Ahmed Bahnini (; – 10 July 1971) was a Moroccan politician who served as the fourth

Prime Minister of Morocco The prime minister of Morocco, officially head of government (), is the head of government of the Morocco, Kingdom of Morocco. The prime minister is chosen by the king of Morocco from the largest party elected to Parliament of Morocco, parliamen ...

from 1963 to 1965 under King

Hassan II Hassan, Hasan, Hassane, Haasana, Hassaan, Asan, Hassun, Hasun, Hassen, Hasson or Hasani may refer to: People *Hassan (given name), Arabic given name and a list of people with that given name *Hassan (surname), Arabic, Jewish, Irish, and Scotti ...

. He also served as President of the Supreme Court. Bahnini was killed during a failed coup attempt against Hassan II on 10 July 1971.

Early life

Bahnini was born in

Fez, Morocco Fez () or Fes (; ) is a city in northern inland Morocco and the capital of the Fez-Meknes, Fez-Meknes administrative region. It is one of the List of cities in Morocco, largest cities in Morocco, with a population of 1.256 million, according to ...

in 1909. He studied at the

University of al-Qarawiyyin The University of al-Qarawiyyin (), also written Al-Karaouine or Al Quaraouiyine, is a university located in Fez, Morocco. It was founded as a mosque by Fatima al-Fihri in 857–859 and subsequently became one of the leading spiritual and educ ...

, where Abdeslam Serghini was his professor.

Career

Bahnini was teacher to the princes - including Moulay Hassan (future Hassan II) - and princesses at the

Imperial College Imperial College London, also known as Imperial, is a public research university in London, England. Its history began with Prince Albert, husband of Queen Victoria, who envisioned a cultural district in South Kensington that included museums ...

after having held positions at the Méchouar (secretary to the central Makhzen and judge at the herifian High Court). Bahnini was appointed prime minister by

in 1963, a week before the promulgation of an amnesty dahir and rehabilitating well-known "collaborators" to the chagrin of the nationalists. This man, at the time of the deposition of Mohammed V had said nothing and had rallied to

Mohammed Ben Aarafa Mohammed Ben Aarafa (), or Ben Arafa (1886 – 17 July 1976), was a paternal first cousin once removed of Sultan Mohammed V of Morocco; he was put on the throne by the French after they exiled Mohammed V to French-ruled Madagascar in August 195 ...

, the sultan placed briefly on the throne by the French. In a speech delivered on 7 June 1965 in Rabat, Hassan II proclaimed a state of exception, in accordance with article 35 of the Sherifian Constitution, and announced a revision of this Constitution, which would be submitted to referendum. Bahnini later presented the king with the resignation of the members of the Moroccan government. The

MAP A map is a symbolic depiction of interrelationships, commonly spatial, between things within a space. A map may be annotated with text and graphics. Like any graphic, a map may be fixed to paper or other durable media, or may be displayed on ...

news agency said that the speech of Hassan II was welcomed with "satisfaction" by the population, while the opposition

Istiqlal Party The Istiqlal Party (; ; ) is a political party in Morocco. It is a conservative and monarchist party and a member of the Centrist Democrat International and International Democracy Union. Istiqlal headed a coalition government under Abbas El Fa ...

and UNFP disapproved of the measures taken by the sovereign.

Death

On 10 July 1971, during a celebration of Hassan II's birthday in

Skhirat Skhirat () is a town in Morocco, located between the administrative capital Rabat and the economic centre of Casablanca. Within the past decade it has steadily developed; especially with high class beach properties. History 20th century Lo ...

palace, Bahnini was shot dead when mutinying soldiers fired into a crowd of guests during a bloody and unsuccessful military coup attempt.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bahnini, Ahmed University of al-Qarawiyyin alumni Academic staff of the Royal College (Rabat) Prime ministers of Morocco People from Rabat Assassinated Moroccan politicians Deaths by firearm in Morocco People murdered in Morocco 1909 births 1971 deaths 20th-century Moroccan judges Politicians from Fez, Morocco African politicians assassinated in the 1970s Politicians assassinated in 1971