Morocco’s Culture Minister Assesses Heritage Preservation Projects in Marrakech

Rabat – Minister of Culture Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid toured today the historical landmarks and heritage interpretation centers.

The visit is part of Morocco’s efforts to review restoration projects and initiatives to safeguard its cultural legacy.

The minister started his tour with an assessment visit to the heritage interpretation centers at Bab Aylan and Bab Aghmat. The two centers serve as an essential bridge, promoting national heritage and making it accessible to visitors through modern tools.

A field visit to the historic site of Aghmat, one of the oldest urban centers in Morocco, was also part of today’s agenda. 

During the visit, the minister examined the site’s archologial comments.

El Badi Palace and Bahia Palace, two landmarks renowned for their exceptional architecture and heritage value, were also part of the tour.

According to the Ministry of Culture, part of the visit was also devoted to assessing the progress and maintenance works at major heritage sites that were affected by the Al Haouz earthquake of September 2023.

The earthquake killed at least 3,000, leaving hundreds homeless.

The ministry’s statement further emphasized that the visit south to inspect the pace of work and the techniques used to rehabilitate the affected landmark to ensure their authenticity and historic visual identity are fully preserved.

“These continuous visits fall within a comprehensive vision to enhance both tangible and intangible national heritage,” it concluded.

Morocco has long demonstrated its commitment to preserving its heritage, especially amid attempts at appropriating its culture.

The government consistently makes efforts aimed at safeguarding the country’s tangible and intangible heritage.

Last year, Minister Mehdi Bensaid pledged to fully enforce the provisions of Bill No. 33.22, which aims to protect national heritage against any attempt at usurpation and appropriation.

The minister delved into details on the bill during a meeting before the Education, Culture, and Communication Committee at the House of Representatives. 

He explained that this new regulation came as Morocco made significant archaeological discoveries that placed the country on the global map for advanced archeology and geology research.

The bill is also part of Morocco’s efforts to tackle this issue, as the country is hosting prestigious events like the 2023 World Cup – a platform that will serve as an opportunity to further promote the country’s heritage.

Bensaid recalled King Mohammed VI’s message to the 17th UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage in November 2022, referencing the threats that Morocco’s national intangible cultural heritage has been facing.

“Given the rapid changes affecting the world today, it has become necessary to highlight the intangible heritage of countries around the world, and to adopt measures for its preservation, namely by furthering the objectives set out in the Convention,” the monarch said in his message.

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