On Monday, King Mohammed VI presided over a working session on the reform of the Family Code at the Royal Palace in Casablanca. The meeting followed the conclusion of a mission by the body responsible for revising the text, which submitted a report containing 100 proposed amendments. The Sovereign referred the matter to the Supreme Council of Ulemas regarding «certain proposals related to religious texts, on which the Council has issued a legal opinion», according to the same source. This session also followed the King's «necessary arbitrations on questions where the Council had issued more than one opinion, or those requiring recourse to Sharia-based opinions for revision». These Royal arbitrations prioritized choices aligned with the frameworks and objectives outlined in the royal letter addressed to the head of government, as well as those established by the Forum's guiding norms, particularly the principle: «Do not prohibit what is authorized, nor authorize what is prohibited». During the session, the Minister of Justice, Abdellatif Ouahbi, in his capacity as a Forum member, presented the approach and working methodology, including listening and hearing sessions, along with the key proposals featured in the report. The Minister of Habous and Islamic Affairs, Ahmed Toufiq, representing the Supreme Council of Ulemas, outlined the Council's conclusions on the legal foundations of some of the Forum's proposals. He also addressed the principle of Maslaha (public interest) in finding Sharia-compliant solutions to other proposals. «This was an opportunity to highlight the capacity for constructive Ijtihad in deducing Sharia rules, showcasing the Moroccan School of Fiqh's moderation and adherence to the Kingdom's religious constants», the statement adds. In this context, King Mohammed VI urged the Supreme Council of Ulemas to «continue their reflections and adopt a constructive Ijtihad on family-related issues by establishing an appropriate framework within its structure. This aims to deepen research into Fiqh matters related to the evolving Moroccan family, necessitating innovative solutions aligned with contemporary demands». To ensure transparency, the Sovereign instructed the Head of Government and relevant ministers to «engage with public opinion and keep it informed of developments in the Family Code revision process». The government is tasked with drafting and formulating the amendments within a reasonable timeframe as part of the legislative initiative, in accordance with constitutional provisions. The working session was attended by the Head of Government, Aziz Akhannouch; the Minister of Justice, Abdellatif Ouahbi; the Minister of Habous and Islamic Affairs, Ahmed Toufiq; and the Minister of Solidarity, Social Integration, and the Family, Naima Ben Yahia.
