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Morocco’s Islamist movement failed come-back on March 20th
In Morocco, Cheikh Abdeslam Yassine’s Islamist association “Justice and spirituality” known as “Adl Wal Ihsan” called on its troops to join the March 20th rally, as an attempt to regain attention and to try to stick closer to the February 20th Facebook movement, although there is no ideological harmony between the two movements. Supporters of the 83-years old Sheikh marched in Rabat and Casablanca, but refused to merge alongside with the young Facebook leaders who they judge are “infidels who eat during the holy month of Ramadan”.
Therein lies the paradox of a movement in clear regression, but nevertheless who wishes to recover through melting together within the “Arab Spring” protest movements. Movements that are mostly using social network tools to reject the repository advocated by Islamist Sheikh Yassine organization and ask instead for more freedom and openness in Moroccan society.
Locally, the message apparently has been heard at the very highest level and King Mohammed VI launched in a speech on March 9th the most ambitious reform program ever witnessed in the Arab world through the establishment of a reform commission given the task to amend the constitution. The commission, led by respected jurist Abdellatif Mennouni, is to propose more executive power to the prime minister and to parliament, and implement the decentralization program which will be voted by this summer.
The king’s speech, welcomed by Moroccans as well as by the international community, would greatly displeased Al Adl Wal Ihsane organization and widened the gap between their demands and those of young Moroccans.
The Moroccan Islamists are aware that the Moroccan monarchy made a smart and bold move by speeding up reforms, and is therefore trying to regain attention by exploiting the March 20th Rally , although its supporters were clearly marginalized by most of the demonstrators.