ICC NOTE: Pray for the Moroccan government who are pushing for reform and against Islamic fundamentalism.
Government omits Qur'anic verse from textbooks
October 5 2006
For the full article go to: AKI
Rabat, 5 Oct. (AKI) - The Moroccan education ministry has decided to scrap a Koranic verse from textbooks on Islamic education, along with a hadith - traditions relating to the words of the Prophet Mohammed important to determine the Muslim way of life - and the photo of a hijab-clad girl, the Dubai-based DPM news agency reported on Thursday. Education minister Al-Habib Al-Maliki reportedly told the Moroccan parliament the move was aimed at preventing the rise of fundamentalism among youths.
The Koranic omitted verse reads: "And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and be modest and to display of their adornment only that which is apparent and to draw their veils over their bosoms..."
The scrapped hadith quoted the Prophet as cursing men and women who crossed-dressed, DPM said.
The decision to remove the picture of the hijab-clad young woman reportedly followed strong pressure from women's rights groups.
Morocco approved in 2004 one of the most progressive laws on women's and family rights in the Arab world.
It has also started promoting changes to school curricula - reportedly scrapping references to 'jihad' in Islamic textbooks, among other things - following the 9/11 attacks on the US, DPM says.
