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May 1, 2006
Morocco: Meet The Morchidat, Muslim Women Guides For The Faithful
News from Middle East Online and South Africa's Independent reports on a unique experiment in the Muslim world - Muslim women "chaplains". Their official title is Morchidat or "guides".
They began their studies last April, and recently graduated last month after completing the 12 month course. These Morchidat have been trained to be Islamic guides in prisons, hospitals and schools, to "accompany and orient" Muslims in their faith. They will be paid about $560 per month for their services.
The campaign to bring women into the position of Islamic "guides" was initiated by King Mohammed VI and the government, in the wake of the suicide-bombings carried out by the Groupe Islamique Combattant Marocain (GICM). These hit Casablanca, the nation's economic centre, on May 16, 2003, and killed 45 people and injured dozens more.
The women Morchidat were trained at a centre attached to the Islamic Affairs Ministry, and 50 women graduated. Most of the graduates are in their 30s. Mohamed Mahfoud, director of the centre, said: "This is a rare experiment in the Muslim world." A spokesperson for the ministry said that it was the "first in the Islamic world."
Mahfoud said: "Sports was the only subject dropped from the women preachers' training because the schedule was just too tight." However, he hopes to introduce sport to the other studies of the new crop of wannabe Morchidats, who have to study psychology, sociology, computer skills, economy, law and business management on the course.
Samira Marzouk, a newly-qualified Morchidat said she would "fill in the gaps that prevent a solid framework for religion". She added: "We are going to teach a tolerant Islam by focusing on the underprivileged classes."
The women are not going to replace the role of the imam. Samira said: "The imamate in Islam is restricted solely to men who are apt at leading prayers, notably those on Friday. The Morchidat will be in charge of leading religious discussions, give courses in Islam, give moral support to people in difficulty and guide the faithful towards a tolerant Islam."
Leila Fares, another graduate, said: "We will help attenuate any drift towards Islamic extremism". She claimed that "an overall approach is needed to dealing with radical Islam."
Obviously the issue has divided Muslim luminaries. Mustapha Ramid from the Islamist Justice & Development Party (PJD), the opposition group in parliament, said the move was positive. He pointed tot he example of Egypt which has "eminemt scholars of Islam". He said it was justified because "in Islam, men and women are equal."
However, Hassan Bennajeh of the extremist, but officially non-violent Al-Adl Wal-Ihsanne (Justice and Welfare) group was more disdainful, saying: "The power behind this initiative is the same as the one that commits acts contrary to Islam, notably degrading moral values. This initiative, then, will only have a limited impact on the population."
Posted by Giraldus Cambrensis at May 1, 2006 7:41 PM
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