The 63rd Anniversary of The Revolution of The King and The People.
August 20 Speech: HM the King Delivers Impressive Tolerant, Open Message (Jack Lang)
In his Saturday's speech to the nation on the occasion of 63rd anniversary of the Revolution of the King and the people, HM King Mohammed VI has delivered an impressive tolerant and open message, President of the Arab World Institute (IMA), Jack Lang, underlined.
This is a remarkable and very strong speech, Lang told MAP, noting that the statements of the Sovereign about terrorism are "particularly striking".
In this regard, he said that the Sovereign called on Muslims, Christians and Jews to close ranks in order to tackle all forms of extremism, hatred and reclusiveness, adding that HM the King embodies "a philosophy of respect, peace and tolerance".
HM King spoke with "clarity and rigor", he noted, recalling that the Sovereign deemed the murder of a priest in a church in France an "unpardonable folly".
This speech, based on strong arguments, will have great impact, the former French Culture minister said, adding that the statements of the sovereign will by meditated by Muslims worldwide.
22 August 2016
HM the King Pardons 468 Convicts on Occasion of Youth Day
On the occasion of the youth day, HM King Mohammed VI granted pardon to 468 persons who were convicted by the different courts across the Kingdom, the Ministry of Justice said on Friday in a statement.
The detained beneficiaries of the pardon are 355:
1 inmate benefited from the pardon over his remaining prison term.
338 inmates had their prison terms reduced.
Sentences for 7 convicts were commuted from death penalty to life imprisonment.
9 inmates had their prison sentences commuted from life imprisonment to fixed prison terms.
The free beneficiaries of the pardon are 113:
17 inmates benefited from pardon over their imprisonment term or remaining prison term.
6 inmates had their prison sentences dropped and fines maintained.
4 inmates benefited from pardon over their prison terms and fines
86 inmates had their fines annulled.
MAP 19 August 2016
HM the King Calls for Rekindling Commitment, Sincere Solidarity between Morocco, Algeria
HM King Mohammed VI on Saturday called for rekindling the commitment and sincere solidarity which have always bound the Algerian and Moroccan peoples.
"We hope that the commitment and sincere solidarity which have always bound the Algerian and Moroccan peoples will be rekindled so that we may continue to work together, honestly and in good faith, to serve Arab and Maghreb causes and rise to challenges in Africa", the Sovereign said in a speech to the Nation on the occasion of the 63rd anniversary of the Revolution of the King and the People.
Recalling that the commemoration of the Revolution of the King and the People is associated with Morocco being part of the Maghreb and of Africa, HM the King recalled that that "historical era was characterized by coordination and solidarity between the leaders of the Moroccan resistance movement and the Algerian Liberation Front".
The Monarch noted that given the current circumstances facing Arab peoples and the Maghreb region, "we are in great need of that spirit of solidarity to enable us to rise to common development and security challenges".
The Sovereign recalled that it was agreed to turn the commemoration of the second anniversary of the Revolution of 20 August into an opportunity to extend the revolution to Maghreb countries. As a result, popular uprisings took place across Morocco and Algeria.
Moreover, the Moroccan resistance movement provided moral and material support to the Algerian revolution which, at the time, was facing a fierce campaign by colonial forces seeking to quash it before it celebrated its first anniversary, the Monarch added.
For HM the King, that uprising and that solidarity breathed new life into the Algerian revolution, and the two countries also played a major role in the liberation and independence of Africa.
MAP 20 August 2016
HM the King: Africa, Top priority in Morocco's Foreign Policy
HM King Mohammed VI on Saturday underlined that Africa has been given top priority in Morocco’s foreign policy, adding that this multi-dimensional relationship puts Morocco in the center of Africa and means Africa holds a special place in Moroccans’ hearts.
"I believe what is good for Morocco is good for Africa – and vice versa. Theirs is one and the same destiny. I also believe there can be no progress without stability: either the two go together, or they do not exist", the Sovereign underlined in a speech to the Nation on the occasion of the 63rd anniversary of the Revolution of the King and the People.
In this respect, HM the King noted that Morocco always gives to the peoples of its continent; it does not expect to take from them. Its commitment to African issues and concerns was never made with the intention of exploiting the continent’s assets and natural resources – unlike neocolonialist practices.
"While it is natural that Morocco should benefit from cooperation with African sister nations, my country always makes sure that our cooperation is mutually profitable", the Monarch stressed.
The Sovereign noted that the problems plaguing African peoples today, such as backwardness, poverty, migration, wars and conflicts, in addition to despair and succumbing to extremist and terrorist groups, is the result of the disastrous policy adopted for decades by colonial powers.
In this respect, HM the King recalled colonial powers looted Africa’s resources, stifled the potential of its sons and daughters, mortgaged their future, impeded the continent’s development and sowed the seeds of discord and strife among African countries.
"Despite the extensive damage caused by colonialism, I believe Africa has the means to ensure its development and to take its destiny into its own hands, thanks to the resolve of African peoples and to the continent’s human and natural resources", the Monarch noted.
"Our decision that Morocco should take its natural place, once again, within the African institutional family clearly illustrates our commitment to continue supporting the causes of African peoples", HM the King pointed out.
