When traveling in the Middle East and North Africa, you will notice a particular phenomenon that will strike you upon entrance into every airport, disembarking in any bus station and sticking your head into any corner grocery store – in every nook and cranny of these countries, you will see photographs of the country’s ruler. In Jordan it will be King Abdullah II, in Syria you will see President Bashar al-Assad, in Egypt it is President Hosni Mubarak and in Morocco, at every turn, will be the face of King Mohammed VI. As you travel through the fascinating, beautiful country of Morocco and see so many images of the young leader King Mohammed VI (or, M6, as he is affectionately referred to by the younger generation), you will begin to wonder: Who is this man whose image I see everywhere?
The King of Morocco is an integral part of the country, and in order to have a deeper understanding of the culture and political life of this North African country, it is first necessary to have a better understanding of its young and vibrant king.
Mohammed was born on 21 August 1963 in Morocco’s capital city, Rabat. He is the eldest son of the late King Hussein II, who passed away in 1999 (the year that Mohammed ascended to the throne). Before coming to the throne, Mohammed received both an BA and a PhD in law. The King’s wife is Princess Lalla Salma, and they have two children, Crown Prince Moulay Hassan and Princess Lalla Khadija.
Mohammed has achieved the reputation of a young, modernizing king. He has promised to improve Morocco’s human rights record, and has made huge strides in improving gender equality in the country. In 2004, he passed revisions to the Moudawanna (Moroccan family code) that made divorce easier for women and granted them more rights related to marriage; reforms also granted Moroccan citizenship to children born of Moroccan mothers and foreign fathers. He has also established the Equity and Reconcilliation Committee, a commission to investigate human rights abuses in Morocco. This was the first truth commission established in the Arab World.
King Mohammed VI has begun to establish a reforming image in the international arena, and this is important to understand before embarking on your Morocco tour. But, what is even more important is to gain an appreciation for the respect that the Moroccan people feel for their king. Young children and older citizens alike feel a strong allegiance to their king, as well as a deep sense of pride in his accomplishments at such a young age.
Anyone journeying into Morocco must understand this respectful relationship, and show respect for the King as well. It will befit any traveler to Morocco to read up on M6 before their departure to the country; as such, it will be possible to enter Morocco with an understanding of its leader and political culture. And who knows – perhaps this will open up conversations with Moroccans, who will be pleasantly surprised to find a tourist who can speak to them about their King.
The King himself is a huge proponent of people coming on Morocco family holidays, believing that the more people visit the country, the more they will gain an appreciation for its open and tolerant nature. With so much negative hype in the media today, tourism is an important route for people to take in coming to learn about and appreciate the dynamic, vibrant nature of Muslim countries such as Morocco. He also understands the important impact tourism can play in creating jobs in Morocco, a country that has dealt with severe unemployment problems for much of its recent history.
by Terry
