CAIRO — Morocco has enacted a law that restricts the construction of
mosques.
Parliament approved legislation that increases supervision over Islamic
charities and activities. The new law, passed on Jan. 16, would regulate
donations for the construction of mosques, Middle East Newsline reported.
Under the bill, donors must register with Moroccan authorities before
establishing or contributing to a mosque fund. The law also stipulated that
a special permit would be required for the construction of a Muslim house of
worship.
Islamic Affairs Minister Ahmed Al Tawfiq said the law was meant to
prevent the exploitation of mosques. Al Tawfiq denied that the legislation
was recommended by Morocco's allies in the West.
Islamic organizations expressed concern that the new law would block the
construction of mosques. Many mosques built in Morocco and the rest of the
Arab world stem from donations by Saudi Arabia and other Gulf Cooperation
Council states.
The law comes as Morocco and other North African states have been
battling Al Qaida infiltration, particularly by the Salafist Brigade for
Combat and Call. On Thursday, a Tunisian court convicted a Tunisian national
of belonging to the Salafists. Zied Ghodhbane, 27, was sentenced to 11 years
in prison. Two other defendants were convicted in absentia.