The Religious Approach to Combating Radicalism in Morocco

The events known as “Black Tuesday” (September 11, 2001) marked a turning point in world politics that prompted an extensive worldwide mobilization to confront global terrorism. This global phenomenon had a profound impact on communities in both East and West. In response to this tragic event, the United States led an international military coalition to combat terrorism, launching military operations in Afghanistan and the Middle East. While these operations inflicted significant damage on terrorist groups, yet they failed to eradicate them entirely. Like many other nations, Morocco was deeply affected by terrorism internally and externally while reputed as a notable source of individuals affiliated with extremist groups. In light of these challenges, Morocco has sought to develop alternative strategies since 2003 to face religious radicalism by emphasizing a comprehensive religious approach.

This paper aims to explore the context, approaches, and mechanisms underpinning this strategy, and is divided into three sections. The first section examines the institutional and administrative approach. The second section focuses on the educational and training approach, while the third section analyzes the media approach and its role in countering religious radicalism.