Religion is 'Vector of Unity, Key to Dialogue': FM

Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans Abroad, Nasser Bourita, condemned on Monday at the Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom “the increasing instrumentalisation of religion for terrorist purposes in the context of the pandemic”.

In a speech delivered by videoconference on the occasion of the third Ministerial Conference on Religious Freedom organized by Poland and the United States, the FM affirmed that Morocco is convinced that religion is hijacked instead of being a vector of unity in the face of divisions advocating the negation of the other, as well as a key to dialogue in the face of the refusal of tolerance and coexistence and a source of light in the face of obscurantist currents which refuse moderation and remain in ignorance.

Recalling the unique model of Morocco where His Majesty King Mohammed VI, is the Commander of the Faithful and guarantor of freedom of worship, the minister explained that the Moroccan approach is based on three aspects, namely clairvoyance, openness and pragmatism.

Detailing the aforementioned aspects, the minister explained that clairvoyance was reflected by constant reminder from His Majesty the King that religion should no longer be an alibi for the ignorant, because “religion is light, knowledge and wisdom”.

Regarding openness, Bourita recalled the visit of His Holiness Pope Francis, when he was welcomed in 2019 by His Majesty the King at a time when the world needed a renewed leadership for dialogue between religions.

As for pragmatism, he said: “Morocco’s commitment to religious freedom is based on concrete actions. Thus, Morocco has set up two flagship institutions to promote the values ​​of tolerant Islam: the Mohammed VI Institute for the training of Imams, Mourchidines and Mourchidates and the Mohammed VI Foundation of African Ulema”.

“Morocco’s approach is always constant, even in difficult times,” said the minister, who underlined the courage and determination of the Institution of the Commandery of the Faithful to protect our fellow Jews from the barbarism of Nazism and to support the restoration of mosques and synagogues but also the creation of scientific and cultural institutions like the House of Memory in Essaouira and the Museum of Jewish Culture in Fez.

The Minister concluded his speech with a quote from the speech of HM King Mohammed VI on the occasion of the Pope’s visit, in which he underlined the need to “embrace the values of moderation, to fulfil the imperatives of knowing one another and to raise awareness of otherness.”

The Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom brings together leaders from around the world to discuss the challenges facing religious freedom, identify means to address religious persecution and discrimination worldwide, and promote greater respect and preservation of religious liberty for all.