International Union of Muslim Scholars head resigns over controversial statements against Algeria

Ahmed Raissouni has announced his resignation from the presidency of the International Union of Muslim Scholars.

Raissouni made this decision to defend his right to freedom of expression without oppression, emphasizing his firm positions and opinions after the statements he made on the existence of Mauritania, according to Morocco World News. 

Controversial opinion 

Earlier in an interview, Raissouni described Mauritania as a mistake, asserting that Mauritania was an integral part of Morocco before Western occupation and colonization. He said that Mauritania is a colonial industry and called for jihad to liberate the Algerian city of Tindouf, according to RT Arabic. 

Raissouni added that Moroccan citizens, scholars and preachers are ready to sacrifice their money and souls in order to liberate Tindouf, RT Arabic reported. 

Raissouni stressed that his remarks were spontaneous and everybody should know that Morocco had “objected” to Mauritania’s independence for several years for historical reasons before it decided to recognize the country’s independence. He added that his comments were not meant to demean Mauritania’s sovereignty, according to Morocco World News. 

For its part, the Fatwa Committee of the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Endowments denounced the provocative statements. The Fatwa Committee confirmed, in a statement, that Raissouni’s announcement ignites the flames of sedition in the region, according to Ennahar Online. 

The Fatwa Committee said that his words implied clear incitement and an explicit call to attack the sovereignty of states. He has unjustly and aggressively tempted himself to provoke hate speech and call for igniting the fires of strife between the peoples, states and governments of the region, Ennahar Online reported.

Angry reactions 

Ahmed Raissouni's statements regarding the independence of Mauritania and the liberation of Tindouf were received by harsh criticism and condemnation in Algeria and Mauritania, Morocco World News reported. 

In a reaction against these statements, the Association of Algerian Muslim Scholars decided to freeze its activities in the International Union of Muslim Scholars. The head of the Association of Algerian Muslim Scholars, Abdel Razzaq Qasoum, stated that the Association was surprised by Raissouni's anti-Algerian statements, saying that it “does not serve the unity of peoples and does not preserve good neighborliness,” according to Shorouk News. 

Qasoum said earlier the Association's activity in the Union would be suspended until Raissouni makes a clear and honest apology or submits his resignation from his position, adding that Raissouni called for a so-called “jihad against Algeria,” in clear violation of the legal concept of jihad in Islam, Shorouk News reported. 

Qasoum told Jusoor Post earlier that “no statements needed to be made after the Association’s stance to freeze its activities in the Union.  The whole matter is now part of the past.” 

Raissouni’s resignation 

Qasoum praised the approval of Ahmed Raissouni's resignation by the Board of Trustees of the International Union of Muslim Scholars. In a telephone conversation with Al-Nahar TV, Qasoum considered this a culmination of the efforts exerted to fix the situation. 

He described Raissouni’s decision as an important step and expressed his wish to make an apology.

Raissouni mentioned that he is now in consultations with the Union’s secretary general on the implementation of his resignation in accordance with Articles 1-2 of the Union’s statutes, Morocco World News reported.