The recent real estate file linked to Fatima Zahra Mansouri, the Moroccan Minister of National Land Management, Urban Planning, Housing, and City Policy, has reignited public debate in recent days. Questions have arisen regarding the circumstances surrounding a property in the Tissalant area near Marrakech, specifically whether it benefited from preferential treatment or exceptional privileges. This issue has quickly become a topic of widespread discussion within political and media circles.
Amid the controversy surrounding the details related to this case, "Al Jarida 24" received information from a source close to Fatima Zahra Mansouri, who provided clarifications on several points raised about the origin of the property, its preparation process, and the related administrative procedures. The source emphasized that the file adheres to the existing legal and regulatory provisions without any exceptions or special privileges.
According to the same source, the land in question has a title deed dating back to 1977 when it was purchased by Fatima Zahra Mansouri's father, who was practicing law at the time. This was as part of a private real estate transaction conducted between civil parties, completely detached from any political involvement or public responsibilities that the family would assume later on.
The source further explained that the property is part of a legally documented family inheritance for decades and denied any connection between its ownership and the political positions held by family members in subsequent years. Regarding claims of benefiting from exemptions in urban planning, the source stated that the Tissalant area was not subject to any urban planning scheme until 2017, which allowed many real estate files to benefit from the exemption process in the urban planning sector during that period.
However, the information provided by the source confirms that the family lands associated with Mansouri did not take advantage of this legal opportunity, despite its availability. This, according to the source, refutes the hypothesis of a conflict of interest or abuse of power.
Moreover, the urban planning scheme for the Tissalant area, which was approved in 2017, was validated during a time when Fatima Zahra Mansouri did not hold any governmental or local responsibilities. The source clarified that she was neither a minister nor the head of the Marrakech municipality at that time, thus excluding any direct or indirect role in the preparation or approval of the urban planning document.
Concerning the contentious property size of 66 hectares, the source elaborated that the approved urban planning scheme encompassed approximately 8,500 hectares designated for urbanization, meaning the property in question represents no more than 0.8 percent of the total area covered by the document.
Additionally, the source confirmed that the file did not receive any special status but was processed under the same procedures applied to hundreds of other files in the region. It was noted that around 600 similar files were approved before the concerned file, while approximately 300 additional files were approved afterward, indicating the normal nature of the procedure followed and dismissing any claims of exceptional or preferential treatment.
Regarding the ownership certificate that states the property is classified as "agricultural land," the source clarified that this designation falls under the real estate data registered with the land registry and does not indicate the property's urban status or its potential for construction. The determination of the land's urban allocation is under the jurisdiction of the urban agency and related documentation, not the land registry.
The source assured that documents issued by the relevant authorities prove the project's compliance with the approved urban planning provisions and all applicable legal and regulatory standards, emphasizing that the various procedures related to the file were conducted according to the established protocols in this domain.
Furthermore, the source addressed the claims regarding the alleged speed of processing the file, explaining that the administrative facts do not support this argument. The file was submitted in April and received final approval in December of the same year, after about nine months of administrative and technical review. This time frame falls within the ordinary processing periods for similar files, especially since these require passing through multiple stages, including initial studies, technical meetings, and obtaining approvals from various involved departments and agencies.
In a related context, the source denied any connection between the real estate file and the departure of the former head of the urban agency from his position, clarifying that it was a resignation made in a professional context unrelated to the case at hand. Several professional bodies, including the architects' association and the real estate promoters' association, had previously sent communications to the authorities expressing observations and criticisms related to the institution's management during that period.
According to the available data, linking the resignation of the mentioned official to Mansouri's file lacks objective facts or verified administrative evidence, and this connection is deemed to be unsupported by the foundations necessary for its acceptance as a final conclusion.
These clarifications come at a time when public discussions continue regarding several files related to urban planning, real estate, and local governance, amid increasing calls for enhanced transparency and the provision of accurate information to the public. The case underscores the importance of distinguishing between verified data and varying political or media interpretations, particularly when it concerns individuals holding public responsibilities who are at the center of national political discourse.
As reported by aljarida24.ma.
