Benkirane's attack on Azoulay reveals narrow Islamist politics, author claims

In a recent address in Essaouira, former Moroccan Prime Minister Abdelilah Benkirane targeted Andre Azoulay, a prominent advisor to King Mohammed VI. The article frames Benkirane's remarks as an "Islamist" attack, accusing him of undermining tolerance and coexistence. It suggests that while Azoulay was the primary target, other names were invoked to obscure this intent and settle "free grudges."

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Tolerance is not just a moral value, but a product of liberal consciousness and a cornerstone for building the modern state.

The author contends that Benkirane's rhetoric reveals a narrow, intolerant political vision rooted in Islamist ideology. This perspective, the article argues, clashes fundamentally with the values of tolerance and coexistence essential for modern civil society. It criticizes the "Justice and Development Party" (PJD) for allegedly only espousing tolerance when weakened, rather than from a genuine moral responsibility.

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The attack by the former prime minister on senior advisors who are supposed to be above election campaigns and party struggles; supports this Islamist paranoia of all values of tolerance and coexistence.

The piece highlights Morocco's deep-seated tradition of tolerance, referencing the observations of Dutch painter Andriaen Matham in 1640. Matham noted the significant population of Moroccan Jews in Essaouira, trading alongside their Muslim counterparts. This historical account is presented as evidence of Morocco's long-standing model of coexistence, predating the Enlightenment and the concept of the modern state.

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The verbal abuse deliberately orchestrated by the voice of the Justice and Development Party with loud laughter; diminished the value of its owner before anyone else.

Ultimately, the article posits that political Islam struggles with cultural diversity, viewing it with suspicion and hostility. It argues that true citizenship, the foundation of a modern state, cannot be built on inward-looking identities. Benkirane's attack on Azoulay is seen as a manifestation of this broader Islamist tendency to resist the multifaceted nature of Moroccan identity.

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The pejorative designation explicitly directed at Mr. Andre Azoulay, considering it was openly made from the heart of Essaouira, the incubator of coexistence (and the place has its significance); reveals without ambiguity the narrow Islamist vision of politics.