Latest news with #PJD
Ya Biladi
4 days ago
- Politics
- Ya Biladi
Morocco's foreign minister condemns exclusion of Sahara from maps as attack on territorial integrity
Foreign Affairs Minister Nasser Bourita has condemned the publication of maps of Morocco that exclude the Sahara, calling it «an attack on our territorial integrity and on the diplomatic and international progress made regarding the Moroccan Sahara». His remarks were made in response to a written question submitted by Naima El Fathaoui, a member of the Justice and Development Party (PJD), addressing this sensitive issue. Bourita explained that, «given the importance of this matter and its implications», the Ministry has adopted «a strategy based on vigilance and strict monitoring of how Morocco's map is displayed on various websites, along with swift action to correct any inaccuracies». This approach also includes «a proactive component that involves monitoring the organization of international forums to ensure the full map of the Kingdom is displayed». The minister emphasized that «Moroccan embassies and consulates abroad are constantly monitoring all official publications and websites in the countries where they are accredited». Whenever a truncated map of Morocco is spotted, «they immediately contact the relevant authorities to demand corrections». These efforts have yielded results. «Many institutions and websites that initially published incomplete maps of Morocco have since apologized to Moroccan authorities», Bourita noted. He also pointed out that «in many cases, websites are managed by private companies unaware of the political context surrounding the Moroccan Sahara issue. Often, the same countries where these errors occur have reaffirmed their strong support for Morocco's sovereignty over the Sahara». Bourita reaffirmed his ministry's commitment to «countering malicious disinformation campaigns led by the enemies of our territorial integrity». Meanwhile, Algeria has been actively campaigning against the inclusion of the Sahara in maps of Morocco since February 2021. Notably, the opening ceremony of the Women's Africa Cup of Nations (CAN 2024), hosted by Morocco, featured a map of the Kingdom that excluded the Sahara.
Morocco World
4 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
30-06-2025
- Politics
- Ya Biladi
Morocco : Without the PJD, members of the Pan-Arab-Islamist Congress support Iran
Moroccan figures affiliated with the Pan-Arab-Islamic Congress have voiced unequivocal support for Iran in its recent confrontation with Israel. In a statement released on Sunday following their meeting on Saturday, June 28, they strongly «condemned the brutal Zionist and American aggression against the Islamic Republic of Iran», calling it a «blatant violation of international law and a dangerous escalation that threatens the security and stability of the region». The Moroccan members of the Congress, founded in 1996, also «hailed Iran's firm and determined response», claiming it sent «a clear message that such attacks will not go unpunished» and demonstrated that «the Axis of Resistance now possesses new deterrence strategies that challenge the calculations of the Zionist entity». The statement makes no mention of the Iranian missile strikes that targeted Qatar, a U.S. ally. It is signed by Mohamed Hamdaoui, representing the Islamist current and a prominent figure within Al Adl wal Ihsane, and Abdessamad Belkebir, a member of the Congress's Monitoring Committee and a former member of the OADP (Organization of Popular Democratic Action), founded by the late Bensaid Aït Idder. Several well-known pro-Palestinian activists also took part in the June 28 meeting, including Khalid Sefiani, Secretary General of the Pan-Arab-Islamic Congress and coordinator of the National Action Group for Palestine, and Ahmed Ouihmane, president of the Moroccan Observatory Against Normalization. The Justice and Development Party (PJD) was notably absent. The party's participation in the Pan-Arab-Islamic Congress was suspended following its endorsement of the resumption of diplomatic ties between Morocco and Israel, announced on December 10, 2020. In fact, the National Action Group for Palestine also suspended the PJD from its ranks after then-Prime Minister and PJD Secretary General Saad-Eddine El Othmani signed the Joint Declaration between Morocco, the United States, and Israel in Rabat on December 22, 2020, in the presence of King Mohammed VI. Since returning to the party's leadership in October 2021, Abdelilah Benkirane has repeatedly called for the severing of diplomatic relations with Israel.
