Morocco's king calls on civil society to raise awareness against dangers of fanaticism

Morocco's king Mohammed VI called on Saturday on civil society to double efforts to raise awareness among young people and inform them of the dangers of fanaticism and reclusion.

Civil society actors must counter the campaign staged by terrorists and by those using terrorist acts to point fingers at Islam and Muslims, the king said in a message on the occasion of the commemoration in the northern city of M'Diq, of the 5th anniversary of the death of Imad Ibn Ziaten in a terrorist act south-western France.

Terrorist Mohamed Marah killed in March 2012 a teacher and three children at a Jewish school and three French soldiers, including the French citizen of Moroccan descent Imad in the city of Toulouse.

The Moroccan king rejected the distortion of the Islamic faith, calling all people of conscience and lovers of peace, life and tolerance to rise up against the dissemination of fanaticism and obscurantism and counter advocates of terrorism, violence and excommunication.

The best way to counter the unjust and unacceptable confusion between Islam and terrorism affecting Muslims livings in Western countries, including Moroccans, is to remain committed to its lofty values, he added.

The king paid tribute to the policman's mother Latifa Ben Ziaten, who has set up an NGO with the aim to promote the culture of peace, tolerance and living together.

"Instead of giving in to feelings of despair and surrendering to anger and hatred, she has proved that she is a living example of patience and tolerance," he underscored.

Source: Xinhua