The Moroccan Studies Chair at Al-Quds University Opens the New Academic Year by Documenting Moroccan Presence

Jerusalem - Afaq News - The Moroccan Studies Chair at Al-Quds University opened the new academic year with a scientific seminar discussing "Moroccan Antiquities and Endowments in Jerusalem and Palestine: Evidence of Presence and Extended Memory," with the participation of the director responsible for managing the Al-Quds Bayt Mal Agency, Mohamed Salem Al-Sharqawi, and the President of Al-Quds University, Prof. Imad Abu Kishk, along with a number of researchers and academics.

The seminar highlighted the importance of documenting the antiquities and endowments related to the Moroccan presence in Jerusalem and Palestine, cataloging their landmarks and sources of documentation, and studying the transformations they have undergone, contributing to the transition from scattered knowledge to organized scientific documentation of the Moroccan memory in the holy city and Palestine.

The scientific discussion addressed the importance of documents, endowment deeds, records, images, maps, and narratives related to Moroccan antiquities and endowments, along with the challenges facing the documentation of landmarks that have undergone change or destruction, and ways to utilize digital archiving, databases, and modern technologies in preserving material and documentary memory.

Participants also discussed ways to enhance cooperation between academic, cultural, and archival institutions, and to develop specialized scientific projects for cataloging, documenting, and studying Moroccan antiquities and endowments in Jerusalem and Palestine, making this historical heritage accessible to researchers and future generations, and integrating the study of antiquities, endowments, documents, and memory within more organized research projects.

Al-Sharqawi: The Moroccan Studies Chair is a Space for Knowledge Production and Memory Documentation

Mohamed Salem Al-Sharqawi, the director responsible for managing the Al-Quds Bayt Mal Agency, stated that the interest in scientific and cultural research related to Jerusalem falls within the continuous care that His Majesty King Mohammed VI, President of the Jerusalem Committee, gives to the city and its people, and His Majesty's commitment to protecting its cultural identity and preserving its memory.

He emphasized that the uniqueness of the Moroccan Studies Chair lies in its presence within the city of Jerusalem, granting it a distinguished scientific position to work on issues related to Jerusalem and Palestine, and to open up studies on the Moroccan presence in the Levant and its historical and cultural relations.

Al-Sharqawi expressed his hope to continue developing the chair's role as a space for knowledge production and documenting Moroccan memory in Jerusalem, Palestine, and the Levant, and to expand the partnership between the agency and the university towards scientific, educational, and cultural projects that serve Jerusalem and its people and enhance its presence in the fields of research and knowledge.

Abu Kishk: Scientific Research is a Tool for Preserving Jerusalem's Cultural Heritage

For his part, the President of Al-Quds University, Prof. Imad Abu Kishk, emphasized the importance of the seminar in highlighting the historical Moroccan presence in Jerusalem and Palestine, and enhancing the role of scientific research in documenting and preserving this cultural heritage, noting that its organization reflects the importance of the partnership between Al-Quds University and the Al-Quds Bayt Mal Agency, and their shared interest in supporting Jerusalem and enhancing its presence in scientific and cultural research.

Abu Kishk praised the efforts of the Moroccan Studies Chair in organizing scientific events that contribute to deepening knowledge of the Moroccan presence in Jerusalem, affirming the university's commitment to continue supporting academic initiatives that serve the holy city, preserve its memory, and enhance scientific research about it.

Nasser Al-Din: Preserving Memory Requires Documenting and Making it Accessible to Generations

For her part, Dr. Safaa Nasser Al-Din, the head of the Moroccan Studies Chair at Al-Quds University, explained that the seminar comes within the chair's interest in documenting the Moroccan presence in Jerusalem and Palestine, and transitioning from scattered knowledge to documented and organized scientific knowledge, opening the door for developing future research projects in the fields of cataloging, documentation, archiving, and digitization.

She affirmed that preserving memory is not limited to safeguarding landmarks but also includes producing knowledge about them and making it accessible to researchers and future generations, pointing out that Moroccan antiquities and endowments in Jerusalem and Palestine represent not just buildings or properties of historical value, but constitute material and documentary evidence of an extended Moroccan presence, linked to religious, social, cultural, and educational roles in the holy city.

Research Presentations on Antiquities, Endowments, and Memory

During the seminar, researchers addressed several issues related to the Moroccan presence; Dr. Abdul Razak Matani presented a paper titled "The Moroccan Presence in Jerusalem and Palestine - Antiquities, Endowments, and Humanity," discussing the aspects of the Moroccan presence and its historical and social dimensions, along with the endowments and landmarks associated with it.

Dr. Samer Raddad also presented a paper titled "The Geography of Moroccan Memory in Jerusalem: Between Presence and Exclusion," discussing the relationship between place and memory, and what the landmarks associated with the Moroccan presence reflect in terms of historical and cultural significance.

The Moroccan Studies Chair at Al-Quds University was established on March 2, 2025, at the initiative of the Al-Quds Bayt Mal Agency, in cooperation with the university and the Moroccan Cultural Center Association - Bayt Al-Maghrib.

The chair is concerned with studying and documenting the historical, cultural, and human relations between Morocco and Jerusalem and Palestine, transforming this shared heritage into an organized field for research, education, and knowledge production.