Mauritania’s female Islamic guides: Leading the fight against ‘extremism’
Mauritania's female Islamic guides, known as mourchidates, are playing a crucial role in combating radicalization through community outreach and religious guidance. These trained women engage with vulnerable populations, including detainees, to challenge extremist narratives and promote moderate interpretations of Islam. Their approach emphasizes building trust and relationships, which is essential for effective de-radicalization efforts.
- ▪Mauritania's mourchidates are female Islamic spiritual guides trained by the state since 2021.
- ▪The program draws inspiration from Morocco's mourchidates, which were established after the 2003 Casablanca bombings.
- ▪Mourchidates provide religious counsel in various settings, including schools, mosques, and prisons, addressing both theological and social factors of radicalization.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
NewsMauritania’s female Islamic guides: Leading the fight against ‘extremism’The fight against radicalisation in Mauritania advances through faith and community outreach by female Islamic guides.ListenListen (8 mins)SaveClick here to share on social mediashare-nodesSharefacebookxwhatsapp-strokecopylinkgoogleAdd Al Jazeera on GoogleinfoMauritania's mourchidates programme is a case study on investing in conditions that make radicalisation less likely [Michelle Cattani/AFP]By Mubarak AliyuPublished On 21 May 202621 May 2026Nouakchott, Mauritania – Across a vast stretch of the Sahel and West Africa, armed groups are expanding their reach, military governments are replacing fragile democracies, and “counterterrorism” efforts continue to contend with armed violence, often rooted in poverty and…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at Al Jazeera English.
Discussion
0 commentsMore from Al Jazeera English
