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In Mauritania, Mourchidates take the Lead in Preventing Violent Extremism in Communities

11 April?2023?
“In Mauritania, men dominate the mosques, religious establishments, and Quranic schools that hold significant influence in shaping attitudes, opinions, and behaviors. I have a Quranic school in Rosso that I decided to open following a request from the women in the community. As women, we were largely invisible in these spaces until the Mourchidate initiative gave us a voice in the religious discourse. This program provided us with the opportunity to work alongside imams to prevent violent extremism,” reflected Mariya Bousneine, a Mourchidate from Trarza.?

Caption: To empower women in preventing and countering violent extremism, UNODC and UNESCO worked with the Government in a peacebuilding initiative in five regions of Mauritania funded by the PBF. Photo: ?? UNODC Country Programme Office in Mauritania.

Mauritania, a country known for its relative stability in the Sahel, faces a number of factors that threaten its peace and security. These include rising community tensions fueled by social inequality and a growing threat of radicalization and violent extremism driven by terrorist tendencies in the Sahel. A key element that helps resolve these conflicts is the effective participation of women. As members of communities often most affected by violence and extremism, women are uniquely positioned to provide insights and solutions that may not be apparent to others.?

To empower women in preventing and countering violent extremism, UNODC and UNESCO worked with the Government in a peacebuilding initiative in five regions of Mauritania funded by the PBF. The initiative created a network of 50 women religious guides and community leaders?known as Mourchidates?in charge of transmitting alternative discourses to violent extremism.

Caption: The initiative created a network of 50 women religious guides and community leaders in charge of transmitting alternative discourses to violent extremism. Photo: ?? UNODC Country Programme Office in Mauritania.

The Mourchidates received extensive training on the crucial concepts of violent extremism and learned how to spot warning signs of radicalization in individuals and communities to intervene early and prevent potential violence. These women draw upon their vast knowledge of Islam and their roles as teachers and community leaders to effectively counter extremism.

This network of exceptional women empowers others by offering them tools to combat radicalization. So far, the Morchidates have educated over 7,636 individuals including 4,667 women and 2,969 men in Néma (bordering with Mali), in Selibaby (near the border with Senegal and Mali), Rosso (bordering with Senegal), Bir Mogreihm (bordering? with Algéria) and the capital Nouakchott.

By providing an alternative discourse to violent radicalism, these brave women deconstructed the radical rhetoric of extremist groups using religious arguments, leaving a lasting impact on those they met.

Mariya Bousneine, a Mourchidate from Trarza further adds, “Once, I was contacted by a representative of the Ministry of Islamic Affairs in Rosso to speak with a young woman who refused to allow her children to attend school, claiming it was ‘haram’ i.e. forbidden. I engaged with this woman on the alternative discourse to violent extremism, and over time, she accepted to register her children in school and even shifted away from her radical views.”

Caption: The Mourchidates have a crucial role in preventing extremism.?Photo: ??UNODC Country Programme Office in Mauritania.?

The Mourchidates have a crucial role in preventing extremism. They work in places like mosques, prisons, youth centers, hospitals and schools to promote a tolerant form of Islam and work to dismantle misunderstandings. While their main focus is prevention, they also step in to handle more serious cases. When issues fall outside their religious expertise, they refer people to the appropriate authorities.

Women’s participation has been effective in managing conflicts and their presence has been recognized by everyone involved. The Morchidates initiative has helped women share their knowledge with other women, and now they feel more comfortable expressing their views in public. More women can now openly talk about preventing violent extremism, gender equality, women’s roles in military and security professions, and the criminal justice system. The project has helped shift attitudes as women who were once excluded from decision-making are now involved and valued.

Mouna Bint Alban, a 24-year-old Mourchidate from Nouakchott says, “I have opened a Mahadras because I wanted to make the messages of Islam accessible to all. I decided to be a Mourchidate because I strongly believe that extremists views are contrary to the values of Islam and results from a misunderstanding of the religion.?As a Mourchidate, my role is to correct misinterpretations?and show these young people in my Quranic?school that Islam calls for tolerance.”

Caption: Mariem Ali, a Mourchidate from Néma.?Photo: ?? UNODC Country Programme Office in Mauritania.

Mariem Ali, a Mourchidate from Néma, said, “I have a Quranic school that is registered with the Ministry of Islamic Affairs. In Arabic, the term Mourchidate refers to the role of a guide or advisor, which has traditionally been fulfilled by Mauritanian women. As women, we have always been responsible for educating children and providing guidance to the youth who trust and confide in us. This responsibility aligns with our natural role and has made a positive impact on our community in Néma. We are well-recognized in our community, and we have become a source of support for women seeking not only religious knowledge but also parenting advice. Many communities have benefited from our efforts to strengthen their resilience. As a result, they are now equipped to identify extremist rhetoric and effectively respond to it with alternative religious-based arguments.”

The Ministry of Islamic Affairs has acknowledged the valuable work of the Mourchidates and has pledged to make this network an official part of their system. The Mourchidates have also been invited to share their work in Mali so that such an approach could be replicated there.