Moroccan Politician Slams Public Jewish Prayers in Marrakesh as ‘Provocative’ Symbolic Infiltration

Abdelilah Benkirane slammed public Jewish prayers at Marrakesh's Bab Doukkala gate as a "provocation" and "Zionist infiltration," sparking national debate.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 27, 2026, 10:02 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Times of Israel

Viral Video Ignites Cultural Tension at Bab Doukkala

A significant controversy has erupted in Marrakesh following the circulation of a video showing a group of ultra-Orthodox Jewish tourists performing prayers at the Bab Doukkala gate, a 12th-century Almohad landmark. The footage, which shows dozens of men in traditional Haredi attire praying against the historic city walls, quickly went viral, drawing sharp criticism from local residents and political figures. For many, the sight of public Jewish rituals at a site with no specific Hebraic historical significance was interpreted not as an act of faith, but as a deliberate political statement intended to challenge the city's Islamic identity.

Benkirane Denounces ‘Strange’ and ‘Unprecedented’ Incident

Abdelilah Benkirane, the former Prime Minister and current leader of the Islamist PJD, issued a stern video statement characterizing the prayers as an affront to Moroccan feelings. "The issue is not the prayer itself, but the provocation," Benkirane stated, explicitly linking the scene to the imagery of the Western Wall in Jerusalem. He argued that while Morocco has a long history of Jewish presence, religious rites should be confined to established houses of worship. Benkirane further warned that such public displays represent a "cultural and symbolic Zionist infiltration," calling on state authorities to prevent future occurrences to protect the city's collective memory and identity.

Religious Obligations vs. Public Perception

In response to the growing backlash, Jacky Kadosh, the head of the Jewish community in the Marrakesh-Safi region, provided a practical explanation for the event. He clarified that the individuals in the video were a group of Haredi visitors from the United States who were caught by the deadline for mandatory daily prayers while far from the city’s synagogues. According to Kadosh, the group chose to perform their rituals "calmly and respectfully" at their current location to fulfill their religious duty. Despite these assurances, the PJD’s regional branch in Marrakesh rejected the "tolerance" narrative, describing the incident as an unacceptable attempt to normalize provocative behaviors under the guise of religious freedom.