Mohammed Bennis (Moroccan Poets #2)

Born in Fès, Morocco in 1948. A major figure in Modern Moroccan poetry. Ph.D holder, and professor of Arab poetry at the faculty of letters, Rabat. In 1971 he founded the literary review Attakafa Aljadida which was decisive in the creation of a Modernist sensitivity in Morocco during the seventies. He is president of the House of Poetry in Morocco, and one of its founders.

His poetical works include: Before Speech, Towards Your Vertical Voice, Leaf of Splendor and The River between Two Funerals.

LINK:Moroccan Poets 1

Tags: Morocco,
Fès, poetry, Fez,

Tel Quel Campaign Gains Momentum

Tel Quel is one of Morocco's outstanding magazines. Published weekly, it regularly breaks taboos in its open coverage of all aspects of Moroccan society. The magazine made international headlines with a cover story on King Muhammad VI's salary, and has also published progressive stories on sexuality, religion, and the conflict with the Western Sahara. Tel Quel's editor Ahmed Benchemsi has been recognized with fellowships at the Los Angeles Times and Newsweek.

But while Benchemsi was in the US on a recent fellowship in August, the Moroccan authorities used a novel technique to shut down Tel Quel: a civil case of defamation where the presiding judge did not even allow Tel Quel's lawyer to speak before pronouncing a fine of 1,000,000 dirham ($112,000). The judge declared that Benchemsi would have to go to jail for two months if he fails to pay the fine. 10,000 people from around the world signed a petition supporting Tel Quel in response.

Bloggers around the world have taken up the case and you can find the online petition here: Tel Quel Petition



Tags: Morocco, Fes, Tel Quel,

Polisario torture decribed.

I have posted before about the Polisario and the way they have kept their own people as virtual hostages by demanding autonomy for a region that according to every credible expert has no future as an economic entity. Today the Morocco Times has a lengthy article about the fate of Lamani Abdellah a prisoner of the Polisario for twenty-three years.

Lamani Abdellah before he was kidnapped (1980) and after he was released (2003)

Lamani is one of the many prisoners who were either caught up or kidnapped during the Sahara war opposing Morocco to the Algeria-backed Polisario Front. He says in the Morocco Times interview that the Polisario has committed the most horrific kinds of violations of human rights against the Moroccan prisoners in the Tindouf camps, southern Algeria. This, of course is not new information as there have been frequent reports of Polisario attroicities - but it is worth reading.

You will find the full article here: Horrors of Tindouf camps

Tags: Morocco, torture, Polisario, Terrorism,

Anger at Euromed failure.

Europe's mostly Muslim southern neighbours will be left angry and frustrated after a summit ended Monday with the EU hailing a pact to fight terror but failing to broach their basic concerns, analysts said.

The two-day Euromed summit in Barcelona was supposed to mark a revitalization of a 10-year-old partnership between the European Union and 10 Mediterranean-rim countries, stretching from Morocco to Israel.

But lingering tension was palpable after the gathering in the Spanish city, where the so-called Barcelona Process was launched in 1995 by the EU and its southern partners.

"It's a big disappointment for the Arabs," said Mohamed Sabreen, political analyst and columnist at the Cairo-based al-Ahram newspaper.

The Euromed partnership brings together the 25-nation EU with Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, the Palestinian Authority, Syria, Tunisia and Turkey.

The Barcelona meeting, co-chaired by British Prime Minister Tony Blair and his Spanish counterpart Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, notably agreed on a Code of Conduct on fighting terrorism.

It also reiterated plans to set up a Euro-Mediterranean free trade zone by the end of the decade, agreed initiatives to clamp down on immigration and launched a five-year work plan for bolstering ties between the two regions.

But even before the summit opened the Arab states' attitute towards it was clear: only two bothered to send their leaders to Barcelona, Palestinian chief Mahmud Abbas and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

"It's a message of frustration," Sabreen said.

"The intentions were noble but the results are very modest," said Algerian Foreign Minister Abdelaziz Belkhadem, who on Sunday said it was "humiliating that the Europeans demand reforms from us in exchange for a few euros."

Europe, which Arab leaders have long counted on as a counter-weight to the United States' support for Israel in the Middle East, "didn't put enough pressure on Israel," the Algerian minister added.

The main sticking point at the talks was the Israel-Palestinian conflict: the anti-terror pact was agreed only after intense wrangling over Arab demands for recognition of the right of "resistance" against occupation.

"We shouldn't mix things up: resistance is a legitimate right recognized by the international community," said Egyptian Ahmed Abul Gheit.

"Wherever there is occupation there is resistance," added Arab League chief Amr Mussa.

Ahead of the Barcelona summit, European Commission head Jose Manuel Barroso had called on Muslim leaders to do more to distance themselves from Islamist terrorism.

