A ceremony marked the completion of the first phase of restoration work on the historic Toumliline monastery chapel in Azrou. The restoration project, led by the “Mémoires pour l’Avenir” Foundation and Ta’aruf Inter-convictional Center, aimed to preserve this significant inter-religious dialogue site.
Lamia Radi, president of the foundation, emphasized the chapel’s historical importance as a place of global interfaith meetings since 1956.
Various organizations, including USAID and the Belgian Future 21 Foundation, provided financial support for the chapel’s restoration.
Radi highlighted the collaboration with Morocco’s authorities and international partners to secure the site and preserve its heritage.
A second phase will follow, focusing on welcoming the public and educating visitors about its historical significance.
Aicha Haddou, president of the Ta’aruf Center, recalled King Mohammed VI’s praise of Toumliline as a symbol of inter-religious dialogue.
Haddou stressed that the restoration work is a commitment to preserving the site’s legacy of respect and mutual understanding.
Baroness Martine Jonet-de Bassompierre, of the Future 21 Foundation, reiterated the importance of restoring the chapel as a beacon of peace and dialogue.
Toumliline’s location in Morocco, a country of cultural exchanges, makes it an ideal space for fostering tolerance and harmony.