointing out that 97% of girls married before 18 drop out of school permanently. 'While the state pours billions into keeping girls in school,' the association said, 'you tell them to walk out and wait for a ring?' They went further: defending the right to stay single, to build a life on one's terms, and to refuse the tired narrative that a woman's worth depends on her marital status. 'Marriage can wait,' they wrote, 'but missed education does not return. Every woman has the right to decide how she lives, not just who she marries.' Marriage as the final exam As if the daily weight of societal pressure, legal loopholes, and economic inequality weren't enough, Benkirane has found a way to add more fuel to the fire that has long consumed the dreams and lives of ambitious Moroccan women. In a country where too many girls still face child marriage, school dropouts, family pressure, and limited job prospects, he casually implies that a woman's value hinges on how quickly she finds a husband. Moroccan women already battle a system that polices their choices, questions their independence, and sidelines their voices. Now, they must also endure being told that their ambitions are pointless without a trophy husband. Benkirane's comment depicts how out of touch parts of Morocco's political class remain with the country's realities. His words reinforce the very structures that keep women confined, judged, and treated as if their freedom were a problem to solve, not a right to defend. Girls and women today know what they want. And it's definitely not a lecture from a politician who sees their future as a household chore with a diploma on the side. Tags: Benkiranegender disparityMoroccounderage marriagewomenwomen rights
Ya Biladi
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Ya Biladi
Benkirane urges Polisario leaders to return to Morocco before it's too late
During the seventh regional conference of the Justice and Development Party (PJD) in the Souss-Massa region, the party's Secretary-General, Abdelilah Benkirane, addressed the Polisario issue in part of his speech. Speaking at the event held Saturday in Agadir, Benkirane stated: «I want to open a parenthesis about the Polisario. We have a clear vision when it comes to the Sahara. The leaders of the Polisario studied with Abdellah Baha in the same classroom, including Mustafa Sayyid. They are a group of Moroccans». Benkirane explained that, at the time, «they were aligned with the Marxist movement that wanted to launch a revolution in Morocco. They approached some Moroccan officials to seek support for what they called the 'liberation of the Sahara,' which was rejected. After that, they turned to Gaddafi, who picked them up and handed them over to Algeria». «I want to tell them: we don't see you as mercenaries. You were originally Moroccans who opposed the regime. You weren't the only ones, others like you existed. Yes, you kidnapped people and committed many wrongs against your own people and your country. Yet, the late King Hassan II told you that 'the homeland is forgiving and merciful.' Now, 50 years have passed, and your ideology has led nowhere. It won't lead anywhere, because the truth is not on your side». Benkirane went on to say, «Algeria is using you for its own interests. And I'm talking about the Algerian regime—not the Algerian people. The people don't want you». He then called on the leaders of the Polisario to return to Morocco «before it's too late», adding, «Do not dream of more than autonomy». He also addressed the support of Hezbollah and Iran for the Polisario Front, reaffirming that his party firmly stands with Morocco on this issue. At the same time, he criticized what he described as Iran's ambitions to «dominate the Islamic world», while noting that his party supports Iran in its war against Israel.
Ya Biladi
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Ya Biladi
Morocco : Benkirane defends his support for Iran
On Sunday, June 22, Abdelilah Benkirane led the regional congress of the Justice and Development Party (PJD) in Fès-Meknès. During his speech, the secretary-general reaffirmed his party's condemnation of the Israeli strikes on Iran. «I stand with Morocco against Iran when the conflict directly involves our country, and I support Morocco against any state that seeks to confront it», he declared. Defending his position, Benkirane recalled instructing PJD members not to join the early demonstrations of the February 20 Movement in 2011, during the Arab Spring. «The one who opposed those protests from the very beginning was me, Abdelilah Benkirane. It's time to stop the one-upmanship», he added. He clarified that his support for Iran stems from religious considerations: «Today, Iran is not confronting Morocco but Israel, which is backed by the United States». Benkirane stressed that Iran supports the Palestinians in their struggle against Israeli aggression. As a reminder, on November 23, 2024, Benkirane praised «the axis of resistance, the only force that truly supports the Palestinians and has paid a high price for it, namely the Shia axis, including Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen, and Iran». In his speech, however, he avoided any reference to Iran's backing of the Polisario or its recognition of the so-called «SADR». Just hours after the June 13 Israeli strikes on targets in Iran, the PJD's general secretariat condemned the attacks, describing them as a «Zionist terrorist aggression against the Iranian people» and a «violation of Iran's territory and sovereignty». PJD stated that «the targeting of infrastructure and the assassination of Iranian leaders» represented a «flagrant breach of international laws and conventions, amid reprehensible international silence and the full complicity of the United States».
Morocco World
22-06-2025
- Politics
- Morocco World
Benkirane Defends Pro-Iran Statements, Says Israel Has ‘No Future in the Region'
Rabat – In a speech delivered in Fez on Sunday, Abdelilah Benkirane, Secretary General of Morocco's Justice and Development Party (PJD), reaffirmed his support for Morocco in any bilateral dispute with Iran, while also voicing religious solidarity with Tehran in its confrontation with Israel. The former head of government attempted to walk a political tightrope, blending patriotism with pan-Islamic rhetoric as he responded to widespread criticism over his recent pro-Iran statements. Benkirane, known for his conservative base and populist tone, clarified that he stands with Morocco 'against any hostile power,' including Iran, but only if a direct conflict arises between the two countries. 'Tensions between Iran and Morocco are not bilateral,' he argued. 'Iran is currently engaged in a broader geopolitical standoff with Israel , which is backed by the United States.' Despite Iran's long-standing support for Morocco's regional rivals, including the Polisario Front and its main ally Algeria, Benkirane insisted his support towards Iran stems from religious grounds. 'We disagree with Iran's doctrinal positions and theological innovations,' he said, 'but we support them in the name of Islam because they raise the Islamic banner and stand with the Palestinian cause.' Benkirane's remarks came with a heavy dose of religious rhetoric, positioning Israel as a 'criminal regime' built on 'civilian killings, blockades, and starvation.' He asserted that Israel has 'no future in the region,' likening its eventual downfall to the expulsion of the Mongols, Crusaders, and colonial powers from Muslim lands. While reaffirming his staunch opposition to re-igniting diplomatic ties with Israel, the PJD leader warned: 'If you believe eliminating Iran or Hamas will solve your problem, you are delusional. The Ummah has over two billion people.' Tags: Abddelilah BenkiraneGazaIran Israel War
