He Explains Why Young People Flee to Ceuta: Moroccan Imam Suspended

Saïd Tahiri, preacher at the Al-Ghofrane Mosque in Berkane, will no longer be allowed to deliver the Friday sermon. The services of the Ministry of Habous and Islamic Affairs notified him of his suspension, reports the media outlet Assahifa.

The decision reportedly came after a sermon entitled “The Homeland and Citizenship Between Rights and Duties.” In it, the preacher discussed the recent collective crossings to Ceuta and the departure of thousands of young Moroccans, particularly during the mass crossing of July 30.

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Saïd Tahiri reportedly refused to reduce these departures to a lack of attachment to Morocco. According to him, understanding why young people risk their lives also requires examining their daily conditions and the prospects available to them.

The State, but also young people and their families

In his sermon, the preacher stressed the responsibility of the public authorities. He believed that combating emigration required improvements in education and healthcare, as well as the creation of jobs enabling young people to build their future in Morocco.

These remarks echo the testimonies of young people who left for Ceuta despite having a job in Morocco. Several explained their departure by low wages, a lack of prospects, or the feeling that they could no longer improve their situation in the kingdom.

However, Saïd Tahiri’s speech did not entirely absolve those seeking to leave. He also called on young people and their families to assume their share of responsibility, believing that the authorities could not be held solely responsible for the phenomenon.

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His suspension was reportedly presented to him as the consequence of breaching the rules governing religious discourse and the Friday sermon. The Ministry of Habous and Islamic Affairs has not yet publicly commented on the decision or officially confirmed the precise reasons cited against the preacher.