The Secretary-General of the Justice and Development Party (PJD), Abdelilah Benkirane, linked the devastating wildfires in the United States to “a divine response to U.S. President Donald Trump.”
Speaking at a party seminar on proposed amendments to Morocco’s Family Code, Benkirane stated, “God’s anger came before Trump’s call to hell, forcing him to search for a way to extinguish the hellish fires in his own country.”
Discussing Family Code reforms, Benkirane warned that “the current European situation, marked by the absence of family and familial solidarity, is influencing Morocco.” He added, “Some Moroccans see no issue with allowing their daughter’s friend to visit their home.”
Benkirane questioned the future of Morocco’s social structure, asking, “Who will defend the children of divorcees and drug addicts?” He referenced historical women’s rights movements in Europe, explaining, “European women were denied rights before World War II, and afterward, they demanded equality, which has now escalated to sexual equality.” He argued that “such equality is harmful to women,” urging his party to prepare for similar societal shifts in Morocco.
He further cautioned against adopting Western models, saying, “Equality in the West has reached an absurd level, where men no longer know if they are men, and opposing gender reassignment can result in punishment.”
On polygamy, Benkirane dismissed it as a non-issue in Morocco, attributing its heightened visibility to equality debates.
In its memo on the Family Code amendments, the PJD voiced concerns over recognizing a wife’s household work as a financial contribution to family wealth, warning that this could transform marriage into a space for disputes and calculations.
The memo also addressed proposals for joint legal guardianship and custody, stressing the importance of clarity to prevent manipulation. It suggested extending weekly visitation rights to include overnight stays with the other parent.
On the issue of the marital home, the PJD criticized the potential implications for inheritance laws, urging more clarity to protect all heirs’ rights. The party also raised objections to “modernist” language in the reforms, particularly the definition of “pleasure,” which it viewed as demeaning to women.