For Morocco, Africa means more than just being part of a geographical area, or having historical bonds with the continent. Africa also means sincere affection, appreciation, close human and spiritual relations as well as tangible solidarity. Furthermore, Africa is the natural extension of Morocco and the embodiment of the country’s strategic depth, the Monarch underlined.
"Morocco does not view Africa as a market for the sale and promotion of Moroccan products, or as a continent for making quick profit. We see Africa as a forum for joint action, for promoting development in the region, and for serving African citizens", HM the King said, adding Morocco contributes, along with other African countries, to the implementation of human development projects and the provision of social services which have a direct bearing on the lives of people in the region.
In this respect, Morocco does not merely export medicines to Africa; it also makes sure to set up pharmaceutical companies and healthcare centers, the Monarch recalled, adding that the kingdom develops infrastructure, builds vocational and technical training centers and implements projects that offer steady jobs and income – such as fishermen’s villages – and that support smallholders and encourage the preservation of ecosystems.
A case in point is the project for the protection and development of Cocody Bay, in Abidjan, within the framework of a unique model of cooperation between the relevant public institutions in Morocco and Cote d'Ivoire, with the effective involvement of private sector operators from both countries, the Sovereign noted, pointing out this integrated, solidarity-based vision which underpins Morocco's relations with African sister nations "requires all the stakeholders that we have invited to take part in this endeavor to shoulder their responsibility and to fulfill their obligations in order to maintain Morocco’s credibility".
"For us, Africa is not about goals and objectives; dealing with Africa involves a commitment towards the African citizen, wherever he or she may be", the Monarch underlined, adding that: "We attach as much importance to improving the livelihood of Africans in their countries as we do to African migrants in Morocco. As a result, they do not suffer the same hardships endured in many parts of the world".
The Sovereign noted that Morocco’s national responses to many complex regional and international issues – such as development, migration and the fight against terrorism – are in line with a firm commitment to serve African peoples.
"That should not come as a surprise since Morocco has always been at the forefront of advocates calling for the liberation of our continent. In this regard, I am following in the footsteps of my pioneering ancestors who believed in Africa, and who worked earnestly for the unity, openness and progress of its peoples", HM the King concluded.
MAP 20 August 2016
HM the King Calls on Moroccans Living Abroad to Remain Committed to Religious Values, Time-Honored Traditions
HM King Mohammed VI on Saturday called on Moroccans living abroad to remain firmly committed to their religious values and to their time-honored traditions as they face up to the extremist and terrorist phenomenon which has nothing to do with their culture or background.
"I also urge them to maintain their good reputation, to show forbearance in these trying circumstances, to close ranks and to be, as always, staunch advocates of peace, concord and co-existence in their country of residence", the Sovereign underlined in a speech to the Nation on the occasion of the 63rd anniversary of the Revolution of the King and the People.
"I realize how difficult the situation is for them. They suffer from the distortion of the image of Islam; they also suffer from terrorist attacks, which have already claimed the lives of many of them", HM the King stressed, adding that the Moroccans living abroad also suffer from the backlash of terrorist activities and from accusations levelled against them, by some, because of their faith.
For the Monarch, those who engage in terrorism, in the name of Islam, "are not Muslims. Their only link to Islam is the pretexts they use to justify their crimes and their folly. They have strayed from the right path, and their fate is to dwell forever in hell".
HM the King stressed that "those who call for murder and aggression, those who excommunicate people without a legitimate reason, those who interpret the Quran and the Sunnah to suit their purposes, are actually lying to Allah and His Messenger".
Terrorists take advantage of some young Muslims – particularly in Europe – and of their ignorance of the Arabic language and of true Islam, to spread their distorted messages and misleading promises, the Sovereign said, adding that terrorists and extremists use all means to convince young people to join them in order to attack societies profoundly committed to the ideals of freedom, openness and tolerance.
"Moreover, several Muslim groups and societies perceive themselves as authorities on Islam, arguing that they represent true Islam – which implies others do not. In reality, however, they could not be further from Islam and its tolerant values", the Monarch noted, underlining that such attitudes encourage the spread of the extremist ideology, of excommunication and terrorism.
Terror advocates believe that this is the path to true Islam, the Monarch said, pointing out that these people need to take a hard look at themselves and decide to what extent they are responsible for the crimes and human tragedies perpetrated in the name of Islam.
"All of us are targets. Whoever thinks or believes in what I have just said is a target of terrorism. That scourge hit Morocco in the past, then it struck in Europe and in many parts of the world", HM the King warned.
In this respect, the Sovereign called on Muslims, Christians and Jews to close ranks in order to tackle all forms of extremism, hatred and reclusiveness.
As attested by the history of mankind, it is impossible to achieve progress in a society which is plagued by radicalism and hatred, for the latter are the main ingredients of insecurity and instability, the Monarch said.
"There are countless examples, in human civilization, of success stories which show that religious interaction and coexistence produce open societies in which love, harmony and prosperity prevail", HM the King said.
This was also illustrated by the Islamic civilization, especially in Baghdad and Andalusia, which were among the greatest, most open civilizations of mankind, the Sovereign added.
MAP 20 August 2016