Morocco: Learn More About The Issues: Islamphobia

Islam is the second largest religion in the world. Following the terrorist attacks on September 11th, 2001, the term Islam has become increasingly associated with terrorism and violence in general. As the numbers of people feeling threatened by terrorism rise, the phenomenon of Islamophobia, or the irrational fear or hostility towards followers of Islam or individual Muslims, has become more common.

The source of Islamophobia often originates from misunderstandings of the Islamic religion and its followers. Many people wrongly view Muslims as a homogenous group. Representing approximately one-fifth of the world’s population, Muslims live in all parts of the world and come from diverse backgrounds. Moreover, as in Christianity, there are different schools of thoughts within Islam. Although Islam is frequently associated with extremism, the majority of the world’s 1.3 billion Muslim followers are moderate believers, who are tolerant, nonviolent, and interested in the West.

In Morocco, 98.7% of the population is Muslim. Like the rest of the world, the Muslim population of Morocco is very diverse. For example, while some girls cover their heads with headscarves, other girls don’t. Furthermore, 79% of Muslims in Morocco believe that violence against civilians is not justifiable under any circumstance.

Water:

Forty-four percent of the rural population does not have access to water and 65% do not have access to sanitation in Morocco. In the Middle East and North Africa, Morocco has one of the lowest rates of rural water supply and sanitation access. Yet, with a relatively high population growth rate of 1.5%, and a rapid growth in tourism and industry, the demand for water continues to rise far beyond the supply.

Improving sanitary conditions through better water management is a priority. While there are approximately 63 water treatment plants in Morocco, reports reveal that most of them are functioning poorly or not at all. As a result, wastewater is often directly disposed into rivers or oceans. Water pollution from agricultural, industrial, and household activities is on the rise. Contaminated water is the primary cause of child mortality and sickness from diarrhea.

Along with improving sanitation, improving access to water is also critical. Throughout the country, women and young girls are responsible for water in their households. In rural areas, they must walk as far as 3 miles and carry heavy loads every day to fetch water for cleaning, cooking, and washing. As a result, girls often miss school and are late to school. A reliable water system is important not only for people’s health, but also for girls’ education.