Denial of Legislative Proposal for Moroccan Jewish Descendants
In light of recent reports suggesting that the Moroccan government has submitted a legislative proposal to parliament aimed at facilitating citizenship for descendants of Moroccan Jews, both political and civil sources within Morocco have firmly denied these claims. They have clarified that the current legal processes in place allow all citizens, regardless of their religious affiliation, to acquire citizenship under clear procedures that do not discriminate between Jews, Muslims, or Christians. This clarification comes amidst global and Moroccan media coverage that has circulated the notion of a new legislative initiative intended to ease the path to citizenship for the children and grandchildren of Jewish Moroccans who have emigrated.
The reports originated from a publication on the "National Portal for National Participation," overseen by the Ministry responsible for relations with parliament. This publication, which first appeared in October 2024, allegedly outlines the challenges faced by Moroccan Jews in retaining their citizenship due to circumstances beyond their control, such as geographical distance from Morocco and difficulties associated with political, security, economic, or social conditions in their countries of residence.
During a press briefing following a council meeting, Mustafa Betas, the government spokesperson and minister responsible for relations with parliament, emphasized that the proposal discussed in the media is not new and dates back to 2024. Additionally, Nadia Tihami, a parliamentary representative and member of the petitions committee in the House of Representatives, publicly stated that no legislative proposal to grant Moroccan citizenship to the descendants of emigrated Moroccan Jews has been received by the parliament. Both Tihami and Betas reiterated that the petitions committee and the parliamentary office have not received any such request, directly contradicting the claims made by various media outlets.
Clarifications from Community Leaders
According to Moroccan law governing the conditions and procedures for submitting legislative petitions, a petition must gather at least 20,000 signatures before being referred to parliament. However, this specific petition has only managed to collect a mere 20 signatures since it was first submitted in 2024. The petition itself highlights the supposed "suffering" of the descendants of Moroccan Jews in their quest for citizenship. Nevertheless, individuals interviewed by Sky News Arabia affirm that Moroccan Jews enjoy the right to citizenship just like any other citizens, as enshrined in the constitution. Many have returned to Morocco and obtained their citizenship and passports with relative ease, contradicting the grievances noted in the petition.
Jacky Kadouch, the head of the Jewish community in the Marrakech-Safi region, expressed surprise at the resurgence of this petition and the accompanying narratives, stating that such claims have been made in the past. He clarified that the descendants of Moroccan Jewish emigrants do not encounter obstacles in obtaining citizenship or passports and that there is no need for a petition or new legislation. Kadouch emphasized that Jews are Moroccan citizens who possess the same rights guaranteed by the constitution and labeled the discussion surrounding these claims as frivolous and unfounded. He reiterated that descendants of Moroccan Jews who emigrated in the 1950s and 60s can return to Morocco and easily resolve their citizenship matters without complications.
Moreover, he noted that many individuals have successfully obtained citizenship and passports in recent years. Some descendants simply need to provide documentation proving their grandparents' birth in Morocco and can complete the remaining procedures at the consulate in Tel Aviv, thereby acquiring their national ID and passport without hassle. Kadouch further mentioned that he has a list of over 300 descendants who have successfully acquired Moroccan citizenship without any issues in recent years.
Suzanne Abitan, president of the International Moroccans for Tolerance Association, also confirmed that children and grandchildren of Moroccan Jews who migrated to other countries can return and obtain their Moroccan citizenship with ease and no complications. She emphasized that there are no issues related to citizenship acquisition and dismissed any notion of discrimination based on religious affiliation. According to Abitan, those wishing to acquire Moroccan citizenship can simply approach the relevant authorities, submit their application, and typically receive their citizenship within a month or two.
In similar sentiments, Faisal Marjani, president of the "Morocco of Coexistence" association, affirmed that the children and grandchildren of Moroccan Jews receive citizenship through the same process as Muslim and Christian Moroccans, denying any form of institutional discrimination. He questioned the unclear intent behind the petition, wondering if it genuinely aimed to facilitate the naturalization process. Marjani reiterated that there is no institutional disparity between Moroccan Jews and others, as they follow the same procedures to submit their requests to the competent authorities, prove their birth in Morocco, and subsequently obtain their ID cards and passports.
As reported by skynewsarabia.com.
