King Mohammed VI, accompanied by his son Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan and his brother Prince Moulay Rachid, visited on Friday in Rissani (Errachidia province) the Moulay Ali Cherif Mausoleum and spent some time in silent contemplation at the tomb of the founder of the Alawite dynasty.

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The Mausoleum of Moulay Ali Sharif is one of the most beautiful historic monuments of the region Tafilalet. The shrine includes besides the tombs of Moulay Ali Sharif and his sons Moulay Youssef and Moulay M’hamed, those of Sidi El Habib Ben Zine El Abidine Ben Moulay Ismail and Moulay Rachid Ben Sidi Mohamed Ben Abderrahman.

Moulay Ali Sharif, ancestor of King Mohammed VI, was a great man of faith and a distinguished scientist who has passed his knowledge to many of his followers in the Muslim world to Andalusia where he spent over 20 years. Originally from Yanbu in Saudi Arabia, Moulay Ali Sharif was born in 762 Hegira corresponding to 1360 AD and died in 847 Hegira at the age of 85 years. He was buried in a first step in Zaouiat Tighmart, 200 km from Rissani, before his body was transferred to the existing mausoleum built under the reign of Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah (Mohammed III) in 1206 of the Hegira.

King Mohammed VI has since the 7th of November visited the Province of Errachidia, once called and known in history books as Sijilmassa, which is the region where the Sovereign ancestors settled when the came from the Levant before years later they conquest Morocco founding the last dynasty in Morocco Monarchy “the the Alawite dynasty”.

Mademoiselle Lilo Moroccan Royals Ancient Tombs, Mohammed VI, Prince Moulay, Prince Moulay Rachid

King Mohammed VI, accompanied by his brother Prince Moulay Rachid, received on Monday in the southern city of Ouarzazate, the U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

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During this audience the King hailed the traditional strategic partnership between the two friendly countries strengthened since the mid-nineties and marked in particular by a regular diversified political dialogue structured economic ties and reinforced cooperation to promote regional peace and security. The Monarch also voiced commitment to promoting these important achievements with US President Barack Obama and expressed his high appreciation for the committed constructive role played by the US administration throughout the world building on an approach based on dialogue consultation and mutual respect.

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Mrs Clinton also attended with the king and Moulay Rachid the the ceremony of presenting Morocco’s solar energy project worth about nine billion dollars,and which is a national and ambitious project seeks to achieve a 2,000 megawatt capacity by 2020. This production capacity accounts for 38% of the electric power at the end of 2008 and 14% by 2020,Five sites were identified for the project which is in line with Morocco’s energy strategy,namely Ouarzazate,Ain Bni Mathar,Foum AlOued,Boujdour and Sebkhat Tah.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton arrived Sunday in Marrakech to take part in the 6th ministerial meeting of the Forum for the Future scheduled 2-3 November 2009.

Mademoiselle Lilo Moroccan Royals Hillary Clinton, Mohammed VI, United States of America

King Mohammed VI of Morocco received on Monday the President of the Palestinian Authority Mahmoud Abbas,to discuss a number of political issues in particular the situation in Palestinian territories.

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In a statement to the media, the Palestinian president stressed the importance the Sovereign attaches to the Holy city of Al Quds Al Sharif in his capacity as chairman of Al Quds Committee offshoot of the Organization of IslamicConference (OIC) which represents 1.2 billion Muslims around the world.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas arrived Monday in Casablanca,Morocco’s business capital for the Al Quds International Forum,according to an official source,the forum is organized under the Patronage of King Mohammed VI and to gather several eminent Arab and foreign personalities will look into the general situation in the Holy city,cradle of the three revealed religions.

Mademoiselle Lilo Moroccan Royals Mohammed VI, Palestine, President Abbas

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 Last Friday, King Mohammed VI officially opened the Moroccan Parliament. He began by addressing both houses of Parliament. In his speech, the King called for the creation of an economic and social council that would serve in an advisory role to the legislature and also to the executive branch of the Moroccan government.

According to an article in Agence Maghreb Arabe Presse, the King stated that the council should be made up of “representatives of the nation’s forces, productive sectors, socioeconomic and professional institutions, as well as qualified members of civil society and a substantial number of women”. The King wants the council to be as inclusive as possible. He told the members of Parliament that the council should not only include Moroccans residing in Morocco, but also Moroccan nationals who are living abroad. The recruitment plan is, “in accordance to with my wish to involve in the council all skilled Moroccans, wherever they may be”, said the King.

The goal of the King’s plan for the council is to improve the credibility of the parliament, and to help the government run more efficiently. The King hopes that a more effective government will lead to more development within Morocco.

To read about, and to discuss King Mohammed VI and the Moroccan Royal Family, please visit this thread.

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 Last Friday, King Mohammed VI celebrated the opening of a new female student house and training center in Marrakech. The new facility cost around 4.55 million dirhams. It was financed by the Mohammed V Foundation for Solidarity and the MAMDA-MCMA Construction Foundation, according to an article in the Agence Maghreb Arabe Presse.

Dar Attaliba, the student house, provides courses and accommodation for young women from poor rural areas. It was created in order to combat the dropout rate among this demographic. It can house up to sixty young women, and includes all of the usual amenities of student housing, plus an on-site infirmary, kitchen, and reading room.

The new training center will offer classes in literacy, dress-making and crafts (to help the women earn an income), and training to encourage children’s education. An on-site daycare will also be offered at the training center.

