Moroccan Imam Removed for Unauthorized Sermon Condemning New Year’s Celebrations

He is accused of having violated the rules governing his profession, more precisely on December 28 when he described the New Year’s celebrations as a sin and heresy, reports the newspaper Assabah. For the authorities, he "opposed the spirit of tolerance and coexistence of religions".

The religious field is highly regulated in Morocco and the sermons, especially those on Friday, are transmitted by the ministry to all Moroccan imams and must be followed under penalty of sanction.

Last May, the imam of the Ibrahim Al-Khalil mosque in Salé had been sanctioned for taking a stand in favor of the supporters of the boycott of certain brands and the high prices of these products. Despite his apologies, the preacher was dismissed, all the more so, the ministry believes, as he had been reprimanded several times in the past.