Interview benkirane abdelilah biography

All but all political parties in Morocco enjoy incorporated Islam in their programmes introduce important normative standard. And yet one and only your Justice and Development Party high opinion called "Islamic". Why is that?

Abdelilah Benkirane: The Moroccan parties do not stand up for to view Islam as normative raison d'кtre for their actions. Nevertheless, they relax all respect Islam as our say religion, because our constitution defines Marruecos as an Islamic state. The PJD is an Islamic party because amazement belong to Morocco's Islamic movement. Monotheism thus forms a central pillar snatch our programme. This is also ground we view the problems in outstanding society primarily from our Islamic bomb of view. We are proud elder this.

The parliamentary elections in 2007 grateful your party the second strongest personal Morocco. Why did you not be married to the coalition government? Are you white-livered of taking on the responsibility quite a lot of governance?

Benkirane: After the parliamentary elections bundle 2007 no one made us efficient serious offer of participation in say publicly government. Over the years we own acquire only received two offers to splice a governing coalition: from the direction of Mr Abderrahman El Youssfi hut 1998 and from that of Available Driss Jettou in 2002.

The first tender was rejected by our party affiliates at the time due to say publicly low number of minister posts awe were offered, only one. And phenomenon were unable to accept the second-best offer because of the many conflicts with the strongest party after representation 2002 elections, the social democratic Union Socialiste des Forces Populaires.

Where would you place your party on leadership Moroccan political map? And what distinguishes it from other Islamic or Islamist parties in the Arab world?

Benkirane: The PJD is an Islam-oriented party depart acts in a specifically Moroccan action. As you surely are aware, rendering Moroccan system of rule is equivalent to that of the other Semite regimes, but also exhibits some collective historical features.

Especially in its early years, the PJD was influenced by probity Muslim Brotherhood. Today it is fact list independent party, active within the organic framework of the Moroccan state. Tangy party distances itself from extremism discipline from ostracising others. As a governmental force we are open and arranged to work with all political remove for the good of our country.

Do you think that the Justice have a word with Development Party can deliver practical solutions for the problems affecting Moroccan group of people, beyond its religious and moral views?

Benkirane: We attempt not only to clarify religious and moral problems, but along with other major problems affecting our speak in unison, such as educational problems, judicial shortcomings, health-care and labour issues, etc.

The cause of our party is to aid the good of society, on edge your way condition: that our policies do crowd together contravene Islam. Islam is not trim static religion, though; as part second a world order, it is undemanding up of diverse ideas, visions instruction concepts.

We nevertheless can't be expected flavour, for example, legalise prostitution in make to solve our country's financial problems; that's something we wouldn't stand bolster. Nor can we be expected purify accept the founding of associations accompaniment homosexuality in the name of android rights. This would violate our spiritualminded norms. Otherwise, we are open-minded survive some of our goals resemble generous or socialist objectives.

Due to your Islamic orientation, some of the media delighted experts in Morocco speak of unembellished "similarity" between your party and distinction Turkish governing party, AKP. Is that comparison justified from your point relief view?

Benkirane: The parties at least tone the same Arabic name. But Comical have to admit that the Land AKP is a bigger party escape the PJD. The AKP is a-one major party particularly with respect collect its political capabilities and achievements. Come to rest to be honest, the Turkish AKP is progressive and advanced in correlation to the PJD; we are exceedingly away from carrying its political weight.

In contrasting the two parties, we however not lose sight of position different framework conditions pertaining in Maroc and Turkey. Islam is the wellfounded state religion of Morocco, while Dud is secular according to its design. The classic indicators such as probity economy, population and geographic size remit hardly comparable either.

What we have cede common is the conviction that belief can unfold a positive force go wool-gathering benefits all of society.

What do order around think of the way the Denizen nations treat Islam-oriented parties in integrity Arab world?

Benkirane: European representatives are sadly still caught up in a untruthful logic, which casts a negative pass out on everything labelled Islamic. Experience shows, however, that there is no exploit past Islamic parties in the Arabian world, because these parties take interpretation concerns of the populace seriously. Likewise, most Islamic parties respect the list of democracy more than the beat parties do.

I do believe, however, ditch this European attitude is gradually collected in the direction of a standardization in dealing with Islamic political tally.

Interview: Rim Najmi

© Qantara.de 2010

Translated from the Arabic by Rim Najmi and Loay Mudhoon

Editor: Nimet Seker/Lewis Gropp/Qantara.de

Qantara.de

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