Although they all signed up to the anti-terror pact, Algeria's Belkhadem voiced concern that anti-Muslim sentiment lingers in Europe due to the growing terrorist threat since the September 11, 2001, attacks in the United States.

"You have to make the distinction between terrorism and Islamophobia or Arabophobia," he said.

Tags: Morocco, Fes, Jihad, Terrorism,

Why restore a house in Fès?

O Fès! In you are gathered all the beauties of the world. How many are the blessings and riches that you bestow on your inhabitants. The challenge will tax man's capacities and imagination to the full. —Amadou-Mahtar M'Bow

Recently, Hujaina wrote: "What the west likes about the orient is not what the orient likes about the west. we like what is modern in your countries. You like the archive in our countries". And of course she is right. But it made me stop and think about why Westerners would bother to spend so much time and money restoring a dar or riad in the old medina.

Of course there is no single simple answer, but rather a range of answers. Let's start with the historical perspective:

As Geoff Porter once wrote:

Upon Independence from the French in 1956, Moroccans rejected imposed traditionalism. The 1960s saw the destruction of large swathes of the medinas, the installation of electric lines, the ripping up of paving stones in medina alleys for new sewers, and the demolition of centuries-old homes to make way for new roads wide enough for cars. The 1960s were a decade of frenetic catching-up. In the rush to put Morocco on par with the other industrial economies of the 20th century and in reaction to the paternalistic ghettoization that the medinas had undergone during the colonial period, Morocco's architectural heritage was relegated to a secondary status.

But by the late 1970s and then especially in the 1980s, upper-class Moroccans began to realize that this architectural legacy of monuments and cities had value. It had value as reminders of Morocco's illustrious past, as markers of what Morocco had achieved, and hopefully, what Morocco could achieve again. The buildings, the mosques, the homes, the palaces, the entire cities were hallmarks of a great civilization. They were evidence of this admirable past and they were indications that Morocco could again achieve cultural distinction on the global stage.

Porter is right, but he misses one critical point. Architectural legacy is also important for tourism and it is tourism that can be an ongoing force for increasing the wealth of the society.

The massive public projects are being run by Abdellatif El Hajjami, director general of the restoration project, known officially as the Agence pour la Dédensification et la Réhabilitation de la Médina de Fès. As the New York journalist Josh White wrote back in 1993... An architect by profession and a native of Fès, El Hajjami has served in his post since it was created almost 10 years ago.

Using two main offices, one in a restored merchant's home near the Palais Jamaï in Fès El Bali - Old Fez - and the other in a discreet villa in the French-built Ville Nouvelle, El Hajjami frequently works 18-hour days. "To know something like this, you must live with it," he says. His duties go far beyond those of an architect: He directs a staff of 160 workers and artisans, including an engineer, three architects, an archeologist, a geologist, a lawyer and various computer and documentation specialists.

The restoration project has already identified 11 madrasahs, 320 mosques, 270 funduqs and over 200 hammams (public baths), houses or public ovens worthy of preservation. Some structures are famous: The Karaouine Mosque, the Bou Anania madrasah, the Horlogerie (a clepsydra, or water clock), the Nejjarine Fountain and the Funduq Nejjarine are but a few. Others are only known to locals, who feel they nonetheless represent key aspects of the city's cultural heritage.

The question arises as to how individuals restoring riads or dars assists this process. Simply put, apart from the money they contribute to the economy of the medina, they are also employing traditional artisans whose skills must be preserved in order that the grand buildings of public significance can also be restored in the correct way. However, money itself is not the answer, as we saw recently with the attempts to restore public fountains in Fès. Much of the work was second class, the zellij work was not up to an acceptable standard.



The individual Westerners have not only the money to restore buildings and employ craftsmen, but also the time to devote to research the best ways of restoring. The buzz words are "conservation restoration"... in otherwords, not simply pulling "old stuff' down and building new, but keep what is worthwhile and restore around it. A fine example of this was some work being done by David, a friend of mine who was working on restoring an old medersa and found he needed hand-made nails. It took him weeks to find a craftsman (in Meknes) who could produce the nails, but David's sense of "conservation restoration" was such that he insisted that the nails be made in a slightly different size from the originals so that an expert could tell what was genuinely old and what was restoration. Such is the task at hand for those wishing to restore the grand riads and exquisite dars of Fès.

Of course man of the local inhabitants want to get out into the "modern world" and even if the did not they could not afford the cost of restoration. The Westerners can and should. And, in my experience, the local people appreciate that someone cares enough to restore the old houses to their former glory.

Link: : Everything you need to know about Fès

Tags: Morocco, Fès, travel, House in Fez

The Expanding Jihadi Nexus

The Jamestown Foundation often has very fine analysis and this piece by Stephen Ulf is no exception.

