Controversy Erupts in Agadir Over Proposal to Rename Streets After Jewish Figures

In a letter dated May 21, 2025, addressed to Aziz Akhannouch, president of the Agadir municipal council and also head of the Moroccan government, Abdallah Al-Faryadi, president of the Moroccan Institute for Human Rights (MIHR), proposes to rename certain streets and public facilities in the city in honor of Moroccan Jewish personalities. The association suggests renaming Allal Al-Fassi Street to "Simon Levy Street," in tribute to the late political and economic activist, and Abderrahim Bouabid Street to "Khalifa Ben Malka Street," in honor of a prominent rabbi in Agadir’s history.

The MIHR also suggests naming the Reconstruction Museum after Orna Baziz, a survivor of the 1960 earthquake and author of a major testimony about the disaster, as well as attributing the name of artist Neta Elkayam to the cultural complex in the Dakhla district. To convince of the relevance of these proposals, the association highlights the preamble of the Moroccan Constitution, which recognizes the Hebrew heritage as an integral part of national identity. According to them, the absence of references to Moroccan Jewish figures in the names of public places represents a gap in the representation of this rich cultural and religious heritage.

For the association, it is important to reflect the historical diversity of the city of Agadir through these symbolic denominations. "We note that to date, Agadir has no public establishment bearing the name of a Moroccan Jewish personality, despite the historical importance of this component within the local fabric," the institute stated in its letter. But its proposals are far from unanimous. On the web, many internet users express their indignation.

"Why are we attacking symbols of Moroccan resistance against colonization and a symbol of the Intifada (uprising of Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza against Israel, Editor’s note)?" fumes an internet user on social networks. In a post on her Facebook page, Salima Belemkaddem, president of the Moroccan Movement for the Environment 2050, described this letter as a "public call to Zionism from a Moroccan institution."

On the same social network, Adel Tchikitou, president of the Moroccan League for Human Rights, made it known that the initiator of this approach is one of the most visible faces of normalization with Israel.

Moroccan internet users certainly display their opposition to this approach, but they assure that they have nothing against the initiative to rename places after Jewish personalities. They simply do not want this to be done at the expense of national symbols.

For now, the Agadir municipality has not yet commented on the subject. Nor has it included it on the agenda of council sessions.