Religious ceremony, chaired by King Mohammed VI, commemorates 26th anniversary of passing of late King Hassan II

King Mohammed VI, Commander of the Faithful, chaired, this Sunday oct. 13 (corresponding to 09 Rabii II 1446 of the Hegira), a religious ceremony at the Mohammed V Mausoleum in Rabat, in commemoration of the 26th anniversary of the passing of the late King Hassan II.

The ceremony, during which King Mohammed VI was accompanied by Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan, Prince Moulay Rachid, and Prince Moulay Ahmed, was marked by the reading of verses of the holy Koran and the chanting of the panegyrics of the Prophet. Prayers were said for the rest of the soul of the late King Hassan II and his father the late King Mohammed V.

This commemoration is an opportunity for the Moroccan people to recall the great work accomplished by the late Sovereign in the service of the Homeland, the just causes of the Arab-Islamic Ummah and world peace and security, in general.

This commemoration is also a solemn opportunity to pay a vibrant tribute to the founder and builder of modern Morocco, who left his mark on the Kingdom’s contemporary history, illustrates the desire of a people to take ownership of its history, and to pay tribute to the spirit of a visionary King who managed to guide Morocco along the path of modernity, while preserving its plural identity and age-old civilization.

Since his enthronement in 1961, the late Hassan II had scrupulously respected the milestones set by his father, the late Mohammed V, and cemented their foundations, and thread on a path of edification and unification that has given Morocco a privileged position in the concert of nations, enabling it to consolidate its stability, embark on the path of development, and complete its territorial integrity.

Actually, it was under the reign of the late Hassan II that Morocco was able to consolidate its national unity, notably with the recovery of the provinces of Sidi Ifni (June 30, 1969) and Oued Eddahab (August 14, 1979). The cornerstone of this glorious achievement of territorial integrity was undoubtedly the organization, on November 06, 1975, of the glorious Green March, a peaceful and memorable epic that will go down in the annals of human history as a model for the peaceful settlement of disputes.

Since the early years of his reign, the architect of the Green March had been aware of the importance of building an independent, solid and resilient national economy, initiating the “dam policy” in 1966, which he had made his reign’s project. Since its inception, this policy has proved its worth, particularly during the recurrent cycles of drought and water shortages that Morocco and many other countries in the region experienced years later.

This pioneering program, coupled with an ambitious agricultural policy, has firmly established the Kingdom’s agricultural vocation and made the sector a lever for overall development.

In addition to economic growth, the late Sovereign was keen to guarantee the social well-being of his loyal subjects, and to preserve the values of cohesion, solidarity and mutual aid that characterize Moroccan society. To this end, he launched a number of strategic projects, including the promotion of women’s rights, the consolidation of the family institution, the development of social housing, and respect for human rights and pluralism.

Internationally, the charisma, insight and open-mindedness of the late Hassan II earned him the respect and admiration of world leaders. Under his wise leadership, Morocco forged a place for itself in the concert of nations, made its voice heard in various international forums and played a leading role in a number of regional and international issues, such as the Arab-Israeli conflict, UN peace missions and the creation of the Organization of African Unity (OAU), forerunner of the African Union, and the Arab Maghreb Union, among others.

The actions of the late Hassan II in the fight against colonialism, the establishment of peace, and the achievement of development and prosperity in Africa, recognized worldwide, earned him, on November 1, 2022, a Pan-African Prize awarded by Ethiopia to the late Sovereign for his dedication and contribution to the emancipation of Africa and pan-Africanism, notably through his actions in favor of the creation of the OAU.

In foreign policy, the late Sovereign adopted a clear and balanced vision that advocated openness to the Western world and modernity, while preserving Morocco’s identity and roots as an Islamic, Arab, African and Mediterranean country. Moreover, as Commander of the Faithful, the late Sovereign never ceased to plead and work for the unity of the ranks of the entire Islamic Ummah in the face of the dangers threatening the land of Islam.

By commemorating the anniversary of the passing of the late Hassan II, the Moroccan people pay tribute to the memory of a great King who enabled Morocco to enter fully into the era of modernity. It is also an opportunity for all Moroccans to reiterate their unwavering loyalty and unshakeable attachment to the Alawite Throne, and to renew their determination to carry on the late Sovereign’s work and adhere to the great projects initiated by his successor, King Mohammed VI, in the service of a modern, developed and prosperous Morocco.

In commemoration of this anniversary, Princess Lalla Meryem chaired at the Assouna Mosque in Rabat, a religious ceremony that was marked by the recitation of verses of the Holy Quran and the declamation of panegyrics of the Prophet Sidna Mohammed.

Participants in the ceremony raised prayers for the rest of the soul of the late King Hassan II and his father the late King Mohammed V. They also prayed the Almighty to preserve King Mohammed VI and to crown his actions and initiatives with success.