Freedom and independence in the thought of Mohammed V and the foundation for development in modern Morocco
On the occasion of the Green March and Independence Day 2024
Muhammad Akabour is a religious guide in Essaouira – a researcher in religious discourse and media
Praise be to God for the blessing of the Sultan, the unifier, builder, and protector of homelands, and may God have mercy on those of them who died for the sake of supporting the people and liberating the country, and may God extend the lives of those who were appointed to continue building and rebuilding.
I will present this topic through these chapters:
The first detail: The freedom of nations in the Sultan’s thought
He opened by pointing out that in the political and religious structure of Morocco, it is difficult to separate freedom and independence because the relationship between them is consequential. Whenever one occurs, the other responds, and they are true twins.
Sultan Muhammad V, may God have mercy on him, viewed freedom as the independence of parts of the entire country within the framework of the national and territorial unity of the Kingdom, because His Majesty realized that France deprived Moroccans of the most basic rights and freedoms, so it divided them into two categories:
Minors – Mahajir, and they raised their throats at her and raised daggers in their hands to confront her.
Thus, freedom means sovereignty, unity and development.
The second detail: significance and dimensions
Freedom takes its meaning through its practice, and its concept in the thought of Sultan Muhammad bin Yusuf takes dimensions including:
1_ The political dimension: It is evident in the speech of His Majesty King Mohammed V on the occasion of the inauguration of His Royal Highness Prince Moulay El Hassan as Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Morocco, on Tuesday 10 Dhu al-Hijjah 1376, corresponding to July 9, 1957, a speech that included an immortal will from His Majesty to his son and Crown Prince. Among what was stated in it: “Preserve its independence and defend its geographical and historical unity, and do not tolerate any of its freedom and do not give up a single scrap of its soil.”
This glory is still immortalized to this day in every site and arena, and this scientific symposium is a manifestation of that immortality, which today has become the most lofty tradition.
2_ The national dimension: Academic Abbas Al-Jarari mentions that the Sultan’s first speech after his accession to the throne in 1927 talked about two things:
Intellectual work through developing Moroccan thought and mind within an institutional framework, namely the school, institute, university, and mosque, and leading the battle for freedom and independence.
This dimension was also represented in His Majesty’s issuance of higher laws and legislation to protect citizenship rights and public freedoms. The most sublime of these legislations is the Royal Decree: Royal Decree No. 1.58.376 on public freedoms in Morocco, which is a reference royalty in the field of the system of freedoms in Morocco.
3_ The religious dimension: which focused on liberating the Moroccan mind and thought from sorcery resulting from the remnants of colonialism.
Protecting the ethnic, religious and linguistic components of Morocco’s relationship with neighboring geographical, civilizational and cultural countries.
The human dimension: It is manifested in the protection of the human participant despite the difference in religion. Here we mention the requirement and not the elimination of the relationship of Moroccan Jews with the Sultan and their apprehension after the issuance of racist laws or what is known as the Vichy Law.
In response to a letter addressed to His Honorable Honorable regarding granting Moroccan Jews general freedoms based on the Charter of Human Rights proclaimed by the United Nations in 1948… he replied that “His Majesty hopes that the exercise of these freedoms will be generalized so that they include all of His subjects without exception or discrimination.” Therefore, they described His Majesty as the King. Just and forbearing.
Thus, the late Sultan Muhammad V ensured the liberation of the homeland, the Moroccan mind, and scientific thought from the remnants of colonialism.
The third chapter: The Genius of Malak: From the Green March to the Development March
Development and reconstruction was established in the Hassaniya state by completing the territorial integrity of the Kingdom with various initiatives and innovations.
Among them is Malak’s genius: the Green March, the peaceful political station in diplomatic literature that enchanted the world with its idea, organization, engineering, path, and goals.
This is revealed in selected paragraphs from “The text of the sublime, historic royal speech addressed by His Majesty from the city of Agadir to the Moroccan people and to the volunteers in Tarfaya to embark on the Green March.” Praise be to God, and prayers and peace be upon our Lord, the Messenger of God, his family, and his companions.
My dear people: God Almighty said in His wise book: ((So when you have resolved, then put your trust in God)) God Almighty has spoken the truth.
Indeed, my dear people, we have all resolved and resolved, like every time in history. We have decided to resolve our resolve and decided to proceed on a peaceful, green path, supported by our rights, surrounded by our brothers and comrades, relying above all on our will and our faith.
