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🇮🇱 Israel /Elections & Politics

Morocco's Parliament Receives Petition to Grant Citizenship to All Descendants of Moroccan Jews

From Jerusalem Post · (5m ago) English Mixed tone

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • A legislative petition has been submitted to Morocco's parliament seeking to grant citizenship to all descendants of Moroccan Jews.
  • The petition aims to simplify the process for those who lost nationality by descent and calls for the creation of a national body for Jewish religious affairs.
  • While some support the initiative for simplification and integration, others, including community leaders, argue that current laws already facilitate citizenship acquisition and that the petition may stir unnecessary controversy.

A significant legislative petition has been presented to Morocco's House of Representatives, proposing to grant citizenship to all descendants of Moroccan Jews. Submitted by citizen El Houssain Benmessaoud, the petition, which has garnered renewed attention after a previous attempt in 2024, seeks to restore Moroccan nationality to those who renounced it and their subsequent generations. The core argument is that many Moroccan Jews emigrated for various reasons, leading their descendants abroad to lose their connection to Moroccan nationality over time.

The petition emphasizes the historical integral role of Moroccan Jews in the nation's fabric and their enduring Moroccan identity abroad. It advocates for the creation of an independent national body to manage Jewish religious affairs and calls for the protection of Moroccan Jewish communities from discrimination. The initiative also seeks to allow dual citizenship for applicants and proposes streamlining the application process through a national online portal, alongside greater state integration efforts for descendants.

descendants of Moroccan Jewish emigrants do not face any difficulties in obtaining citizenship or a passport, and that there is no need for a petition or a new law.

— Jacky KadochPresident of the Jewish Community of Marrakech, expressing skepticism about the petition.

However, the proposal is not universally supported within the Moroccan Jewish community. Jacky Kadoch, President of the Jewish Community of Marrakech, expressed skepticism, stating that descendants already face few obstacles in obtaining citizenship or passports. He believes the petition is unnecessary and could potentially create unnecessary turmoil, asserting that Moroccan Jews are already full citizens with equal rights. Kadoch pointed to his own experience, noting over 300 grandchildren have acquired Moroccan citizenship without issue. The Moroccan constitution, amended in 2011, even recognizes Judaism as part of the nation's heritage, suggesting existing legal frameworks may already accommodate such claims, though the petition focuses on simplification and enhanced integration.

Jews are Moroccan citizens who have the same rights as all other citizens, regardless of religion, and that those promoting this issue are 'simply trying to stir chaos.'

— Jacky KadochPresident of the Jewish Community of Marrakech, on the rights of Moroccan Jews and the petition's potential impact.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Jerusalem Post in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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