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Morocco's Sacred Recovery: Over 1,150 Earthquake-Damaged Mosques to Welcome Worshippers for Ramadan

16:10 Journalists: Dakir Madiha

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The Moroccan Ministry of Islamic Affairs has announced a remarkable milestone in its post-earthquake recovery efforts, with more than 1,150 mosques set to reopen their doors before Ramadan. This achievement represents the successful rehabilitation of most of the 1,217 mosques damaged during the devastating Al Haouz earthquake of September 2023.

Minister of Endowments and Islamic Affairs Ahmed Toufiq, addressing the House of Representatives, revealed the extensive scope of the disaster's impact on religious infrastructure. The 6.8 magnitude earthquake, which claimed over 2,900 lives, had affected 2,516 religious sites, including mosques, Sufi institutions (zawiyas), and mausoleums.

The ministry's response has been comprehensive, conducting 2,044 topographical surveys and completing 1,182 demolition and consolidation operations. This effort is part of a broader initiative to preserve Morocco's religious heritage, which has seen the restoration of 122 mosques since 2000, with 18 more currently under renovation at a cost of MAD 105 million ($10.2 million).

Morocco's religious landscape encompasses approximately 52,000 mosques, with a notable rural-urban distribution disparity. Rural areas, which house 72% of the country's mosques, average 15 mosques per 5,000 residents, while urban centers maintain four mosques per 5,000 people.

The ministry's rehabilitation program, initiated in 2010, has made significant strides in mosque restoration nationwide:
- 937 mosques rebuilt at MAD 1.524 billion ($143 million)
- 502 mosques restored for MAD 287 million ($27 million)
- 362 mosques currently undergoing reconstruction (MAD 594.148 million budget)
- 70 mosques in restoration process (MAD 86.112 million allocated)

Beyond structural repairs, the ministry has implemented comprehensive facility improvements:
- Construction of 34 new mosques (MAD 206 million investment)
- Annual fire safety equipment installation in 1,600 mosques
- Water and electricity connection for over 600 rural mosques
- Sanitary facility installation in 2,334 mosques
- Energy efficiency upgrades in approximately 2,800 mosques

The restoration project represents a crucial component of the government's broader initiative to rebuild and revitalize the earthquake-affected region, as rural communities continue their journey toward recovery more than a year after the catastrophic event.