Lalla Latifa Amahzoune Explained
Princess Hajja Lalla Latifa (Arabic: الحاجة للا لطيفة;[1] [2] [3] née Amahzoune, 1943/1944 – 29 June 2024), was the wife of King Hassan II of Morocco, and the mother of Princess Lalla Meryem, King Mohammed VI, Princesses Lalla Asma and Lalla Hasna, and Prince Moulay Rachid.[4] [5] [6]
Biography
Latifa was born under the name Latifa Amahzoune in 1943 or 1944 in Khenifra.[7] [8] Lalla Latifa was of the Zayane tribe[9] and came from an important Amazigh family.[10] She was the daughter of a provincial governor,[11] her father was Hassan ould Mouha ou Hammou Zayani, Pasha of Khenifra and Adel of the Zayanes.[12] Her grandfather was the famous Mouha ou Hammou Zayani.[13] She married Hassan II on 9 November 1961 in a double nuptial ceremony with Lalla Lamia as-Solh[14] the bride of Prince Moulay Abdallah of Morocco.
Latifa was the maternal half-sister of General Mohamed Medbouh (the latter's father being of the Gzennaya Riffian tribe), who co-organized and died – after a squabble with Ababou one of the coup leaders[15] – during the 1971 failed coup d'état attempt against Hassan II, which took place during the King's forty-second birthday party in his summer palace.[16] [17]
Latifa never held a public role in the royal family, per peculiar protocol. She was referred to by the Moroccan media as the "mother of the royal children".[18]
From 2000 Latifa lived in France,[19] where she possessed a residence in Neuilly-sur-Seine, and often returned to Morocco.[20] [21]
In 2005 she performed the Hajj pilgrimage accompanied by her friends as well as Khaled Al-Samadi, former Secretary of State in charge of higher education and scientific research, and Dr. Muhammad Al-Sarrar, a professor at the Faculty of Sharia in Fez. Al-Samadi posthumously described her as very patient during Arafat's descent to perform Tawaf al-Ifadah like all other pilgrims, without seeking the aid of any special security protocols. He adds that Lalla Latifa was the pinnacle of humility, mercy, gentleness, generosity and extreme concern to perform every detail of the Hajj rituals until she performed them completely with perseverance and patience.
In 2019, she settled permanently in Morocco, in Marrakesh.[22]
Private life
She married Hassan II on 9 November 1961, during a double nuptial ceremony with Lamia Al Solh, the bride of her brother-in-law, Prince Moulay Abdallah. She was from that point on styled Her Highness Princess Lalla Latifa. Five children were born from their union:[23]
After Hassan's death, Latifa remarried in May 2000 to Mohamed Mediouri,[24] [25] [26] [27] [28] Hassan's bodyguard and former security chief of the royal palace.[29]
Tribute
In 2018, King Mohammed VI inaugurated the "Mosque of H.H. Princess Lalla Latifa" in Salé in her honor.[30] It is in Hay Essalam and has an area of 1,200 square meters.[31] It has the capacity to accommodate more than 1,800 worshippers. It also has a Koranic school, two prayer rooms, and accommodation for the imam and the muezzin. The design of the mosque is a combination of traditional Andalusian architecture with a modern addition.
Death
Lalla Latifa died in Rabat, Morocco on 29 June 2024.[32] A private funeral took place the same day at the Moulay el-Hassan Mausoleum, located within the grounds of the Royal Palace of Rabat.[33] The United Kingdom's embassy and consulate in Morocco lowered its flag to half-mast in her tribute.[34] The United Arab Emirates and Algeria were among the first countries to present their condolences to the monarch, her son King Mohammed VI.[35] [36] No events were cancelled following her death.[37]
Titles
- 9 November 1961 – 23 July 1999: Her Highness Princess Lalla Latifa.
- 23 July 1999 – 29 June 2024: Her Highness Princess Lalla Latifa, Dowager Princess (de facto and de jure).
