05 June 2014
Training imams in the values of moderate Islam is the best way of tackling extremism and enabling the faith to play its role within society.

That was the view put forward by Moroccan Habous and Islamic Affairs Minister Ahmed Toufiq when he spoke to lawmakers on Wednesday (June 4th).

The minister explained that Morocco has decided to help African countries to educate their religious leaders about the values of moderate Islam.

"Imams play an important role in social guidance. They must uphold national values while at the same time having freedom in their preaching," he said.

Through its religious co-operation with other countries, "Morocco is not seeking to expand its territory, as some parties have stressed, but rather wants to help African countries cater to their urgent social and religious needs," Toufiq explained.

The first cohort of Malian imams in Morocco is already being trained at a centre in Rabat. Morocco is getting ready to welcome a second group along with imams from different African countries, including Tunisia.

The curricula for their studies are being worked out together with the countries of origin.

The training programme must be tailored to the reality in each country since imams must play a community-based role within society, the minister said.

Morocco can play a part in curbing extremism and security threats in the Sahel, lawmakers said.

Religious co-operation across the region is of the utmost importance in combating religious extremism and upholding the values of moderate Islam as practised by Morocco for centuries, Popular Movement MP Fatima Daif said.

She praised Morocco's efforts to benefit African nations of its experience of religious reform.

Some MPs underlined the need for Morocco to devise a strategy with clear objectives in terms of spiritual security, which should be directed not only at African countries but also at Europe in order to tackle religious extremism and forearm people against terrorist views.

They called for training to be given to imams and preachers who understand the reality in European countries, in order for them to tailor their preaching and convey relevant and persuasive messages to young people in particular.

There is broad consensus in Morocco over the desire to boost religious co-operation with other countries so as to foster tolerance and the values of moderate Islam, political analyst Jamal Farhani told Magharebia.

"The point of training imams and preachers capable of countering extremist arguments is to fill the void that has been exploited by retrogressive movements," he said.

© Magharebia.com 2014