Moroccan Policies
Explore policies, laws, and decrees impacting Jewish communities in Morocco.
Laws and decrees
Policies that Shaped Jewish Life in Morocco
Moroccan Jews lived under dhimmi rules for centuries, gained new protections in the modern era, faced Vichy's laws in World War II, and became equal citizens at independence.
| Before 1912 | Jews live as dhimmis, protected but unequal, paying a special tax; in many cities they are required to live in the mellah, the Jewish quarter. |
| 1864 | Sultan Mohammed IV issues a decree promising Jews justice and protection, after a visit by Sir Moses Montefiore. |
| 1940 to 1942 | Vichy anti Jewish laws apply in the French zone: quotas in schools and professions, a census of Jewish property, and orders for Jews in European neighborhoods to move into the mellahs. Sultan Mohammed V is remembered for supporting Jewish leaders, though historians debate how far he could limit these laws. |
| 1956 | At independence, Jews become equal citizens of Morocco. |
| 1959 to 1961 | Under Arab League pressure, emigration to Israel is banned; Jews have difficulty obtaining passports, and many leave in secret. |
| 2011 | Morocco's new constitution names the Hebrew heritage as part of the national identity. |
The impact
What these laws meant
Morocco has restored many synagogues and cemeteries, and Moroccan Jews abroad keep the right to citizenship. JIMENA has also commented on U.S. cultural property agreements affecting Moroccan Jewish heritage.
JIMENA's advocacy
From JIMENA
Explore further
Keep exploring
Key dates in the history of the Jews of Morocco, at a glance. |
The story of the Jews of Morocco, from ancient times to today. |
Watch Moroccan Jews tell their own stories. |
Books on the Jews of Morocco → Histories, memoirs, novels, and children's books in JIMENA's library. |
For the classroom
Think about it
- Choose one of these laws. How would it have changed daily life for a Jewish family: their work, their schooling, their home, or their freedom to travel?
Sources: Anti Jewish legislation in North Africa (U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum); Operation Yachin.
Timeline of Jewish Presence
