Employing religion in colonial discourse in Morocco during the 20th century.

Abstract

: France and Spain worked hard in employing religion in their colonial policy as a tool aiming at gaining the sympathy of the Moroccans and keeping them very close, and the French Resident general Louis Hubert Gonzalvel Yauty was the first to utilize this method in Morocco. However, France started to give up using this policy when Lyauty mission came to the end in 1925.Neverthless,just after the push led by the general Franco (Fransisco Franco) against the republican government in Spain in 1936, the Spanish Commissioner or negotiator ( Juan Beigbede Atienza) imitated the Islamic policy previously pursued by France .In this respect, the Franconist focused on the religious side  through a set of measures that reflect respect  for religious rituals and beliefs ,in addition to paying more attention to matters and issues related to the Islamic religion such as restoration of mosques or constructing others and caring for shrines as well as organizing pilgrimage trips as a means to promote the Islamic propaganda that Franco approached so as he could gain the friendship and sympathy of the Muslims; most importantly as their fierce defender, not only in Morocco ,but also all over the Islamic World.

Key words: Islamic policy, pilgrimage, be in keeping (sympathizing), bikieder, Francoism