In addition to the new opportunities for women in the fields of education and trade, the Minister of Social Development, Family and Solidarity recently gave an interview to the Global Post where she highlighted the achievements of the Moroccan government and King in helping to improve the lives of women. Nouzha Skalli discussed the new Family Code. This law helps to provide equal rights and responsibilities for husbands and wives. There is also a criminal code, which makes sexual harassment in the workplace illegal. These laws were created to help combat violence against women, a subject that, until recently, was considered taboo in Morocco.

To read about, and to discuss King Mohammed VI and the Moroccan Royal Family, please visit this thread.

sgl Moroccan Royals Education, Mohammed VI, Women's Rights

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King Mohammed VI chaired a lecture on the subject of faith and health last Tuesday. In Morocco, lectures on various topics related to Islam are given during the holy month of Ramadan. It has become a tradition that has been upheld by the Moroccan royal family, with the king presiding over the lectures. This year, King Mohammed’s presence at the lectures is even more special, due to the fact that he became ill with a stomach virus during the start of Ramadan.

The lecture, which was held in Marrakech last Tuesday, was delivered by Mohammad Haytam al Khayat, who is the senior advisor to the Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO). Dr. Al Khayat focused on prevention of illnesses, and the protection of health, according to an article in the Agence Maghreb Arabe Presse. Al Khayat discussed the worries over the H1N1 virus, and stated that there was a “need not to overstate the seriousness of the virus, especially since the measures recommended by the relevant organizations are still valid on the eve of the pilgrimage season”.

Last week, another Ramadan lecture was given in Casablanca on the topic of “Faith and the Love of Country”. King Mohammed was not the only member of the royal family present for the lecture. He was accompanied by his brother, Prince Moulay Rachid, and his cousin, Prince Moulay Ismail. The lecture was delivered by Said Bihi, president of the Council of the Ulema of Hay Hassani. Bihi talked about how the love of country is one of the religious prescriptions stated in the Koran, according to the Agence Maghreb Arab Presse.

The lectures are scheduled to continue throughout Ramadan.

To read about, and to discuss King Mohammed VI and the Moroccan Royal Family, please visit this thread.

sgl Moroccan Royals Mohammed VI, Prince Moulay Ismail, Prince Moulay Rachid, Ramadan

 Morocco’s King Mohammed VI has been given orders by his doctor to rest for 5 days because of a rotavirus infection which is casued in the stomach which causes digestibe problems as well as dehydartion. “His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God assist him, suffers from an infection with digestive signs and an acute dehydration which has compelled him to rest for five days,” Abdelaziz Maaouni, the King’s private doctor wrote in a signed statement. “The state of health of His Majesty the King does not give any cause for concern,” the statement added.

dazzling Moroccan Royals Health, Mohammed VI

King Mohammed VI, who is 45 years old, has been King of Morocco for the past 10 years, after his father passed away in 1999 after ruling for 38 years. To mark the anniversary of taking power, traditional ceremonies as well as parties and concerts took place all over the country. Marching bands and firework displays where the start of the four day celebration.

King Mohammed VI had given a speech where he said “In the last 10 years, Morocco has been able to realise major sustainable development projects,” in a televised address. “And I tell you sincerely, it was not an easy undertaking for us. But despite all the difficulties and challenges, I promise you we will continue our efforts for the development of our country.” For King Mohammed’s full speech click here.

The monarch traditionally gives hundreds, even thousands, of pardons to inmates each year as the country celebrates the Feast of the Throne, this year King Mohammed pardoned 24,865 prisoners, and commuted 32 death sentences. In selecting them, the King took into account “humanitarian considerations in allowing the prisoners back into society,” which led to the release of 517 women who are pregnant or have children and 137 minors as well as 659 inmates of different nationalities and commuted 32 death sentences to life imprisonment, the ministry said.

dazzling Moroccan Royals Accession, Anniversary, Mohammed VI

 The 45 year old King of Morocco, Mohammed VI, has formally admitted the Holocaust. King Mohammed declared the Nazi genocide of the Jews “one of the most tragic chapters of modern history” a few days after Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the Iranian President, denied it had ever occurred.

King Mohammed VI announced his support of the Aladdin Project, which is a Paris-based program run by the Foundation for the Memory of the Holocaust and is designed to educate the Muslim world about the genocide. The project involves translating key Holocaust texts such as ‘The Diary of Anne Frank’ into Arabic and Farsi. The foundation’s director, Anne-Marie Revcolevschi, said King Mohammed VI’s speech was ”a very important political act.” She also said: “This is the first time an Arab head of state takes such a clear stand on the Holocaust.”

dazzling Moroccan Royals Holocaust, Mohammed VI

 A Moroccan magazine that criticized the Moroccon King Mohammed has been stopped by the government. The editor of the magazine was called in for questioning by police under orders of the judiciary and the Interior Ministry. The editor questioned usefulness of the parliamentary elections in a country where the monarchy wields ultimate power. He also published an article questioning the Prophet Mohammad. “The prime minister expresses … his profound indignation at these lapses, which are against the law, the moralisation of public life and the restructuring of the media landscape …,” the prime minister’s office said. The editor was released that night by the police but no details whether he was still being investigated by authorities.

Out of all Arab countries, Morocco has the most freedom of speech but reporters have a line they should not cross, once crossed can lead them in prison or in court.

dazzling Moroccan Royals Media, Mohammed VI