This article examines the popular legislative initiative introduced in the Kingdom of Morocco to facilitate the restoration of Moroccan citizenship to the descendants of Moroccan Jews who emigrated during the twentieth century, interpreting it as a significant indicator of the evolving relationship between law, religious identity, and foreign policy. Through a legal-institutional analysis grounded in constitutional, legislative, and policy sources, the study argues that citizenship is progressively being redefined beyond its traditional function as a legal bond between the individual and the State, acquiring a broader strategic dimension as an instrument of cultural diplomacy, identity inclusion, and soft power. The article situates the proposed legislation within the broader framework of Morocco's constitutional reforms following the 2011 Constitution, the formal recognition of the Jewish component as an integral element of the Kingdom's national identity, the 2016 Marrakesh Declaration on the Rights of Religious Minorities in Predominantly Muslim Lands, and the reorientation of Moroccan foreign policy, marked by the country's return to the African Union, the strengthening of its African strategy, the normalization of relations with Israel under the Abraham Accords, and the growing diplomatic role assigned to the Moroccan Jewish diaspora. The analysis also considers the domestic political and social debate surrounding the proposal, showing that, although public opinion remains largely sceptical of normalization with Israel, particularly in the aftermath of the Gaza conflict, political mobilization continues to be concentrated within organized Islamist, pan-Arabist, and pro-Palestinian movements rather than reflecting a generalized societal opposition. Against this background, the restoration of citizenship emerges not merely as a measure of historical reconciliation but as a legal instrument through which Morocco seeks to consolidate constitutional pluralism, reinforce national cohesion, and enhance its international legitimacy. From a theoretical perspective, the Moroccan experience provides an opportunity to reassess the contemporary evolution of citizenship in Muslim-majority legal systems, demonstrating how the protection of religious diversity and the institutionalization of historical memory can contribute to new models of constitutional governance and international positioning. More broadly, the article highlights the increasing interaction between law, religion, and geopolitics, proposing the Moroccan case as a paradigmatic example of the legal governance of religious pluralism in the contemporary Mediterranean and African context.
Il contributo esamina il progetto di legge di iniziativa popolare presentato nel Regno del Marocco volto a favorire il riconoscimento della cittadinanza ai discendenti degli ebrei marocchini emigrati nel corso del XX secolo, interpretandolo quale indice delle trasformazioni contemporanee del rapporto tra diritto, identità religiosa e politica estera. Attraverso un'analisi giuridico-istituzionale, supportata dall'esame delle fonti normative, costituzionali e della più recente evoluzione del contesto geopolitico regionale, il lavoro evidenzia come l'istituto della cittadinanza venga progressivamente ridefinito oltre la sua tradizionale funzione di appartenenza statuale, assumendo una valenza strategica quale strumento di diplomazia culturale, inclusione identitaria e soft power. L'indagine colloca la proposta legislativa nel quadro delle riforme avviate con la Costituzione del 2011, del riconoscimento della componente ebraica quale elemento costitutivo dell'identità nazionale marocchina, della Dichiarazione di Marrakech del 2016 sulla tutela delle minoranze religiose e del nuovo orientamento della politica estera del Regno, caratterizzato dal rafforzamento della cooperazione africana, dal rientro nell'Unione Africana, dalla normalizzazione delle relazioni con Israele e dalla valorizzazione della diaspora ebraico-marocchina quale risorsa diplomatica e relazionale. Parallelamente, il contributo analizza le persistenti tensioni generate da tali scelte nel dibattito pubblico nazionale, evidenziando come la diffusa contrarietà popolare alla normalizzazione con Israele non si traduca in una contestazione politica generalizzata, ma trovi espressione prevalentemente in movimenti organizzati di matrice islamista, panarabista e filo-palestinese. Sotto il profilo teorico, il caso marocchino consente di riflettere sull'evoluzione della cittadinanza nei sistemi giuridici dei Paesi a maggioranza islamica, mostrando come la tutela del pluralismo religioso e il recupero della memoria storica possano essere impiegati quali strumenti di legittimazione costituzionale, consolidamento della coesione nazionale e proiezione internazionale dello Stato. La ricerca evidenzia, pertanto, la crescente interazione tra diritto, religione e geopolitica, proponendo il modello marocchino come paradigma di governance del pluralismo confessionale nel contesto mediterraneo e africano contemporaneo.
Marocco, presentata una proposta di legge volta a restituire la cittadinanza ai discendenti degli Ebrei
Vasco Fronzoni
2026-01-01
Abstract
This article examines the popular legislative initiative introduced in the Kingdom of Morocco to facilitate the restoration of Moroccan citizenship to the descendants of Moroccan Jews who emigrated during the twentieth century, interpreting it as a significant indicator of the evolving relationship between law, religious identity, and foreign policy. Through a legal-institutional analysis grounded in constitutional, legislative, and policy sources, the study argues that citizenship is progressively being redefined beyond its traditional function as a legal bond between the individual and the State, acquiring a broader strategic dimension as an instrument of cultural diplomacy, identity inclusion, and soft power. The article situates the proposed legislation within the broader framework of Morocco's constitutional reforms following the 2011 Constitution, the formal recognition of the Jewish component as an integral element of the Kingdom's national identity, the 2016 Marrakesh Declaration on the Rights of Religious Minorities in Predominantly Muslim Lands, and the reorientation of Moroccan foreign policy, marked by the country's return to the African Union, the strengthening of its African strategy, the normalization of relations with Israel under the Abraham Accords, and the growing diplomatic role assigned to the Moroccan Jewish diaspora. The analysis also considers the domestic political and social debate surrounding the proposal, showing that, although public opinion remains largely sceptical of normalization with Israel, particularly in the aftermath of the Gaza conflict, political mobilization continues to be concentrated within organized Islamist, pan-Arabist, and pro-Palestinian movements rather than reflecting a generalized societal opposition. Against this background, the restoration of citizenship emerges not merely as a measure of historical reconciliation but as a legal instrument through which Morocco seeks to consolidate constitutional pluralism, reinforce national cohesion, and enhance its international legitimacy. From a theoretical perspective, the Moroccan experience provides an opportunity to reassess the contemporary evolution of citizenship in Muslim-majority legal systems, demonstrating how the protection of religious diversity and the institutionalization of historical memory can contribute to new models of constitutional governance and international positioning. More broadly, the article highlights the increasing interaction between law, religion, and geopolitics, proposing the Moroccan case as a paradigmatic example of the legal governance of religious pluralism in the contemporary Mediterranean and African context.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
