Madar (Nouakchott) - The Mauritanian ulema body has rejected remarks by Ahmed Raissouni, former president of the International Union of Muslim Scholars, in which he said Mauritania is part of Morocco, saying such positions undermine the country's sovereignty and offend the feelings of Mauritanians.
In a statement, the body said Mauritania has an independent history, noting that since the fifth century of the Hijri calendar it has not been subject to the authority of any outside Muslim state, except the Almoravid state, which arose on its soil before extending its influence to several neighbouring countries and as far as Al-Andalus.
The body described Raissouni's statements as provocative and strange.
