RABAT, Morocco — Debate on Salafism emerged in Morocco after the infiltration of North Africa by the Islamic State (IS). Although there are more than 1,000 Moroccans fighting for IS on the battlefields of Iraq and Syria, the group enjoys only limited support in Morocco from a small number of sympathizers and Salafist theorists, such as Sheikh Abdul Razzaq Ajha, who was arrested March 6 preparing to travel to Syria, and Fatiha al-Mejjati, who has already reached IS-controlled Raqqa in Syria.

Salafist sheikhs in Morocco are divided between those supporting IS and those who joined pro-regime political parties to oppose the extremist group. Since the release of Abdelkarim Chadli, a hard-line Salafist convicted on terrorism charges in 2003, and other Salafist jihadists from prison in 2011, it appears that the Moroccan government has embarked on a quiet campaign to integrate Salafist theorists into the nation's political life.

A new Salafist dynamic emerged when Abdelwahab al-Raqiki, alias Abu Hafs, decided to take part in the country's political and partisan life and joined the Islamic Renaissance and Virtue Party in June 2013. There are fears, however, that this new phenomenon could lead to Salafist sheikhs losing credibility among youths and that this in turn might drive them further toward extremism.

Some well-known Salafist sheikhs have rejected the issuance of fatwas calling on Moroccans to join the fighting in Syria. Among them is Mohammad al-Fizari, who announced his opposition to such fatwas in June 2013. His move was followed by Aou Hafs' entrance into politics, along with other Salafists. Meanwhile Sheikh Umar al-Hadouchi, considered the most hard-line Salafist, refused to switch his allegiance from al-Qaeda to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi’s group. He has fiercely attacked IS on several occasions and mocked its declaration of a caliphate, calling it a “mockery.”