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Morocco World
3 days ago
- General
- Morocco World
Proposal to Rename Agadir Streets After Jewish Figures Sparks Debate
Doha – A proposal to rename several public spaces in Agadir after Moroccan Jewish figures has ignited nationwide controversy. The Moroccan Institute for Human Rights (MIHR), led by Abdellah El Feryadi, sent a letter to Aziz Akhannouch, mayor of Agadir and current head of government, suggesting changes that would replace the names of nationalist leaders with those of prominent Jewish Moroccan personalities. The letter, dated May 21, proposes renaming Allal El Fassi Avenue to 'Simon Levy Street' in honor of the late political and economic activist. It also suggests changing Abderrahim Bouabid Avenue to 'Rabbi Khlifa Ben Malka Street,' named after a prominent rabbi buried in the old Ehchach district cemetery. Additional proposals include naming the Reconstruction Museum after Orna Baziz, a survivor of the 1960 earthquake who authored a significant book about the catastrophe, and renaming the Dakhla district's cultural complex after artist Neta Elkayam. The MIHR bases its proposal on the Moroccan Constitution's preamble, which recognizes Hebraic heritage as an integral part of national identity. The institute argues that the absence of public spaces bearing the names of Moroccan Jewish figures represents a gap in representing the city's rich cultural and religious heritage. 'We note that to this day, Agadir has no public facility named after a Moroccan Jewish personality, despite the historical importance of this component within the local fabric,' the institute argued in its letter. The proposal has ignited fierce debate on social media platforms. Many critics question why honoring Jewish figures must come at the expense of national movement heroes. 'Blessing renewal of relations with the Nazis' 'Why attack the symbols of Moroccan resistance against colonization?' lamented one manifestly enraged commenter on social media. Others denounced the act, noting that one of the targeted spaces carries the name of Muhammad al-Durrah, the Palestinian child killed by Israeli forces during the Intifada. Observers point out that the issue isn't about honoring Jewish Moroccan figures but rather the specific choice to replace the names of national heroes. Critics suggest that new or unnamed streets could be chosen instead of replacing historically significant names. Aziz Hanaoui, secretary-general of the Moroccan Observatory for Anti-Normalization, declared on his Facebook page that the letter came from someone 'for whom serving Zionism has become a creed, even at the expense of historical national symbols.' Salima Belemkaddem, president of the Moroccan Movement for Environment 2050, condemned the letter as 'a public call for Zionism from a Moroccan institution,' adding that the request amounts to 'blessing renewal of relations with the Nazis.' Critics have also flagged El Feryadi's well-documented support for the renewal of ties with Israel and his visits to Tel Aviv during Israel's genocidal onslaught in Gaza, viewing the proposal as a calculated attempt to erode national symbols. 'Foreigners to the city' El Feryadi expressed surprise at the controversy, insisting that it's 'not an official decision issued by the municipal council, but an independent civil proposal submitted to the elected authorities.' He defended the initiative, claiming it aims to address 'the injustice suffered by Moroccan citizens of Jewish origin, especially in Agadir, where they have been systematically excluded through decades of public management influenced by exclusionary ideological backgrounds, whether Arab or Islamist in nature.' Regarding criticism about replacing national figures like El Fassi and Bouabid, El Feryadi asserted: 'We understand some people's emotional attachment to these names, but we don't accept this attachment turning into accusations against our patriotism as we've observed on social media.' He emphasized that the proposed names belong to local figures from Agadir who provided valuable services to the city, unlike El Fassi and Bouabid, whom he described as 'foreigners to the city.' As the debate intensifies, the Agadir municipal council has not yet issued any official response regarding whether it will adopt the proposals or subject them to broader consultation with local stakeholders and residents. Read also: Controversial Petition for Moroccan Citizenship to Jewish Descendants Sparks Debate Tags: AgadirMoroccan Jewish heritage
Ya Biladi
3 days ago
- General
- Ya Biladi
Proposal to rename Agadir streets after Jewish figures sparks controversy
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».
