- Title: MOROCCO: Festival for Sufi Tijani Tariqa sect is held in Fez
- Date: 2nd July 2007
- Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) AHMED KOSTAS, THE DIRECTOR OF RELIGIOUS AFFAIRS IN MOROCCO, SAYING: "I think that all the Islamic countries are now reverting to Sufism to combat extremism and terrorism because this religion brings a message of love, peace, wisdom and moderation. It does not matter where these meetings are taking place and talking of a religious war is just media hyp
- Embargoed: 17th July 2007 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Morocco
- Country: Morocco
- Topics: International Relations,Religion
- Reuters ID: LVAMHWE9JRGPSH009RQTI14EBPB
- Story Text: A festival for the Sufi Tijani sect is held in the Moroccan city of Fez and attracts participants from across Africa and the Middle East. The festival in Fez comes after a similar event held in Algeria angered some Moroccans because it was seen as an attempt to undermine Morocco's patronage of the sect.
An international festival was held in the Moroccan city of Fez on Saturday (June 30) for the powerful Sufi Tijani Tariqa sect which attracted participants from across the Middle East and Africa.
The festival, which was held in collaboration with the Moroccan government, follows a similar festival held last November in Algiers, which irritated Moroccan religious leaders and prompted press reports that a religious rift between the two countries had resulted.
The Moroccan royal family, which claims descent from the Prophet Mohammad, considers Morocco to be the centre of influence of the Tijani Tariqa sect because its founder, Sidi Ahmed Tijani, although born in Ain Madi in Algeria in 1737, came to Fez when he felt the call of Sufi life. It is said that Sidi Tijani travelled to Fez in order to meet Sufi Sheikhs and was later buried in the city in 1815.
The event held in Algeria last November was seen by some Moroccans as an attempt by Algeria to undermine Morocco's religious role in the region, and it added to an already existing rift between the two countries over the Western Sahara.
Mustapha Khalfi, a Moroccan expert in Islamic movements, said that Algeria was to blame for the rift, but denied there was a religious war taking place between the two countries as some Moroccan newspapers had reported.
"It"s mainly some annoying tactics by Algeria because both countries are trying to assert themselves. But we cannot talk of a religious war between the two countries," he said.
Moroccan officials attending the festival in Fez on Sunday refused to be drawn into the controversy and instead spoke of the qualities of Sufism.
Ahmed Kostas, the Director of Religious Affairs in Morocco, said Sufism could be used to combat religious extremism and even terrorism.
"I think that all the Islamic countries are now reverting to Sufism to combat extremism and terrorism because this religion brings a message of love, peace, wisdom and moderation. It does not matter where these meetings are taking place and talking of a religious war is just media hype," he said.
Participants in the festival first took part in a forum and later held prayers at the Tijani Tariqa mosque and visited the mausoleum of Sidi Ahmed Tijani.
When asked to comment of the rift between Morocco and Algeria, participants dismissed it, many saying that Sufism and the Tijani sect belonged to all believers and not a particular country, such as Morocco or Algeria.
"The Tariqa belongs to all the countries and not to one country in particular. It belongs to Morocco, to Senegal and to the whole world. The most important thing is that is goes from strength to strength because it will benefit Muslims and will be a factor for peace and security in the world," said Mouniro Ndieguene, a religious leader from Senegal.
"There must be unity, understanding, and good feelings between Morocco and all parties, not an empty dialogue," added Zakia Zouanate, a Moroccan Anthropologist and expert in Sufi Orders.
The festival closed with an evening of religious chanting and music.
Sidi Ahmed Tijani's movement has flourished in Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, Mauritania and Senegal. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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