Morocco’s Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs has allocated 105 million dirhams ($11 million) to support 18 associations managing Islamic centers in Europe and Canada, strengthening religious guidance for Moroccan diaspora communities.
Minister Ahmed Toufiq announced the funding Monday while addressing the House of Representatives regarding support for Islamic centers serving Moroccans residing abroad and enhancing their oversight role. The initiative forms part of broader efforts to maintain religious and cultural connections with diaspora populations.
Support measures include establishing the Moroccan Council of Ulema for Europe and strengthening cooperation with embassies, consulates, and mosque associations abroad. During Ramadan, the ministry deployed 372 religious supervisors to nine countries and distributed 345,000 Quran copies to mosques and Islamic centers.
Toufiq revealed plans for a multilingual religious information program targeting Moroccans worldwide. The interactive program will broadcast daily, providing religious guidance across multiple languages to serve diverse diaspora communities.
Separately, the minister provided updates on mosque rehabilitation following the Al Haouz earthquake. The ministry has conducted 4,959 expert assessments and studies to diagnose damage and determine necessary repairs, costing approximately 112 million dirhams ($12 million).
Rehabilitation and restoration operations have been completed for 901 structures at a total cost of 426 million dirhams ($45 million). The ministry reopened 1,239 mosques, provided 640 alternative prayer rooms, and accommodated 569 religious officials whose housing sustained damage or destruction, ensuring continuity of religious services in affected regions.
The comprehensive approach addresses both diaspora religious needs and domestic infrastructure recovery, reflecting the ministry’s dual focus on maintaining spiritual connections with Moroccans abroad while rebuilding earthquake-damaged religious facilities at home.
