Surprisingly brutal images have been circulated by some people and have quickly became viral on the web, and with good reason: They relate a brawl in a mosque.
In Khénifra, an otherwise peaceful mosque, built for the spiritual needs of the people, was transformed in a split second into a ring. A worshipper had generously brought along a few bottles of water so that his companions could quench their thirst if need be - something very customary during this holy month.
The muezzin that evening, probably faced with the profusion of water on offer, grabbed a few bottles to take home. This was not to the liking of one of the worshippers. He shouted at the muezzin, who didn't appreciate what he was saying, finding it offensive. Tempers flared and the peaceful mosque experienced a life-size MMA fight.
Of course, these images can be seen as harmless and even amusing; as amusing as those of the thief subtly stealing carpets from another mosque.
We can also sense a lack of civic-mindedness on the part of both the muezzin and the vigilante.
This altercation should be seen in conjunction with all the samples recorded in front of and inside secondary schools; what goes on in and around stadiums, in markets and souks, on public transport, on the roads, even in hospitals - it's all too much.
Uncivil behavior and social violence are a rampant scourge that spares no space.
We can turn the page and conclude that this is neither surprising nor peculiar to Morocco. Uncivil behavior and social violence are phenomena that are on the increase in contemporary societies. This would trivialize manifestations of tension between individuals, belligerent behavior, disrespectful behavior, breaches of the rules of community life and infringements of the laws and rules of life in society.
Take, for example, the number of accidents and deaths on our roads each year: around 4,000 lives lost. This represents a loss of 19.5 billion DHS per year. It's a form of violence and incivizm. Morocco ranks 110th in terms of road safety.
In fact, violence is the same, except that it takes different forms, is expressed according to circumstances, and manifests itself according to the situation and context. The violent young person in front of his school may later express his aggression at the wheel of a car or in a football stadium, and again in a mosque. These behaviors are strictly linked. To deal with them, they must not be isolated from each other.
Incivizm is a lack of respect for social norms, whatever they may be. It is also a manifestation of a state of mind, or perhaps of being fed up with an economic situation, a lack of integration, frustration, injustice or a lack of education.
Anyone who throws rubbish in inappropriate places is not exercising violence. But isn't he expressing something that's eating him up inside? Anyone who vandalizes a bus or a school, or who expressly refuses to respect common property, is exercising a kind of violence.
Lack of civic-mindedness has a high social cost and an enormous economic cost. It has harmful consequences for social life. It undermines the quality of life, accentuates inequalities and creates a climate of mistrust between citizens. It widens differences and divides. On the one hand, people will speak with disdain of those who are economically less well-off; on the other, they will speak of the impunity of the powerful, of injustice, of a lack of equality, of the unfair distribution of wealth.
Seen in this way, violence in all its forms and from any faction is a real danger to social cohesion. It can take the form of conflict, verbal or physical aggression and discrimination, undermining social peace. It can take many forms. Fights, assaults and criminal acts are never isolated from their social and political environment, unless they are engendered by such a context, which provides a breeding ground for radicalization and extremism.
A society that trivializes verbal violence, insults, harassment and hate speech is a suffering, frustrated society. A society that may be responding to another form of violence, the real or perceived institutional violence responsible for inequalities and lack of access to fundamental rights.
It is expressed as the result of accumulated frustrations, perceived injustices and a lack of dialogue and mutual respect.
The comments made by citizens about the high cost of living reflect precisely this kind of frustration, and are directed at the institutions. We have seen violent altercations on this occasion.
So, what should we do?
Let it pass as if nothing had happened; consider the phenomenon to be normal or seize upon it and try to rectify the situation.
This is perhaps the most complex task ahead of the World Cup in 2030.
Social dialogue must not be limited to a few meetings with unions that are not very representative. It must be broadened and developed to encourage communication and mediation to defuse tensions.
In particular, this dialogue must encourage Moroccans to get involved. They must no longer be seen as minors and consumers, but as actors. They must be encouraged to participate as citizens in preserving their living environment and promoting mutual respect.
Schools need to be genuinely reformed, offering a living environment rather than a mechanical space for brainwashing. Students must participate in the management of their schools. It's their school. Their views should take precedence over any instructions or programs devised here and there without any real connection to the particular environment and context of each region and each school. The school system must favor education over instruction. The university environment must be one of awareness of responsible participation. There is an urgent need to inculcate common values from an early age. Religion alone is not enough. Moroccan citizens must learn to respect the law and not be afraid of it.
Of course, we also need tougher penalties, and the equal application of deterrent measures to discourage uncivil and violent behavior. That goes without saying.
It's about consolidating the social harmony that is so necessary for our development. And it is with this collective awareness, with concerted action, that we will build a more respectful and peaceful environment, thus avoiding fights in the mosques too.
