A segment of Morocco’s Jewish community has expressed opposition to an ongoing legislative initiative that aims to grant Moroccan citizenship to the descendants of Moroccan Jews.
However, some Moroccan Jews, particularly those involved in citizenship matters for Moroccan emigrants, have contended that “the existing procedures, which apply to all Moroccans, are effective.”
In this regard, Jacky Kadoch, President of the Moroccan Jewish community in the Marrakech-Safi region, said, “current Moroccan laws don’t deny citizenship to any Moroccan, whether Jewish or Muslim, who can prove their national roots,” adding that “a petition like this promotes sectarianism, and it’s unacceptable to push for legal discrimination based on religion.”
In a statement to Hespress Ar, Kadoch clarified that only Moroccan authorities determine citizenship, emphasizing that citizenship law reforms should be broad, not targeting Jews specifically, as Muslims could face similar issues.
However, he suggested “creating an office to reduce court pressure, ensuring the laws should be applied equally to everyone.”
Kadoch added, “Moroccan Jews whose ancestors emigrated early in modern history, or even before, can still trace their roots to qualify for Moroccan citizenship, maintaining their connection to the homeland. We’ve helped many Moroccans obtain citizenship and haven’t seen any major issues, aside from a few rare cases, which we can address without the need for a special law.”
Alhussein Benmessaoud, the petition’s representative, defended the content of the document currently collecting signatures, stressing that “the petition is based on reality and has no sectarian motives.”
For context, the petition has only garnered 18 digital signatures and 270 on paper, while Parliament must review and decide on the petition within 60 days with a total of 20,000 signatures.
In a statement to Hespress Ar, Benmassoud emphasized, “those who moved to Australia in 1920 never applied for Moroccan passports, which makes it hard for their descendants to obtain citizenship,” emphasizing that “the legislative proposal is genuinely aimed at strengthening the ties between the descendants of Moroccan Jews without citizenship and King Mohammed VI.”
After the Israeli genocide in Gaza following October 7, 2023, Benmassoud mentioned receiving calls suggesting that the situation complicates the legislative petition, as “Moroccans in Israel are seen as killers and soldiers.” He rejected this view, asserting, “all Moroccans are Moroccans, no matter where they are or what they do.”
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