Washington - A study by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), a U.S. think tank based in Washington, highlighted the uniqueness of Moroccan Islam as a force for regional stability, noting that the essence of the religious reference of the Kingdom stems from the Maliki rite and Achaarite doctrine that draw on the virtues of moderation.
"The Moroccan uniqueness in matters of religion is based on four principles: the centrality of the Commander-of-the-faithful institution which shields Morocco from any sort of political manipulation in the religion, the Maliki rite and the Achaarite doctrine as a bulwark against extremism, besides Sufism which extols the virtues of spirituality and positive action on the ground," said the author of this article, Haim Malka.
Malka, deputy director of the Middle East program within CSIS and a prominent member of this prestigious research center, said Morocco has, in the past decade, adopted a "comprehensive" strategy that focused on reforming the religious field to counter extremist ideologies, noting that the Moroccan approach can inspire the countries of the region which seek to protect their societies against the influence of violent extremist movements.