HM King Mohammed VI, Commander of the Faithful, addressed a speech on the occasion of the inauguration ceremony of the Higher Council of the Mohammed VI Foundation of African Oulema on Tuesday 08 Ramadan 1437 (June 14th,2016) in Fez.

Here is the full text of the Royal speech:

Praise be to God May peace and blessings be upon the Prophet, His Kith and Kin

Distinguished Oulema,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It gives me great pleasure, on this auspicious day, to inaugurate the Higher Council of the Mohammed VI Foundation for African Oulema.

This step reflects the depth of the time-honored spiritual bonds between sub-Saharan African peoples and the King of Morocco, Commander of the Faithful. Furthermore, it attests to the unity of our faith and doctrine, as much as to our shared cultural heritage.

This is another building block which further enhances our strategic policy designed to raise the level of political and economic cooperation between Morocco and a number of sister African nations in order to make it an effective, solidarity-based partnership, covering all sectors.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

My decision to create this institution has nothing to do with transient circumstances or narrow, passing interests.

It is rather in line with an integrated policy to promote constructive cooperation and respond to the requests from a number of sister African nations in the religious domain.

Among the most significant indicators of this cooperation is the fact that many African students have been accepted for enrollment at the Mohamed VI Institute for the Training of Imams, Murshideen and Murshidat (male and female preachers).

Distinguished Oulema,

I view the Mohammed VI Foundation for African Oulema as an institution for cooperation, for the exchange of experiences and for the Oulema to make concerted efforts to fulfil their duty and turn a spotlight on the true image of the pristine Islamic faith as well as on its open-minded values, which are based on moderation, tolerance and coexistence. The aim is to make sure those values help us promote security, stability and development in Africa.

I am convinced the Foundation, through its branches in African countries, and together with other religious institutions, will play its role in disseminating enlightened religious precepts and in combating extremism, reclusiveness and terrorism – which our faith does not embrace in any way – but which are advocated by some clerics, in the name of Islam.

Distinguished Oulema,

I have decided that the Mohammed VI Foundation for African Oulema will be based in Fez, given this city’s religious status, and also in view of the fact that it is one of Morocco’s main seats of learning and our country’s spiritual capital.

I have also chosen the city of Fez because I am aware of its standing in the hearts of Africans.

May God grant you every success.

Wassalamu alaikum warahmatullah wabarakatuh.