Moroccan Foreign Minister (FM) Nasser Bourita pointed out the role of education in combating anti-Semitism and hate speech during a high-level meeting on leveraging education to address these issues during a high-level event initiated on Monday by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
Bourita warned that since World War II, coexistence has never been as threatened as it is today.
Bourita stressed that racial, religious, and national hate speech has become alarmingly common. He referred to the words of King Mohammed VI, who said during Pope Francis’ visit to Morocco in 2019 that education, not military or financial means, is the key solution to radicalism.
He also highlighted that intolerance and violence originate in the mind and, therefore, must be fought at that same level. Bourita noted that Morocco’s sovereigns, including King Mohammed VI, have consistently defended religious coexistence as part of the country’s heritage and constitutional identity.
King Mohammed VI’s commitment to peaceful coexistence is reflected in actions such as the inauguration of “Bayt Dakira” in 2020, a center dedicated to preserving and promoting Moroccan-Jewish memory.
The preservation of Jewish heritage through initiatives like restoring street names also supports this ongoing effort.
Morocco, Bourita added, is proud of its long-standing history of religious tolerance and coexistence. The country has always been a place of cultural exchange, embodying the values of freedom and cross-civilizational dialogue.
He concluded by stressing the importance of pedagogy in combating hate speech and religious extremism.
Morocco is investing in education that fosters citizenship, ethics, and the universal values of tolerance and coexistence, preparing the next generation for a more harmonious world.