Morocco’s elections as test of moderate Islamism, MEMRI

September 6, 2007 10:05 am henrymunsonjr Nonviolent Islamist Movements, Morocco

MEMRI, September 6, 2007

There is a very active debate in Morocco as to the Party of Justice and Development’s ideology, political program, and projects for the future. The fact that the party does not always maintain a consistent line only adds fuel to the debate. As a recent example, up until the last week of August 2007, the conclusion of the official party history on the PJD website read: “This is the course [followed] by a party that has never ceased to pronounce the declaration of faith [i.e. “There is no god but Allah” etc.] over the Moroccan political reality… and it is as determined as can be to bring this reality to the [stage of] implementation of Allah’s law and the benefits this law brings to the land and the people.”

In the last week of August, the website underwent an overhaul. A more succinct overview of the party’s history is now included in a statement titled “The Party’s Vision for the Morocco of Tomorrow,” which does not include any mention of implementation of Islamic law. The new version defines the party as “a nationalist political party that strives, on the basis of Islamic authority and within the framework of the constitutional monarchy based on [the king’s role as] Commander of the Faithful, to take part in building a modern and democratic Morocco…” [5]

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