Moroccan Opposition Leader Slams Western Capitalism, Calls for Defending Traditional Values

Western capitalism not only does not serve Morocco economically, but also in terms of values and morals, Benkirane said, criticizing the struggle of certain Western organizations in favor of homosexuality, consensual sexual relations and abortion. The Secretary General of the PJD, who spoke on Saturday in Rabat at the opening of the Conference of Pharmacists for Justice and Development, called on the Minister of Justice, Abdellatif Ouahbi, to defend Moroccan culture and values.

"Ouahbi is doing whatever he wants. He will discuss these issues with human rights organizations, then he will retreat [...] He must tell them that it is not their job. The fact of having sexual relations within the framework of sharia or outside of it, that concerns us, us," he stressed during this speech, the words of which were reported by Hespress. "Does Morocco need American companies that sell bread and ground meat to Moroccans, at a time when the world is talking about the excellence of Moroccan cuisine in the world?" Benkirane also asked, warning against the influence of Western companies in Morocco on certain professional groups, including pharmacists.

Faced with this "monopoly of capital linked to foreigners", the Secretary General of the Lamp Party called for a citizen coalition and the presence of professionals within political and trade union bodies to defend their economic and social interests. He also warned about the obtaining, by large companies and capital owners, of vast agricultural lands to exploit to the detriment of Moroccans. This is the case in Ethiopia, he explains, where the state is expelling citizens from their land to grant it to large companies.