Al Adl Wa Al Ihssane
Encyclopedia
Al Adl wal Ihsane is a Moroccan
Islamist association, founded by Cheikh Abdesslam Yassine
(not to be confused with Ahmed Yassin
, the former head of Palestinian Hamas
). Yassine acts as a charismatic leader for the organisation, which attributes him near saintly-status and operates on lines similar to those a Moroccan Sufi brotherhood (Zaouia boutchichia), of which Yassine was a member prior to his politicisation. This association is not legal but is tolerated by the Moroccan authorities.
The party advocates the transformation of Morocco into an Islamist state, ruled by its interpretation of the Shariah. Like the Muslim Brotherhood
, it works for the Islamisation
of the whole society, through its grassroots social welfare organisations and important presence in universities.
Contrary to the legalist Justice and Development Party
, Al Adl Wa Al Ihssane has not been allowed to transform itself into a political party by the Moroccan government, it has also been argued that it's the party's choice to not do so as it refuses to enter the political game under the current political practices, which it perceives as illegitimate; the party also opposes the article of the Moroccan constitution
which states that the king Mohammed VI is also Amir al-Muminin
.
Through the year 2005, the association reportedly developed the idea of a qawma, a revolution, for 2006, after a series of dreams of association members. Many Adlists think these dreams refer to the immediate abolition of the monarchy in Morocco and the instauration of a Caliphate
. Indeed, in spring 2005, Yassine's daughter, Nadia Yassine
the daughter of Abdesslam Yassine, who heads the feminist branch of the organisation, said in an interview to the Moroccan newspaper Al Ousbouiya Al Jadida that she believed that Monarchy is not appropriate for Morocco. Yassine and two journalists from the newspaper are facing charges for defamation of the monarchy relating to the remarks, although her trial has twice been postponed. Publicly, the group has denied any revolutionary plans, arguing rather that Moroccan stability is at serious risk not from it but due to persistently high levels of unemployment and poverty.
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
Islamist association, founded by Cheikh Abdesslam Yassine
Abdesslam Yassine
Abdesslam Yassine is the leader of Moroccan Islamist organisation Al Adl Wa Al Ihssane . Yassine has been a teacher and a school inspector for the Ministry of Education, and since 1965 a member of one of the most famous Moroccan Sufi brotherhoods, the Boutchichiyya...
(not to be confused with Ahmed Yassin
Ahmed Yassin
Sheikh Ahmed Ismail Hassan Yassin was a founder of Hamas, an Islamist Palestinian paramilitary organization and political party. Yassin also served as the spiritual leader of the organization...
, the former head of Palestinian Hamas
Hamas
Hamas is the Palestinian Sunni Islamic or Islamist political party that governs the Gaza Strip. Hamas also has a military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades...
). Yassine acts as a charismatic leader for the organisation, which attributes him near saintly-status and operates on lines similar to those a Moroccan Sufi brotherhood (Zaouia boutchichia), of which Yassine was a member prior to his politicisation. This association is not legal but is tolerated by the Moroccan authorities.
The party advocates the transformation of Morocco into an Islamist state, ruled by its interpretation of the Shariah. Like the Muslim Brotherhood
Muslim Brotherhood
The Society of the Muslim Brothers is the world's oldest and one of the largest Islamist parties, and is the largest political opposition organization in many Arab states. It was founded in 1928 in Egypt by the Islamic scholar and schoolteacher Hassan al-Banna and by the late 1940s had an...
, it works for the Islamisation
Islamization
Islamization or Islamification has been used to describe the process of a society's conversion to the religion of Islam...
of the whole society, through its grassroots social welfare organisations and important presence in universities.
Contrary to the legalist Justice and Development Party
Justice and Development Party (Morocco)
The Justice and Development Party is the largest opposition political party in Morocco. The PJD advocates Islamism and Islamic democracy.-History:...
, Al Adl Wa Al Ihssane has not been allowed to transform itself into a political party by the Moroccan government, it has also been argued that it's the party's choice to not do so as it refuses to enter the political game under the current political practices, which it perceives as illegitimate; the party also opposes the article of the Moroccan constitution
Constitution
A constitution is a set of fundamental principles or established precedents according to which a state or other organization is governed. These rules together make up, i.e. constitute, what the entity is...
which states that the king Mohammed VI is also Amir al-Muminin
Amir al-Muminin
Amīr al-Mu'minīn usually translated Commander of the Faithful or Leader of the Faithful, is the Arabic style of Caliphs and other independent sovereign Muslim rulers that claim legitimacy from a community of Muslims...
.
Cult of personality around its leader and interpretation of his dreams
The association is entirely centred around the personality of Abdesslam Yassine.Through the year 2005, the association reportedly developed the idea of a qawma, a revolution, for 2006, after a series of dreams of association members. Many Adlists think these dreams refer to the immediate abolition of the monarchy in Morocco and the instauration of a Caliphate
Caliphate
The term caliphate, "dominion of a caliph " , refers to the first system of government established in Islam and represented the political unity of the Muslim Ummah...
. Indeed, in spring 2005, Yassine's daughter, Nadia Yassine
Nadia Yassine
Nadia Yassine is the head of the feminine branch of the Moroccan Islamist movement Al Adl Wa Al Ihssane...
the daughter of Abdesslam Yassine, who heads the feminist branch of the organisation, said in an interview to the Moroccan newspaper Al Ousbouiya Al Jadida that she believed that Monarchy is not appropriate for Morocco. Yassine and two journalists from the newspaper are facing charges for defamation of the monarchy relating to the remarks, although her trial has twice been postponed. Publicly, the group has denied any revolutionary plans, arguing rather that Moroccan stability is at serious risk not from it but due to persistently high levels of unemployment and poverty.
External links
- Video about Al-Adl wa Al Ihssane
- http://www.yassine.net
- http://www.aljamaa.com
- Chris Zambelis, "Crackdown Against Islamist Opposition in Morocco Intensifies," Jamestown Foundation Terrorism Focus, Volume 3, Issue 24, June 20, 2006.
- Chris Zambelis, "Morocco Cracks Down on Islamist Opposition Group JSA," Jamestown Foundation Terrorism Focus, Volume 3, Issue 22, June 6, 2006.