Source: AllAfrica
Morocco's Renaissance and Virtue Party just repeated its call for a quota of seats in parliament to be allocated to ulema.

The party's deputy secretary-general, Abou Hafs Rafiki, said on September 6th that ulema must participate in public affairs and the development of the country through a quota system so that they can be represented alongside other categories, such as overseas Moroccans and women.

Clerics must once again assume their role in society, Rafiki stressed.

His party said the quota strategy aims to cut the ground from under the feet of extremists and fundamentalists.

But the call has stirred up controversy over the relationship between religion and politics.

One of the fundamental principles of politics is the separation between it and religion, analyst Mohamed Chahbi told Magharebia. He explained that parliament's role was primarily a legislative one.

"Besides, religious political parties are banned in Morocco," he said. "It is dangerous to open the door to candidates standing for office in the name of Islam, because that could create real hold-ups in parliament when draft laws are examined and discussed.

Karim Zahri, a sociologist, said that ulema have always played an important role in Morocco by giving guidance to the population and tackling all forms of extremism.

"This role cannot be fulfilled through their involvement in parliamentary activity. On the contrary, it could create frustration among the public, especially young people who are increasingly beginning to doubt the role of clerics in society," he asserted.

The public is divided between those welcome the idea of ulema entering the legislature and those who believe that religious figures should not enter the political arena.

According to Safae Nhiri, a 25-year-old bank employee, religion must be kept separate from the running of public affairs. ulema should instead provide guidance and raise public awareness in mosques and through the media.

"Clergymen are no longer playing the role that they used to. They need to have a much bigger presence in TV programmes and talk to people about topical issues. Their involvement in politics could create problems instead of solving them," she said.

People should be allowed to choose their own MPs, commented Mounir Kartoubi, a 20-year-old student. A quota system was not the right solution to ensure that religious leaders are represented, he said. Rather, ulema should run for office to see whether they are really capable of gaining voters' support.

"We mustn't seek easy options. Ulema must find out what weight they really carry on the ground," Kartoubi added.

• Morocco