A comment made by Islamist parliamentarian Ali El Asri on photos of Belgian volunteers wearing shorts during their contribution to building a road in the rural village of Taroudant near Ouarzazate has spurred a debate among Moroccans and on social media.
Lawyer and rights activist El Habib Hajji sent a request to the examining magistrate specialized in terrorism, demanding the arrest of the lawmaker on charges of inciting terrorism.
Cultural figures and activists also launched a petition against what they called “promoters of hate.”
The Moroccan security arrested earlier a teacher at Ksar el-Kebir on charges of terrorism and hatred because of a blog post, in which he called for beheading the Belgian volunteers.
“Their heads should be cut off so that no one else dares to challenge the teachings of our religion,” he said.
Amid this debate, new photos of the volunteers showed them wearing the traditional costume of Taroudant, in addition to other pictures of them being received by the imam of the village mosque.
Asri published a comment, wondering whether construction work in Europe is ever carried out ''in a bathing suit''.
''Everybody knows how the issue of security on the job is important in Europe: tourists can't get near construction sites without wearing helmets, appropriate outfits and gloves''.
He went on to express his doubts about the aim of the initiative and whether it was truly humanitarian or had other objectives.
He then posted a note addressed to the Minister of Interior Affairs, requesting to see the documents on the funding of the project.
Acknowledging that the construction work is of great benefit to the neediest people who live in isolated areas, Asri asked the minister to be vigilant because volunteer initiatives can be used for unknown purposes.
The MP then proposed that the Interior Ministry issue an annual report on all restoration work to be presented for parliamentary examination.
The non-profit organization Bouworde has given the volunteers the opportunity to return to Belgium before the end of their mission. Three out of the 37 volunteers have so far opted to go home.
Bouworde sought advice from the Belgian Embassy in Rabat. According to the organization’s press release, the embassy assured the organization that the safety of the volunteers who are currently in Morocco was guaranteed by the government, and by the presence of the Moroccan police.