There are many lessons and lessons learned from the Braided Green March in the context of its organization. “The process of the march was like a treasure and a great mine from which we extracted lessons and lessons: lessons first for us and lessons for others.”
First: My dear people, I am now certain and believe that Morocco, the affairs of Morocco, and the future of Morocco are in safe hands, in hands overflowing with God’s blessings, full of patriotism, committed to its work, and attached to its land and soil.
Lessons regarding giving and giving:
And here you are, my dear people, you have shown once again that you give and give, and what do you give and give? You give and give what is most precious to you, which is your soul, your life, your life, your life at home, your presence with your family, your ordinary life, and all of this you gave to your country in an automatic way, in a way that makes every one that God Almighty place on your head praise Him day and night for giving him a people like you, and he asks God night and night. May God increase his favor and surround him with success, so that he can carry out his duty towards a people like the Moroccan people.
As for other lessons for others:
First: We were able to know precisely who our friends and brothers were, and who wanted to see this problem as any foreigner would see it.
Regarding what was written and what was read, many people did not trust us at first. They thought it was an adventure, and they thought it was a political process that would enable us to cover up our shortcomings and problems. In this case, those who said or wrote these words are divided into two groups:
Some of them are ignorant of Morocco and there is no blame on them, and among them are those who know Morocco and yet what was written about it was written or what was said about it, and that is nothing but anger in the souls of those who disbelieve, and that is nothing but envy and hatred against this country which, praise be to God, has given and will continue to give examples. And lessons for others.”
Among the strong paragraphs in the speech that penetrate deeply into the Moroccan entity are the words of His Majesty, may God have mercy on him: “Tomorrow, God willing, the borders will be crossed. Tomorrow, God willing, the march will begin. Tomorrow, God willing, you will reach one of your lands, touch one of your sands, and will kiss land from your dear homeland.” A person who controlled himself and his heart received these inspiring words in drawing the milestones of major tasks, so the people responded without Exception: They were given a gift while they were in the care of one man, and they were possessed by a sense of response.
And on God’s conquest and blessing, His Majesty says, “My dear people, may God bless you, His care envelops you and your care surrounds you. May God guide your feet and your steps and make this march a march of clear conquest for the Moroccan people and for our Sahrawi brothers, whom we are most eager to meet, embrace, and get to know.
We thank God Almighty for guiding us to His straight path and making us follow His right path, hoping that He, Glory be to Him, will perpetuate upon us the blessings of praise and gratitude, so that we may praise Him greatly and thank Him often, and He may answer our prayers often. He is the Hearer and Answerer, and the answer is worthy. May the peace, mercy, and blessings of God Almighty be upon you… “
marching section; Covenant and loyalty: On the occasion of November 6, 1978, His Majesty King Hassan II, may God have mercy on him, delivered a speech in which he stated, “This oath is my dear people. You swore that you would be righteous by it, just as you swore to teach it to your family and your clan, because generations pass, but the country endures.
This is the text of the oath: “I swear by God Almighty to remain loyal to the spirit of the Green March, fighting for the unity of my country from the desert to the desert. I swear by God Almighty to teach this oath to my family and my family in my conduct and publicity, and God Almighty is the watcher of my sincerity and the sincerity of my intention.”
The fourth detail: The development process in the land of the march and the role of geostrategic partnerships
The development process in the southern provinces will reach its zenith during the prosperous Mohammedan era, with Morocco obtaining successive international recognitions from international political leaders as well as from regulatory bodies of Moroccan sovereignty over all of its various territories, so that King Mohammed VI will establish the new generation of geostrategic partnerships starting from the axes of Laayoune and Dakhla, as it is a region It links Africa with Europe in order to promote the new generation of development in the royal development project.
On the occasion of the forty-ninth anniversary of the Green March, His Majesty King Mohammed VI addressed a sublime speech to his loyal people, saying, “May God protect him,” about the event: “It is a peaceful and popular march that enabled the recovery of the Moroccan Sahara and strengthened the connection of its people with the motherland.”
Since that time, Morocco has been able to establish a tangible reality, an irreversible truth, based on right, legitimacy, commitment and responsibility.”
