Moroccan lawmaker calls public Jewish prayers in Marrakech a ‘provocation’

A prominent Moroccan political figure has called a recent incident in which Jewish tourists were seen praying publicly outside a national landmark a “provocation.”

Last week, a video circulated of a group of ultra-Orthodox Jews praying outside Bab Doukkala, the main northwestern gate of the historic walled city of Marrakesh, Morocco. The scene, which went viral, shows several dozen Jews in black coats praying in the typical Jewish style in front of the wall, which has no known Jewish significance.

The group had a religious obligation to pray at that time, as the deadline for the prayers — which according to Jewish law must be conducted within a certain timeframe each day — was fast approaching, Jackie Kadouch, a representative of the local Jewish community, explained to reporters.

A day after the incident, dozens of protesters gathered at the site denouncing the prayers, including some carrying Palestinian flags and anti-Israel messages. The protest ended peacefully, with no immediate signs of clashes, local media said.

Yesterday, the country’s former prime minister and current secretary-general of the Justice and Development Party, Abdelilah Benkirane, said the public Jewish prayers were an affront to the feelings of Moroccans.

“The prayer itself is not the issue; the issue lies in the provocation, and we are against this provocation,” Benkirane charged in a video statement, saying it brought to mind prayers at the Western Wall in Jerusalem, adjacent to the Temple Mount.

“It should not have been allowed, and the state should have made it clear that if they wished to pray, they were welcome to do so, but within their own places of worship,” he added.