PARIS: Despite its commitment to the so-called “war on terrorism, or perhaps because of it, Morocco stands out as the best example of an open-air laboratory for fighting extremism. In addition to its strategic position at the crossroads between two continents, it is an Arab and Muslim country with a liberal economy that painfully struggles toward a democratic breakthrough.
Internationally, Morocco suffers from a reputation of “churning out terrorists, as a result of the Moroccan migrant workers from Western Europe who were implicated in the 2004 Madrid terrorist attack. And Morocco itself bore the full brunt of violent terrorism in a series of murderous attacks in Casablanca in May 2003 and April 2007.
Vantage Point, Pete Travis’ latest movie released in theatres earlier this year, tells the story of an attempted murder plot against the US president, hatched and carried out in Spain by a Moroccan terrorist network.
Likewise, the New York Times dispatched a reporter to the suburbs of the city of Tetuan, in Northern Morocco, to investigate the networks that lure many young Moroccans to the ranks of Al Qaeda in order to go blow themselves up in Iraq. The title of the news report was unequivocal: “Where Boys Grow Up to Be Jihadis.
Taking the situation seriously, Moroccan authorities are sparing no effort to dismantle extremist Muslim cells capable of boosting Al Qaeda’s influence in the Maghreb, and to address the root causes of extremism to prevent the development of new cells.
Their latest act, over which there was some controversy, was the arrest and dismantling of Abdelkader Belliraj’s network, allegedly linked to Al Qaeda. Belliraj, a Belgian-Moroccan who appears to have been a former secret agent paid by the Belgian security services, is suspected of multiple assassinations, in addition to arms smuggling and money laundering.
Morocco’s strategy in countering violent religious extremism has been deployed at various levels. The first level is a grass-roots police operation in which citizens are directly involved in first-line surveillance. Security is an ongoing commitment in all sectors of society. By harnessing citizen alertness, the most sensitive information percolates rapidly to the concerned authorities.
For many years Morocco has allowed mainstream Islamic political parties that reject violence to exist, express their views publicly, and take part in elections. However, as soon as one such group is suspected of condoning violent action, it is mercilessly crushed by the authorities. Anyone specifically detected by the police of praising violent means is immediately arrested and taken to court.
The most famous examples are to be found in Sheikh Abdesslam Yassine’s group, Justice and Spirituality, and the Islamic Youth party, formerly led by Abdelkarim Motie. These groups were prevented from participating in politics. Another example is the dissolution of the Islamic party, Civilized Alternative, by Prime Minister Abbas El Fassi and Interior Minister Chakib Ben Moussa, both of whom suspected the group of serving as a cover for terrorist activities.
Conversely, Islamic political groups have been rewarded for adopting more mainstream attitudes. For example, after the July election of party leader Abdelilah Benkirane – who emphasizes a path of moderation, peaceful relations with the government and female participation – the Justice and Development Party has achieved an integrated role in the government.
In addition, these actions have certainly not exempted the Moroccan government from conducting an aggressive social development policy aimed at improving living conditions in the huge shantytowns huddled outside large urban centers, such as Casablanca, from which many of Morocco’s domestic terrorists originated. These slum areas are ideal playgrounds for violent activists prying on the fears of individuals who see few other opportunities to change their destinies.
Moreover, the government should also engage with their reluctant Algerian neighbor in a policy aiming to curb illegal immigration between the two countries. Drugs, weapons and a labor force easily open to manipulation infiltrate the Moroccan border, representing a major threat to regional security. Greater cooperation between the two nation’s security sectors would go a long way toward monitoring and disbanding such illegal activity.
The Moroccan experience is interesting to observe as it constitutes a precious synthesis of a strong and determined repression – so determined that human rights associations often condemn it, and the absorption of Islamic political opposition parties. Simultaneously, there is a firm policy of fighting poverty and other forms of exclusion, as demonstrated by the actions of Moroccan King Mohamed VI. Although the results have not been immediate, the Moroccan recipe against terrorism has begun to facilitate constructive political and social relations across the diverse sectors the Moroccan society.
Mustapha Tossais a French Moroccan media professional living in Paris and working as a correspondent for Moroccan daily Aujourd’hui le Maroc. This article was written for the Common Ground News Service (CGNews) and can be accessed at www.commongroundnews.org.
