A Call for Citizenship Rights for Moroccan Jewish Descendants
A significant legislative petition has been presented to the Parliament of Morocco, advocating for citizenship to be granted to all children and grandchildren of Moroccan Jews. This initiative was spearheaded by El Houssain Benmessaoud and has been formally submitted to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rachid Talbi Alami, as well as Nadia Bouaida, the chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee within the same legislative body.
The core argument of the petition is that many Moroccan Jews, along with their descendants who reside abroad, have unjustly lost their nationality rights over generations. This loss has stemmed from various challenges, including geographic distance, travel restrictions, and adverse political, economic, and social conditions in their countries of residence. Despite these obstacles, the petition emphasizes that these descendants continue to nurture robust cultural and historical connections to Morocco.
Proposed Initiatives for Enhanced Integration
To facilitate the reinstatement of citizenship rights, the petition proposes the creation of a national online platform designed to assist applicants through the necessary procedures, providing them with clear timelines and access to crucial information, including details about Moroccan Jewish family names. Furthermore, it suggests the establishment of a dedicated communication center operating under the Ministry of Justice, which would work in collaboration with the Ministries of Interior and Foreign Affairs.
Moreover, the petition calls for increased governmental support to help descendants of Moroccan Jews integrate into various aspects of Moroccan life, including economic, social, cultural, political, and religious dimensions. This would involve the creation of specialized administrative services within relevant ministries to better serve this community. Additionally, the initiative advocates for the inclusion of Hebrew as a language of communication alongside Arabic and Amazigh, ensuring that affected groups can engage effectively with these services.
Finally, the petition proposes the establishment of an independent national body to oversee religious affairs and urges the implementation of measures to protect Moroccan Jews from discrimination, both within Morocco and in other countries. The initiative aligns with Morocco’s constitutional framework and regulatory law No. 64.14, as well as royal directives that reinforce the integral role of Moroccan Jews in the national identity.
As reported by en.hespress.com.
