Fathallah Arsalane of Al Adl Wal Ihsan warns of revolution in Morocco
Fathallah Arsalane, deputy secretary general and spokesman of Al Adl Wal Ihsane says in an interview with AP published in the Washington Post that unless the government institutes far reaching democratic reforms as promised at the beginning of the Arab Spring, there is a serious posibilty of a popular uprising.
Source : https://www.marocafrik.com/english/Fathallah-Arsal...
Mr Arslane forsees a popular uprising outside the context of the current political system in Morocco. He says that unless Prime Minister Abdelilah Benkirane can enact real reform there will be a popular uprising. he points to the vast disparity between the wealthy and the poor in Morocco, the grinding poverty in rural areas and the high unemployment amongst the young in the cities estimated at 30%.The economic situation with the growing deficit and the government forced into taking unpopular measures on subsidies and pensions is indeed daunting but Morocco is not alone in this during a global recession.
The article comments that Al Adal Wal Ihsane has a membership of possibly hundreds of thousands and has members in all the major cities and in the South . It is also the largest group in the universities, the article says. If it wants to undertake the role it could become the main opposition if it is allowed to form a political party.
Certainly no other group or party in the country is capable of uniting so many people . However Al Adl Wal Ihsane has remained since its founding in 1987 a spiritual association concentrating on social wellfare. The decision to take on political aspirations is a recent development because Sheikh Abdelsalam Yacine regarded the political system as a mirage under the thumb of the Makhazen. Al Adl Wal Ihsane as the article points out is controversial because itis against the King being above the law and more especially the Makhazen which it sees as unaccountable. It is also against the concept of the King being Commander of the Faithful and there doesnot appear to be any rooom for compromise on this point. Howvever as Al Adil Wal Ihsane moves towards a political role, and provided it is permitted to do so by the authorities it may have to compromise because thisis the natue of politics.
The chaos engulfingthe Maghreb and North Africa has not so far affected Morocco. Iti s true as the article says that there have been violent issues but this has to do with the cost of living and conflicts with the police who are repressive because they are trying to prevent disorder slipping into revolution. However,Morocco is not like its neighbours Egypt,Tunisia or Libya and not like Algeria . Al Adl Wal Ihsane is not like the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt or the salafists in Tunisia . the principle of ijtihad may afford a balance between traditional beliefs and the modern secular way of life.Morocco is a deeply conservative society and its citizens do not want the chaos engulfing its neighbours because they know it will make their situation worse.
King Mohammed VI remains deservedly popular because he clearly has a commitmment to the wellfare of his people. Revolutions happen because those in power loose contact with their people and this has not happened with the Moroccan King. The Prime Minister Abdelilah Benkirane remains popular and although this may change as the challenges grow, at the moment the situation remains stable. The Moroccan monarchy remains a tree that can bend with the wind and spring back.It is flexible but also unbending.
The revolution Mr Arsalane predicts may happen if the government fails to meet the challenges facing it. He makes valid points particularly over unemployment and the poverty gap but Morocco has survived so far and it may well survive the challenges to come.
The article comments that Al Adal Wal Ihsane has a membership of possibly hundreds of thousands and has members in all the major cities and in the South . It is also the largest group in the universities, the article says. If it wants to undertake the role it could become the main opposition if it is allowed to form a political party.
Certainly no other group or party in the country is capable of uniting so many people . However Al Adl Wal Ihsane has remained since its founding in 1987 a spiritual association concentrating on social wellfare. The decision to take on political aspirations is a recent development because Sheikh Abdelsalam Yacine regarded the political system as a mirage under the thumb of the Makhazen. Al Adl Wal Ihsane as the article points out is controversial because itis against the King being above the law and more especially the Makhazen which it sees as unaccountable. It is also against the concept of the King being Commander of the Faithful and there doesnot appear to be any rooom for compromise on this point. Howvever as Al Adil Wal Ihsane moves towards a political role, and provided it is permitted to do so by the authorities it may have to compromise because thisis the natue of politics.
The chaos engulfingthe Maghreb and North Africa has not so far affected Morocco. Iti s true as the article says that there have been violent issues but this has to do with the cost of living and conflicts with the police who are repressive because they are trying to prevent disorder slipping into revolution. However,Morocco is not like its neighbours Egypt,Tunisia or Libya and not like Algeria . Al Adl Wal Ihsane is not like the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt or the salafists in Tunisia . the principle of ijtihad may afford a balance between traditional beliefs and the modern secular way of life.Morocco is a deeply conservative society and its citizens do not want the chaos engulfing its neighbours because they know it will make their situation worse.
King Mohammed VI remains deservedly popular because he clearly has a commitmment to the wellfare of his people. Revolutions happen because those in power loose contact with their people and this has not happened with the Moroccan King. The Prime Minister Abdelilah Benkirane remains popular and although this may change as the challenges grow, at the moment the situation remains stable. The Moroccan monarchy remains a tree that can bend with the wind and spring back.It is flexible but also unbending.
The revolution Mr Arsalane predicts may happen if the government fails to meet the challenges facing it. He makes valid points particularly over unemployment and the poverty gap but Morocco has survived so far and it may well survive the challenges to come.
Source : https://www.marocafrik.com/english/Fathallah-Arsal...