Mohammed VI refers the revision of the Family Code to the Higher Council of the Ulemas
The King of Morocco, Mohammed VI, has decided to refer the revision of the Family Code to the High Council of the Ulemas "with reference to the principles and precepts of the holy religion of Islam and its tolerant designs".
"His Majesty King Mohammed VI, Amir Al Mouminine, may God help him, President of the High Council of the Ulema, was kind enough, this Friday 21 Dou Al Hijja of 1445 AH, corresponding to 28 June 2024, to give His High Directives to the said Council, to examine certain issues contained in the proposals of the body in charge of revising the Family Code, with reference to the principles and precepts of the holy religion of Islam and its tolerant designs, and to submit a fatwa on them to the High Recognition of the Sovereign", reports the Moroccan news agency, MAP.
This decision comes after the Authority responsible for revising the Family Code fulfilled its mission within the allotted time and submitted its proposals to the High Recognition of His Majesty the King. Considering that some proposals concern religious texts, the monarch decided to refer the matter to the High Council of the Ulema which is, according to Article 41 of the Constitution, the only body empowered to pronounce officially approved fatwas.
The Moroccan King also asked the High Council of Ulema to take into account, in the development of its fatwa, the content of the Royal Letter addressed to the Head of Government, which calls for the adoption of the virtues of moderation and of an open and constructive Ijtihad, taking into consideration the rule repeatedly defended by His Majesty the King, according to which we cannot authorise what is forbidden, nor forbid what is authorised.
Mohammed VI sent a letter to the head of the Moroccan government, Aziz Akhannouch, concerning the revision of the Family Code in September 2023. This missive concretises the royal decision that the monarch announced in the 2022 Throne Speech and reflects the high priority that the sovereign continues to give to the promotion of women's and family issues.