- posthumously: Her Royal Highness Princess Lalla Latifa.[38]
Notes and References
- Web site: Hassan II du Maroc invité de "L'Heure de Vérité" Archive INA . YouTube . 23 July 2019 . From 1:06:30s to 1:07:30s . French . Journalist: Why don't we know the Queen of Morocco ? King Hassan II's response: ... there has never been a Queen ... when I have the opportunity to present the mother of princes who bears the title of Princess [but who] not that of Queen. Who has no political activity ... I present her very normally because I believe that she is, that she is well brought up, that she is very presentable ... . 20 June 2023 . 20 June 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230620204113/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tu15CD6qT0 . live .
- News: Aissa Amourag. Une escroquerie presque parfaite. 1 October 2012. MarocHebdo. 17 October 2008. 28 January 2013. https://archive.today/20130128082536/http://www.maghress.com/fr/marochebdo/81007. live.
- Web site: وزير سابق رافق الأميرة للا لطيفة للعمرة والحج: كان تدينها قويا وتواضعها شديدا . 1 July 2024 . اليوم 24 – أخبار اليوم على مدار الساعة . ar . Regarding his accompanying the mother of King Mohammed VI to perform the Umrah and Hajj rituals in 2005, Al-Samadi explained that he was honored, along with Dr. Muhammad Al-Sarrar, a professor at the Faculty of Sharia in Fez, upon assignment by the Scientific Committee of the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs, to accompany Her Royal Highness the Honorable Lalla Latifa, the mother of His Majesty the King. "In performing the rituals of Umrah and Hajj.".
- (24 July 1999). Morocco's King Hassan dies, aged 70, Independent Online (South Africa)
- (27 March 1989). Royal Treat for Maggie, Evening Times
- (15 February 2009). Prohibido publicar fotos de la madre de Mohamed VI (Forbidden to publish photographs of Mohamed VI's mother), El País (in Spanish)
- News: Muere Lalla Latifa, la madre de Mohamed VI, el Rey de Marruecos. ABC. Spanish. 29 June 2024. 30 June 2024. 30 June 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240630184742/https://www.abc.es/internacional/muere-lalla-latifa-madre-mohamed-rey-marruecos-20240629231308-nt.html. live.
- Web site: Images . Historic . 1962 Press Photo Morocco's King Hassan II with his infant daughter, Mariam . 9 January 2024 . Historic Images . en . Morocco's King Hassan II visited his daughter, Mariam, who was born in a Rome clinic. Announcement of the infant's birth was the first word that the king had married a commoner. The Moroccan embassy in Rome said she is Latifa, 18, daughter of a Berber chieftain. . 9 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240109221441/https://historicimages.com/products/mja79813 . live .
- Web site: Lalla Latifa . 10 December 2021 . frontend . 18 September 2020 . en . 10 December 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211210205854/https://www.unofficialroyalty.com/king-hassan-ii-of-morocco/ . live .
- Book: Reich, Bernard . Political Leaders of the Contemporary Middle East and North Africa: A Biographical Dictionary . 21 February 1990 . Greenwood Publishing Group . 978-0-313-26213-5 . 231 . en . 27 September 2023 . 2 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231002224811/https://books.google.com/books?id=3D5FulN2WqQC&dq=Lalla+Latifa&pg=PA231 . live .
- Book: Mack . Beverley . Educating Muslim Women: The West African Legacy of Nana Asma u 1793–1864 . Boyd . Jean . 23 September 2013 . Kube Publishing Ltd . 978-1-84774-061-8 . 123 . en . Hassan II (r.1961-99), on his accession, married Lalla Latifa, the daughter of a provincial governor . 27 September 2023 . 2 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231002225040/https://books.google.com/books?id=sWs9BAAAQBAJ&dq=Lalla+Latifa&pg=PA123 . live .
- Book: Bulletin des études arabes: (intermédiaire des arabisants). . 1966 . Swets and Zeitlinger . 29 . fr . Hassan ould Moha ou Hammou, Adel of the Zaïanes, Pacha de Khenifra . 27 September 2023 . 2 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231002224812/https://books.google.com/books?id=4hpTaqWThPwC&q=Hassan+ould+Moha+ou+Hammou+Adel+des+Za%C3%AFans+Pacha+de+Khenifra . live .
