Restoration and rehabilitation operations for mosques damaged by the earthquake of September 8, 2023 are in full swing in Marrakech, at the initiative of the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs, in implementation of the instructions of King Mohammed VI.
It is in this context that a project to restore and renovate the foundations of some affected mosques is being launched, while others have been partially or completely rebuilt.
In the Marrakech-Safi region, 1,504 mosques were affected by the earthquake, spread across the provinces of Marrakech, Al Haouz and Chichaoua.
In a statement to MAP, the regional delegate of the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs, Abderrahim Baghezli, said that the 382 affected mosques in Marrakech have undergone technical examinations, adding that 50 of them will be fully or partially rebuilt, while 215 others will benefit from light or major repairs.
He noted that restoration works will begin soon in most of the 57 mosques of an archaeological and historical nature, pointing out that the Koutoubia Mosque, which is part of this category, has benefited from restoration works that meet international standards in this area.
He also recalled that this historic mosque was reopened during the last blessed month of Ramadan, after its columns and wooden and plaster ceilings were restored with the help of teams specialized in architecture, civil engineering and archaeology.
Residents and visitors of the Red City welcomed the reopening of the Koutoubia in record time, allowing more than 20,000 faithful to perform Tarawih prayers during the holy month, he recalled, stressing the high solicitude with which HM King Mohammed VI, Commander of the Faithful, has continued to surround this thousand-year-old religious building.
The restoration operations also concern the Al-Qassabine Mosque, located on Jemaa el-Fna Square, with the completion of all architectural, technical and archaeological studies and the selection of the company that will carry out this project.
This historic mosque, which dates back to the 6th century of the Hegira, owes its name to the butchers, where it was built under the reign of the Almohad dynasty.
According to Baghazli, the mosque was seriously damaged, as the earthquake destroyed its minaret, while the walls and domes were seriously affected. Therefore, an urgent intervention was carried out to prevent the remaining parts from collapsing, pending the start of the consolidation works planned soon.
The same goes for the Moulay Yazid Mosque, whose domes, columns, walls and minaret were damaged, which required the reinforcement of its structures in order to limit the damage.
The same official noted that out of the 382 damaged mosques, more than 290 were opened after the completion of the required works, i.e. a rate of 70%.
It should be noted that the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs had created a special unit at the central level to monitor and implement the rehabilitation program for religious buildings and endowments affected by the earthquake.
The thousand-year-old mosques of Marrakech, which are among the most illustrious religious and cultural monuments in Morocco, have also been associated with major spiritual and social roles that have shaped much of the local and national history.
Thanks to restoration and reconstruction works, these monuments will continue to embody the splendor of Morocco's civilizational heritage and the splendor of its unique architecture.
