Morocco’s Al Adl wal Ihsan Says Authorities Have Replaced Peaceful Engagement With Crackdown, Condemns “Beach War” Campaign
BY Dr. Hana Saada
RABAT — Mohamed Abbadi, Secretary-General of Morocco’s Al Adl wal Ihsan (Justice and Spirituality) movement, has criticized the Moroccan authorities’ reliance on security-based policies in dealing with social and political actors, arguing that restrictive measures have replaced dialogue and peaceful engagement.
Speaking during the television program Rajol wa Massar (“A Man and a Journey”), Abbadi said the movement was not targeted following the May 16, 2003 terrorist attacks because the authorities were fully aware of its longstanding commitment to peaceful activism. He described this, in his view, as an implicit acknowledgment of the movement’s rejection of violence.
Abbadi argued that addressing extremism through security measures alone fails to tackle its underlying causes, calling instead for broader political and social reforms. According to him, lasting solutions require expanding public freedoms, opening channels of dialogue, addressing grievances and safeguarding citizens’ rights rather than relying primarily on punitive measures.
Recalling the movement’s experience in organizing summer camps, Abbadi stressed that authorities prevented or disrupted several of its activities, citing the “Saada” camp in Nador as an example. He said the movement’s decision to relocate some activities to public beaches was driven by restrictions imposed on its educational and outreach programs rather than by choice.
He further noted that what became known in local media as the “Beach War” involved official efforts to limit the movement’s public presence through the deployment of security personnel and other measures aimed at reducing its interaction with citizens.
Defending the movement’s principles, Abbadi maintained that its rejection of violence is rooted in its educational and ideological approach rather than being a tactical political position. He said members are taught restraint and peaceful conduct even under provocation, adding that the movement regards Morocco’s military and security institutions as part of the national fabric and believes political change should occur through peaceful means rather than confrontation.
Abbadi concluded by reaffirming the movement’s rejection of violent extremism, stating that it had been among the earliest critics of organizations such as ISIS, and arguing that violence is incompatible with the core values of Islam, which, he said, promotes peace and security.
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