- Book: occidentale (France) . Laboratoire d'anthropologie et de préhistoire des pays de la Méditerranée . Encyclopédie berbère . musulman . Institut de recherches et d'études sur le monde arabe et . 2005 . EDISUD . 978-2-7449-0538-4 . fr . That King Mohammed VI, who is himself the great-grandson of Moha ou Hammou, took advantage of a stay in Khenifra to announce in October 2001 ... . 20 June 2023 . 6 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230406161442/https://books.google.com/books?id=DwlyAAAAMAAJ . live .
- Web site: magazine picture – 1961 – morocco moulay abdallah king hassan II wedding. 10 December 2021. eBay. en-gb. 10 December 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211210202459/https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/382882566304. live.
- Book: Sater, James N. . Morocco: Challenges to Tradition and Modernity . 2009-11-30 . Taylor & Francis . 978-0-203-86409-8 . 36 . en.
- News: 1971: Death for Moroccan rebel leaders . 13 July 1971 . . 19 July 2015 . 25 January 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210125071652/http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/july/13/newsid_2503000/2503093.stm . live .
- Web site: ar:شاهد على العصر – أحمد المرزوقي – الجزء الثالث. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YGxXl-Z31ZM . https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211222/YGxXl-Z31ZM . 22 December 2021 . live. Al Jazeera. 12 March 2014. ar . 3 March 2009 .
- News: Maroc: décès de la mère du roi Mohamed VI. 30 June 2024. Cédric. Amoussou. La Nouvelle Tribune. 30 June 2024. 30 June 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240630184743/https://lanouvelletribune.info/2024/06/deces-de-la-mere-du-roi-mohamed-vi/#google_vignette. live.
- Web site: Média . Prisma . 5 October 2020 . Mohammed VI, roi du Maroc, s'offre un pied-à-terre de 80 millions d'euros à Paris – Gala . 9 August 2023 . Gala.fr . fr . 10 August 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230810230314/https://www.gala.fr/l_actu/news_de_stars/mohammed-vi-roi-du-maroc-soffre-un-pied-a-terre-de-80-millions-deuros-a-paris_455843 . live .
- Book: Jeune Afrique l'intelligent . 2008 . Groupe Jeune Afrique . 8 . fr . 27 September 2023 . 2 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231002224959/https://books.google.com/books?id=DrpWAAAAYAAJ&q=Mohammed+VI+Lalla+Latifa+Neuilly . live .
- Book: Vermeren, Pierre . Le Maroc de Mohammed VI: la transition inachevée . 2009 . Découverte . 978-2-7071-5582-5 . 70 . fr . 27 September 2023 . 2 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231002225115/https://books.google.com/books?id=qUYOAQAAMAAJ&q=Mohammed+VI+Lalla+Latifa+Neuilly . live .
- Web site: Mohammed VI rend visite à sa mère à Marrakech . 9 August 2023 . bladinet . fr . 10 August 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230810225601/https://www.bladi.net/mohammed-6-visite-mere-marrakech,61553.html . live .
- News: Mother of Morocco's King Mohammed VI Passes Away Aged 78. 29 June 2024. Morocco World News. Jihane. Rahhou. 30 June 2024. 30 June 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240630184805/https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2024/06/363545/mother-of-moroccos-king-mohammed-vi-passes-away-aged-78. live.
- Book: Mahjoub Tobji . Les officiers de Sa Majesté:Les dérives des généraux marocains 1956–2006 . 13 September 2006 . Fayard . 978-2-213-64072-3 . 52 . fr . Médiouri ... ended up marrying the widow of Hassan II, Latifa, a few years after the disappearance of the sovereign. . Mahjoub Tobji . 31 May 2023 . 3 March 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180303225731/https://livreschauds.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/livre-larmc3a9e-marocaine-aujourdhuimahjoub-tobji.pdf . live .
- Book: Ali Amar . Mohammed VI, le grand malentendu . 29 April 2009 . Calman-Levy . 978-2-702-14857-0 . 52 . fr . Mohamed Médiouri ... had married the mother of Mohammed VI, and therefore the former wife of Hassan II, Latifa . 31 May 2023 . 31 May 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230531144135/https://www.hlrn.org/img/documents/Laurent,_eric_Le_Roi_predateur_fr.pdf . live .