Arrests in Morocco Highlight the Expanding Jihadi Nexus -By Stephen Ulph

A wave of arrests that took place in early November in Morocco is illuminating for two reasons: the expansion of al-Zarqawi's influence outside Iraq, and the interconnection between jihadist activities on both shores of the Mediterranean. The series of arrests, beginning on November 11 in the cities of Rabat and Casablanca, has netted 17 Islamists suspected of links to al-Qaeda. Official sources claim that they have "dismantled a terrorist structure as it was being formed."

According to the Moroccan Arabic daily al-Alam, the terrorist network uncovered by the 17 arrests, Jama'at al-Tawhid wal-Jihad fil-Maghrib (‘the Monotheism and Jihad group in Morocco'), has connections with small groups operating near the Iraqi border that maintain close ties with senior members of the al-Qaeda. A security source quoted by the paper indicated the existence of a secret organization outside Morocco headed by an Iraqi and made up of 20 members, which entertained a plan to attack a Dutch intelligence HQ. Their plans were subsequently altered by the addition of a new Mor

occan member to the group who planned a larger operation in his home country: the targeting of a casino in Tangiers, the U.S. consulate in Casablanca and a number of Jewish synagogues. Others arrestees spoke of the production of poisons and explosives for subsequent use in Morocco. An interesting detail from the arrests was the indication of the al-Qaeda "radicalization course" undertaken by the new members, which included viewing jihadi films such as Jahim al-Rus, Badr al-Riyadh and Jahim al-Murtaddeen ("The Russian Inferno" the "Battle of Badr at Riyadh" and "the Apostates' Inferno"), as well as the productions of Iraqi networks on the Internet, such as Ansar al-Sunna, the Islamic Army and (al-Zarqawi's) al-Tawhid wal-Jihad (www.alalam.ma).

One of the fundamental activists behind the group's planned campaign in Morocco, according to al-Alam, is an Algerian national named Abu Baseer. He is considered to be an ‘emir' (commander) of al-Qaeda in Europe working under the authority of al-Zarqawi. One of the 17 arrestees is believed to have handed over letters addressed to Osama bin Laden "focusing on the mujahideen in Saudi Arabia and Algeria and on the creation of an al-Qaeda organization in the North African states." (www.alalam.ma).

In this sense, the pattern follows closely what is known from strategy documents concerning the next stages of the development of jihad: the preparation of support bases for al-Qaeda in Algeria and Morocco through the joining of forces of the mujahideen following their recruitment. Following this is their dispatch to military camps run by the Algerian Groupe Salafiste pour la Prédication et le Combat (GSPC), and then their training in the first phase for jihad in Iraq (or Syria in the event of American strikes). The second phase consists of their repatriation to Morocco in order to create sleeper cells, "to await the formation of a strong base from which to strike at economic and tourism targets, and Western institutions" (www.alalam.ma).

Funding and logistical support comes from Europe, as the Moroccan arrests demonstrated, mostly from channels in Spain and the United Kingdom, which funnel money acquired through voluntary contributions or petty crime. The current Moroccan investigations focused in particular on the role of Belgium. One of the leaders of the arrested group is considered to be Mohamed R'ha, a Belgian national of Moroccan ancestry, one of the operatives who had returned from ideological training in Syria to recruit members. On November 17 the trial in Brussels opened of Belgian and Moroccan nationals accused of belonging to a terrorist organization and providing logistical support to the Moroccan Islamic Combatant Group (Groupe islamique combattant marocain—GICM). This group was founded in 1997 by Moroccan veterans of the jihad training camps in Afghanistan and is held responsible for recruiting the dozen suicide bombers who carried out the multiple bombings at Casablanca in May 2003, which left 44 dead. The GICM is also suspected of carrying out the Madrid train explosions that killed 191 people in March 2004.

This second atrocity prompted Belgian police to close in on a GICM network based in the provincial town of Maaseik, which served as a logistics center and meeting place for the group's European leadership, where, according to the Flemish daily Het Nieuwsblad, discussions on the GICM organization took place on three occasions [www.nieuwsblad.be]. According to the prosecution case, as reported by De Standaard, one of the prominent members of this group, the Moroccan Abdelkader Hakimi, was designated by a fellow member imprisoned in France as the leader of the GICM. The 19-year old Hakimi is believed to have spent half his life on the run, spending ten years in Algeria, journeying with false papers to Libya, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Malaysia, producing false identity papers for himself and for Afghan militant veterans and to have fought in Bosnia during the civil war [www.standaard.be].

The activities of Hakimi illustrate the skills and strengths of North African militant groups in Europe. The GICM is believed to number some few hundred committed radicals, supported by 1,000 to 2,000 sympathizers operating on both shores of the Mediterranean. Cells have operated in Italy, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Spain, the last of which announced on November 23 the arrest of 10 Moroccans and Algerians suspected of financing and giving logistical support to counterparts from the Algerian GSPC resident in Germany, the Netherlands, Britain, Belgium and Denmark.

