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Justice and Development Party (PJD) Secretary-General Abdelilah Benkirane has issued a clarification on his party's website, apologizing for using the word «qandouh» during a party rally in Essaouira on July 4, a remark that sparked widespread controversy.
Speaking about the absence of any authority in Morocco comparable to that of the King, Benkirane said: «I know that Mr. Azoulay belongs to this city and cares about it, but this city does not belong to Azoulay. It is a city of God and of Morocco, and our sovereign is His Majesty the King.»
He continued: «We have one King who carries out his duties, and no one should hide behind the King to make us believe he has some sort of power... Moroccans have one King, Mohammed VI. As for the others, whether Azoulay, Fouad Ali El Himma, or any other 'qandouh'», a derogatory Darija term used to belittle or dismiss someone, «forgive me, but don't try to intimidate us.»
In his clarification, Benkirane wrote: «I, the undersigned Abdelilah Benkirane, while standing by everything I said in my speech in the city of Essaouira except for the word 'qandouh,' hereby withdraw it and apologize for it. Peace.»
