document · Interview
Abdelilah Benkirane (PJD) — interview, “I have not come to change religious beliefs but to solve problems” (Asharq al-Awsat), 27 October 2014 (English translation of Arabic)
Arabic 
Morocco 2014-10-27
Politician: Abdelilah Benkirane
Original source: https://en-archive.aawsat.com/hatimbetioui/interviews/moroccan-prime-minister-i-have-not-come-to-change-religious-beliefs-but-to-solve-problems
Content
When I was appointed as prime minister by His Majesty King Mohammed VI of Morocco, I felt that I was an official responsible for running the public affairs of all Moroccans rather than a prophet with a special message. I am just a state official; I may be right and I might make mistakes while addressing people's problems.
I found myself adrift on a ship, threatened by the reality of [the problem of falling] living conditions, particularly the compensation fund [which subsidizes fuel and other essential goods], which cost the government a quarter of its income in 2012 […]. […] I also came face-to-face with the issue of pension funds […].
As for [Islamist] ideology, I am a prime minister elected by Moroccans to help solve their problems not to interfere in their religious beliefs and freedoms. I have not come to change people's religious beliefs but rather to solve their problems. Being religious or not is a personal matter and religious affairs are organized by the Commander of the Faithful, His Majesty. […] I am not an Islamist but just a Muslim, and like all Muslims [am] trying to be as straightforward as possible.
(On the King's role in the elections:) As the ruler, His Majesty the King issued a directive stipulating that the elections are the government's responsibility. […]
(On why Morocco escaped the worst of the Arab Spring:) When the winds of the Arab Spring came, Morocco was affected and people went out […] to protest in some cities. But they did not go as far as people did in other countries, namely demanding the fall of the government. […] Moroccans have the feeling that the monarchy is a guarantee for them. How to cite this document
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In-text
(Benkirane, 2014) Benkirane, A.. (2014). Abdelilah Benkirane (PJD) — interview, “I have not come to change religious beliefs but to solve problems” (Asharq al-Awsat), 27 October 2014 (English translation of Arabic) [Original language: AR]. en-archive.aawsat.com. Retrieved June 21, 2026, from https://en-archive.aawsat.com/hatimbetioui/interviews/moroccan-prime-minister-i-have-not-come-to-change-religious-beliefs-but-to-solve-problems
Benkirane, Abdelilah. 2014. "Abdelilah Benkirane (PJD) — interview, “I have not come to change religious beliefs but to solve problems” (Asharq al-Awsat), 27 October 2014 (English translation of Arabic)." [Original language: AR] en-archive.aawsat.com. Accessed June 21, 2026. https://en-archive.aawsat.com/hatimbetioui/interviews/moroccan-prime-minister-i-have-not-come-to-change-religious-beliefs-but-to-solve-problems.
@misc{doc-document-a768e2c4-3b97-4621-8578-8b5f673fa330,
author = {Benkirane, Abdelilah},
title = {Abdelilah Benkirane (PJD) — interview, “I have not come to change religious beliefs but to solve problems” (Asharq al-Awsat), 27 October 2014 (English translation of Arabic)},
year = {2014},
date = {2014-10-27},
howpublished = {Online; hosted at en-archive.aawsat.com},
url = {https://en-archive.aawsat.com/hatimbetioui/interviews/moroccan-prime-minister-i-have-not-come-to-change-religious-beliefs-but-to-solve-problems},
urldate = {2026-06-21},
language = {ar},
note = {Retrieved via Tayyar at https://tarekgara.com/tayyar/documents/a768e2c4-3b97-4621-8578-8b5f673fa330},
} Retrieved via Tayyar: https://tarekgara.com/tayyar/documents/a768e2c4-3b97-4621-8578-8b5f673fa330 on June 21, 2026. Tayyar is a research host for primary sources, not the author of this document.