Rabat, Morocco (TMT)- In a live podcast broadcast by Morocco’s most read news outlet Hespress on its Facebook page, Hamid Chabat, the Secretary General of Al-Istiqlal party said that “Al Istiqlal party is a pure Salafi party,” further noting that “Allal al Fassi [founder of Al-Istiqlal party] was a pure Salafi.”
“Some people are criticizing us for supporting two Salafis as candidates for the upcoming elections, namely Hicham Tamsamani and Abu Hafs,” Chabat said.
“For the case of Tamsamani, the authorities cleared him of any charges related to terrorism.
“It is the same for Abu Hafs, a respected religious scientist, a Fassi who knows the lay of the traditional city of Fes very well.
“Both never spoke against democracy and its values, so what is wrong with them?
“What is wrong with Salafis?” Chabat wondered.
“Allal al Fassi [founder of Al-Istiqlal party] was a pure Salafi,” Chabat stressed.
“Al Istiqlal party is a pure Salafi party,” Chabad added.
“There is a huge difference between our Salafism and Wahabism Salafism that stemmed from Saudi Arabia.
“Terrorism sprouted in Morocco when Wahabism started spreading in Morocco. Wahabism has nothing to do with Allal al Fassi’s salafism,” Chabat stressed.
The Moroccan Times.
