In an implicit response to the statements of the Minister of Endowments and Islamic Affairs, the Secretary-General of the Justice and Development Party (PJD), Abdelilah Benkirane, said that Morocco is «an Islamic state and not secular». Benkirane added during a communication meeting organized by his party in Oulad Berhil, Sunday, December 1, that Morocco is «an Islamic state and not secular; its king is the Commander of the Faithful and not an ordinary king. He has been the Commander of the Faithful not just today, yesterday, a month ago, a year ago, or even 50 years ago, but for many centuries». The Minister of Endowments and Islamic Affairs said last Monday during the oral questions session in the House of Representatives that during the visit of French President Emmanuel Macron to Morocco, he met with the French Minister of the Interior, Bruno Retailleau, in a meeting that was not announced in the media, and that he «shocked» the French official when he told him that Morocco is a «secular» state. «We do not have texts like the 1905 texts, but if someone wants something, they can do it because 'There is no compulsion in religion'». Toufiq confirmed that he received a message from the French minister, requesting to meet him to continue the discussion on the subject.
