Political Sparring in Morocco: Justice Minister Calls Out Former PM’s “Political Twilight Years”
A war of words has erupted in Moroccan politics, with Justice Minister, Abdelatif Ouahbi, launching a scathing attack on former Prime Minister and Secretary-General of the Justice and Development Party (PJD), Abdelilah Benkirane. Ouahbi, in an interview with Moroccan daily Assabah, dismissed Benkirane’s criticisms as the ramblings of a politician past his morocco-olympics-spain-semifinal-loss/” title=”Spain Defeats Morocco, Securing Spot in Olympic Finals (VIDEO)”>prime, suggesting he is experiencing his “political twilight years.”
The feud ignited after the PJD released a strongly worded statement accusing Ouahbi of “mocking a prophetic saying” related to relationships between men and women in private. This refers to a recent controversy where Ouahbi faced backlash for his stance on consensual relationships, with critics accusing him of undermining Islamic values.
Ouahbi, however, refutes these allegations, attributing the PJD’s accusations to their “political void.” He argues that the party, now in opposition, is desperately seeking ammunition to attack the current government. He further claims that his words were misinterpreted and that he was merely pointing out the difficulties of proving non-marital relationships under Moroccan law, even within the framework of Islamic jurisprudence.
This latest clash is not the first between the two political heavyweights. Benkirane has previously called for Ouahbi’s resignation over disagreements on various issues, including the new Family Code, civil procedure law, and the legalization of cannabis cultivation. These calls for removal, however, have been largely unsuccessful.
The PJD, in their statement, expressed deep concern over what they perceive as a decline in the office of the Minister of Justice under Ouahbi’s leadership. They questioned how he remains in office despite his controversial statements and actions, especially when other ministers have been removed for far less.
This public spat highlights the ongoing tension between the ruling coalition and the opposition PJD, which suffered a significant defeat in the 2021 elections. It also underscores the sensitive nature of social issues within the Moroccan context, where religion and politics often intersect.
