Morocco’s King Mohammed VI on Friday instructed the Higher Council of Ulema to review several points included in the proposed amendments of the body in charge of revising Morocco’s Family Code (Mudawana) for consistency with the principles of Islam and to provide a fatwa, a ruling on the matter by the recognized authority.
The Sovereign referred the matter to the Council, pursuant to Article 41 of Morocco’s Constitution, because some provisions of the proposed amendments pertain to religious texts.
The Sovereign urged the Council during its development of the fatwa to take into account the substance of the Royal Letter addressed to the Head of Government in 2023, which calls for “embracing moderation” and “conducting thoughtful and inclusive Ijtihad.”
The referral comes after the Family Code body submitted amendments for the king’s review within the previously required six-month deadline.
Last year, the king in his Throne Day speech called upon the body to revise the Mudawana so as to “empower and support” women consistent with Islamic Sharia law.