Rabat - The KAICIID Secretary General, accompanied by an international group of experts and policymakers in interreligious education, visited the Mohammed VI Institute for the Training of Imams, Morchidines, and Morchidates in Rabat, Morocco, on 20 April 2015.

The visit was organised at the invitation of the Ministry of Religious Affairs of the Kingdom of Morocco, and the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO), on the sidelines of a meeting on interreligious education co-organised by KAICIID and ISESCO.

The Institute, which has been in operation for over a decade, recently moved to new premises in the Moroccan capital, composed of teaching and residential facilities as well as a mosque. The Institute currently hosts 775 trainees.

After ten years as a national project for the training of Moroccan Imams and facilitators, the activities of the Centre have now expanded to accommodate Imams and facilitators from a number of African and European countries: submissions have been received from Cote d’Ivoire, France, Guinea, Mali, and Tunisia.

During an informational session at the end of the visit, led by Abdellatif Bagdouri, Director of the Cabinet of the Minister of Habous and Religious Affairs, the KAICIID-ISESCO delegation learned that the trainees receive instruction in a diverse range of subjects which are useful to them in their vocation, such as psychology, humanities, social sciences, etc. The programme is not primarily focused on religious sciences.

The Institute aims to serve the individual and specific needs of the countries requesting Imam training. From the application procedure, which is mediated via the Ministry of Religious Affairs (where applicable), or its equivalent in each country, to the selection of successful applicants, the criteria are determined by the requesting country, and not by the Institute.

Since the national context in which each trainee will practise differs depending on their country of practice, the training programmes are tailored to the individual needs of the requesting countries.

The educators at the Institute are prominent university professors from Morocco: in addition, agreements with the recipient countries ensure that context-specific subjects, such as history and language, are taught by teachers from those countries.

“The Institute mainly seeks to transmit religious discourse in a contextual, constructive way”, said Mr. Bagdouri.

KAICIID Secretary General Bin Muaammar hailed the important role of the Institute, and of the Kingdom of Morocco, in promoting coexistence and peace through investment in capacity building for future religious leaders.

“This is an important institution and we need more institutions like this throughout the world, where religious leaders of the future can learn the value of diversity, and advocate for pluralism and tolerance.”