Hope for avoiding the armed clash has always lain with the ladies

Women clerics challenge influence of Al Qaida, Wahabis

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Morocco - (SUB Needed Bill Gertz' private site)

King Mohammed has embarked on what has never taken place in the 1,300-year history of Islam. He has established a network for the training and employment of Islamic women clerics in an effort to fight Al Qaida philosophy, based on the Wahabi sect of Islam sponsored by Saudi Arabia.

The program has graduated its first class of women clerics.

Officials said they hope women clerics will introduce Islamic preaching to support women's rights and promote kindness. This would be in contrast to the Wahabi philosophy that preaches hate against those who are not part of the sect.

"This is a rare experiment in the Muslim world," said Mohammed Mahfoud, director of the center that trained the first class of women.

The center is affiliated with the Islamic Affairs Ministry. So far, 50 women have graduated from a course to prepare them to become preachers in mosques and other places.

Mohammed understood the need for a dramatic change in Islamic teaching after Morocco was rocked by a massive Al Qaida strike in May 2003. At least 10 Al Qaida-aligned suicide bombers struck Casablanca, killing 33 people and injuring scores of others.

Mohammed was not surprised by the attacks. He knew Al Qaida had long targeted Morocco for its liberal and pro-Western approach and tolerance of religions other than Islam. Mohammed, who succeeded his father King Hassan in 1999, preached reconciliation and peace and approved the establishment of a commission to examine the abuse of the former regime.

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