Controversy Erupts Over New Entry Fees at Casablanca’s Hassan II Mosque

Residents of the economic capital of the kingdom, as well as national and foreign tourists, were surprised to learn in recent days that access to this very popular site is now conditional on the payment of 70 dirhams. Internet users have criticized the city authorities for making such a decision without prior notice.

However, an official from the Casablanca municipality denied the information, stating that "the City Council has nothing to do with the imposition of entry fees to the esplanade of the Hassan II Mosque, as has been reported on social networks." "The City Council has no connection with the Hassan II Mosque, and the decisions taken concerning this historic monument are independent of the decisions of the municipality," the same source said.

The official explains that "all mosques nationwide are subject to the decisions of the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs, but the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca operates independently of the other mosques. It has a manager who manages its internal and external affairs and also has an autonomous financial budget."

"The Casablanca municipality oversees the management of the surrounding facilities, particularly with regard to green spaces and external cleanliness, but the mosque esplanade is under the responsibility of the entity that manages it," the same source concluded.