These four principles, “right, legitimacy, commitment, and responsibility,” are the pillars of development work in the urban process invented by Muhammadan thought, inspired by history, social literature, and the strong ties that bind Morocco into a natural social community that surrounds the glorious Alaite throne, advocating, supporting, and blessing efforts undertaken in implementation of covenants that do not disappear. .
Whenever November 6th comes every year, we wait for the royal speech on the radio and television, for His Majesty to announce major development projects throughout Morocco and others related to the Moroccan Sahara. If we followed His Majesty’s speeches on this occasion since he assumed the throne of Morocco in counting and inventorying these initiatives, programs and utilitarian projects, we would not be able to. Even confine it to folders.
Regarding such announcements that the Moroccan people rejoice in on the occasion of this anniversary:
The generous royal call to structure institutions and create others to defend the discourse of the community, and in this context the article comes from His Majesty – may God grant him victory – “We would like to pay tribute here, in particular, to the spirit of patriotism of Moroccans residing abroad, and to their commitment to defending the sanctities of the homeland and contributing to its development.
To strengthen the connection of this group to the homeland, we decided to bring about a new shift in the field of managing the affairs of the Moroccan community abroad.
This is done by restructuring the institutions concerned with it.”
The braided green march, as a reference historical event in Moroccan political thought, reflects the genius of the master of strategic planning to automatically establish the Muhammadiyah perspective on development, whose benefits will befall Moroccan citizens on the homeland as well as on the land of the diaspora, because the homeland is for everyone. It is the task of structuring the “Council of the Moroccan Community Abroad” and creating the “Muhammadiyah Foundation.” for Moroccans residing abroad” and activating “the national mechanism to mobilize the competencies of Moroccans residing abroad” to provide a sound stimulating environment Our citizens from various international locations place their capital at the disposal of development in Morocco in general and in the Moroccan Sahara in particular.
This, and the braided green march continues and will continue to provide Morocco with cultural and urban components that enable it to formulate innovative models in modern development planning, and this is what made the Kingdom create development models:
The new development model for the southern regions, and it was stated in the royal speech on November 6, 2013, on the occasion of the 38th anniversary of the Green March, that “and in order to ensure the conditions for success of this ambitious model, based on creativity and the spirit of partnership, it will be provided with effective mechanisms for responsible governance, in addition to being It falls within the framework of advanced regionalization, which grants broad specializations For elected councils.
Our ultimate goal remains to make our southern regions a space for integrated development and decent living for its people, and to enhance their geo-strategic dimension, as a regional pole for connectivity and exchanges between Europe and Sub-Saharan Africa.”
The Southern Provinces Development Program (2015-2021), which was announced by His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God grant him victory, on November 6, 2015.
The new development model, April 2021.
Morocco has provided all the conditions and conditions necessary for investment in order to create development in the southern axis with the same fortunes as those in the north, east and center, and thus the southern regions have become an investment destination par excellence.
I see the conclusion of this work with what was stated in the speech of His Majesty – may God protect him – to his loyal people on the occasion of the forty-ninth anniversary of the Green March: “The sacrifices made by the generation of the March motivate us to greater mobilization and vigilance, with the aim of consolidating the gains we have achieved in consolidating the Moroccanity of the Sahara and continuing the development renaissance. Which our southern regions know.
In the same spirit, we must work to ensure that the fruits of progress and development include all citizens in all regions, from the countryside to the desert, from the east to the ocean, passing through the mountainous areas, plains and oases.”
The political, national and religious dimension has an effective function – which was established during the period of freedom and independence with His Majesty the late Mohammed V. The manifestations of his commemoration are reflected in the Moroccan people’s celebrations of Independence Day, November 18 of each year, and there are no confirmed ceremonies commemorating the anniversary of November 6 of each year, as is received at every meeting in which he delivers. His Majesty King Mohammed VI addressed his loyal people, and the people were rejoicing and congratulating him on the work of His Majesty in promoting material and moral development. For the Moroccans, most importantly, the preaching plan that was prepared by the nation’s scholars and in which they invested all the religious capabilities and energies available in the environment of religious preaching. For this purpose, they issued cards in accordance with Moroccan peculiarities that make religion a development and civilizational incentive by virtue of the caliphate of the Emirate of God on earth for the sake of architecture, and in this the saying of God Almighty is true: “Those who If We establish them in the land, they will establish prayer and pay zakat and enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong.”
