Morocco: Muslim leaders pledge to protect religious minorities

Muslim leaders adopted a non-binding declaration to protect religious minorities in countries where Muslims are the majority, as reported by NPR Parallels on 28 January 2016. Adopted in Marrakesh, Morocco, on 27 January the declaration called upon Muslims leaders and intellectuals to take action to counter the rise of extremism in the Muslim world. The declaration puts an emphasis on education and current global affairs by calling upon "Muslim scholars and intellectuals around the world to develop a jurisprudence of the concept of "˜citizenship" which is inclusive of diverse groups. Such jurisprudence shall be rooted in Islamic tradition and principles and mindful of global changes."‚  The declaration continues with imperatives: "Urge Muslim educational institutions and authorities to conduct a courageous review of educational curricula that addresses honestly and effectively any material that instigates aggression and extremism, leads to war and chaos, and results in the destruction of our shared societies." ‚ Attended by more than 250 Muslim religious leaders, heads of state, and scholars, the declaration is seen as a key instrument for protecting religious minorities in the Muslim world. Yonas Dembele, persecution analyst at World Watch Research points out that this declaration can be seen from two angles: "The first one is that getting such a pledge from Muslim leaders, imams, and grand muftis is by itself a sign of good progress that should be valued. It is a very important milestone for devising and revising policies. It is also very helpful in shaping the way Friday sermons are to be conducted. On the other hand, considering the current situation and the nature of radical Islam, the declaration can be seen as just wishful thinking on the part of those who are enjoying the privileges within the ruling families and elites of the Muslim world. Radical Muslims such as Islamic State (IS) reject the role and moral authority of the ruling class in the Muslim world, and it goes without saying that those who support the ideology of the IS would also reject the Marrakesh Declaration. Yonas Dembele adds: "The scope of radicalization is not just limited to the Muslim world. The members of Islamic State, al-Qaeda or al-Shabaab are not confined to Muslims originating from areas of the world dominated by Islam.‚  As a result, it does not necessarily address the issue of radicalization in western countries. In a nutshell, expecting a miracle from this declaration is not realistic. Nonetheless, it may prove to be an important document that can make a difference in the long term."