- Web site: AFP . Moroccan king also targeted by NSO Group's malware . 31 May 2023 . www.timesofisrael.com . en-US . ... and Hassan II's former bodyguard, Mohamed Mediouri, who is the current king's stepfather. . 31 May 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230531141850/https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/moroccan-king-also-targeted-by-nso-groups-malware/ . live .
- Book: Ignace Dalle . Hassan II entre tradition et absolutisme . 9 March 2011 . Fayard . 978-2-213-66458-3.
- Web site: 25 May 2000 . MOROCCO : MOHAMED MEDIOURI - 25/05/2000 - Maghreb Confidential . 4 January 2024 . Africa Intelligence . en . 4 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240104152037/https://www.africaintelligence.com/north-africa/2000/05/25/mohamed-mediouri,270713-bre . live .
- Web site: Cembrero . Ignacio . 20 May 2019 . El misterioso intento de asesinato en Marrakech del padrastro de Mohamed VI . 31 May 2023 . vanitatis.elconfidencial.com . es . Mediouri was, between 1976 and 2000, a bodyguard and later head of the Department of Royal Protection, that is, in charge of the security of King Hassan II, who died in 1999. . 29 May 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230529081257/https://www.vanitatis.elconfidencial.com/casas-reales/2019-05-20/padrastro-mohamev-vi-intento-asesinato_2010502/ . live .
- Web site: 3 August 2023 . SM le Roi, Amir Al-Mouminine, inaugure à Salé la "Mosquée SA la Princesse Lalla Latifa" et y accomplit la prière du vendredi – La commune de Salé . 9 August 2023 . fr-FR . 2 August 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230802154821/https://fr.villedesale.ma/sm-le-roi-amir-al-mouminine-inaugure-a-sale-la-mosquee-sa-la-princesse-lalla-latifa-et-y-accomplit-la-priere-du-vendredi/ . live .
- Web site: First Friday of Ramadan: King Mohammed VI Inaugurates Mosque 'Lalla Latifa' . www.moroccoworldnews.com/ . 9 August 2023 . 27 May 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230527204843/https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2018/05/246646/king-mohammed-vi-mosque-lalla-latifa . live .
- Web site: 29 June 2024 . Tributes paid as King of Morocco's mother dies . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240629202914/https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/2024/06/29/tributes-paid-as-king-of-moroccos-mother-dies/ . 29 June 2024 . 29 June 2024 . The National . en.
- Web site: Maroc : mort de la princesse Lalla Latifa, mère de Mohammed VI - Jeune Afrique.com . 29 June 2024 . JeuneAfrique.com . fr-FR . 30 June 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240630184742/https://www.jeuneafrique.com/1583137/politique/maroc-mort-de-la-princesse-lalla-latifa-mere-de-mohammed-vi/ . live .
- Web site: World Leaders Extend Condolences to King Mohammed VI on Death of Princess Lalla Latifa . 30 June 2024 . 30 June 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240630184744/https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2024/06/363550/world-leaders-extend-condolences-to-king-mohammed-vi-on-death-of-princess-lalla-latifa . live .
- Web site: 29 June 2024 . UAE leaders offer condolences to King of Morocco . 30 June 2024 . gulfnews.com . en . 29 June 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240629203606/https://gulfnews.com/uae/government/uae-leaders-offer-condolences-to-king-of-morocco-1.1719686898308 . live .
- Web site: 29 June 2024 . Algérie – Maroc : Tebboune présente ses condoléances à Mohamed VI suite au décès de sa mère . 30 June 2024 . TSA . fr . 30 June 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240630184745/https://www.tsa-algerie.com/deces-de-la-princesse-lalla-latifa-tebboune-presente-ses-condoleances-a-mohamed-vi/ . live .
- Web site: 2024-06-29 . Source autorisée. Décès de SAR Lalla Latifa, mère du Souverain: aucune annulation d'événements au Maroc . 2024-07-06 . Le360 Sport . fr.
- Web site: 31 July 2024 . La nouvelle promotion des écoles militaires et paramilitaire est baptisée du nom de feu Lalla Latifa . medias24.com.