The revelation of the ideological training of Moroccans taking place on the borders with Iraq has added urgency to Moroccan security concerns since the November 9 bombings in the Jordanian capital Amman. Following the arrests of the 17 Moroccans, one Abu Mus'ab al-Iraqi (styling himself as the "al-Qaeda correspondent") denounced on November 23 the events on the al-Firdaws jihadi forum and at the same time deplored the activities of Morocco's "secular" Channel Two TV broadcaster. His objection was to the vox pop interviews in the wake of the Amman bombings, addressed to "the ignorant, weak and base people … who spoke of Zarqawi inventing a new religion, and referred to his ‘bankrupt mind' " [http://alfirdaws.org/forums]. According to al-Alam, Moroccan intelligence is convinced that their country lies third on al-Qaeda's list of targets, after Saudi Arabia and Jordan, and remain on the lookout for al-Qaeda operatives crossing over from Algeria, and for senior members entering the country from Belgium [www.alalam.ma].

The Jamestown Foundation

Tags: Morocco, Fes, Jihad, Terrorism,

Call for Dialogue with Political Islam

"Terrorism must end for peace to reign worlwide" - Director of Al-Andalus Studies Center

According to Abdeluajed Akmir after the attacks happened in Casablanca in May 16th 2003 Moroccans realized that the only way to finish with religious fanaticism is through a responsible dialogue among all those engaged in political Islam.

Abdeluajed Akmir, History professor at Mohammed V University in Rabat, who will be one of the participants at the forthcoming International Congress on Intercultural and Interreligious Dialogue in Bilbao, affirms that government, civil society and intellectual reformers in Morocco are aware that peace cannot reign worldwide unless terrorism is finished as well as without assuring a good communication with the West.

In related news: Euromed: Agreement in Barcelona on an Anti-Terrorist Code of Conduct

"Inequality is greater between the two shores of the Mediterranean than anywhere else in the world,” so said Josep Borrell, President of the European Parliament, who did not hide his disappointment when making a critical assessment of 10 years of the Barcelona Process. Monday’s mixed outcome of the Euro-Mediterranean Summit, held in the Catalan capital, means that there is still some limited hope for closing the economic and social divide between both sides.

Ten years after its launch as the Barcelona Process, co-operation between the EU and its Mediterranean partners needed a new impetus. The Euromed discussions, held between the 24 and 28 November, should have marked the relaunch of the partnership which brings together EU member states and 10 Mediterranean countries (Algeria, the Palestinian Authority, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Syria, Tunisia and Turkey).

Josep Borrell, who took part in the Summit of Heads of State and Government in his role as both President of the European Parliament and of the Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly (EMPA), acknowledged the lack of “any significant progress on the road to shared peace and prosperity.” The priority of the co-operation process remains the strengthening of trade relations and the gradual levelling of social inequalities between partners. However, if it is to succeed, both parties need to show real commitment. Political conditions, in the form of stability and democracy, also have to be present so that economic co-operation can bear fruit. The President of the Parliament emphasised that “economic and political objectives are indivisible.”

Euromed is one of the few forums for potential dialogue for some of the Middle Eastern countries involved in Euro-Mediterranean co-operation. However, several Mediterranean countries attending the Barcelona Summit were not represented at the highest level (namely Head of State or Head of Government). Nevertheless, the two meetings of the Euro-Mediterranean partnership in Rabat and Barcelona enabled bilateral talks and exchanges of views on partnership relations to take place. The issue of immigration was also an important part of the discussions.

But it was concerted action against terrorism which occupied participants during Sunday and Monday. It was particularly difficult to reach agreement on the anti-terrorist “code of conduct” which formed an important part of the final agreement. In the end, a solution was found that was acceptable to all parties. It can only be hoped that this conclusion to the Summit augurs well for continued Euro-Mediterranean co-operation.


Tags: Morocco, Maghreb, Terrorism,

The Maghreb Union - dream or reality?

Unions are very fashionable these days... Just ask Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez he's keen on a South American Union. Asia is organising itself and of course every country in Europe wants to be part of the European Union. So, what about the Maghreb Union? - Despite ringing appeals for unity, the North African nations known as the Maghreb - "the place where the sun seats" - seem to be drifting apart. Others have described it as "a paper camel".

Ethnic and religious bonds notwithstanding, their planned union is plagued by such strong divisive factors as different ideologies, political cultures and attitudes toward Islamic fundamentalism, as well as frontier disputes.

Initially, Maghreb was a term used to describe the former French protectorates of Tunisia, Morocco and Algeria - the latter was considered to be part of France until its 1962 independence. Now, the organisation, which was stablished in 1989, the Arab Maghreb Union (AMU), includes Mauritania, Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria and Libya

Building the Maghreb Union is not only a choice but also a strategic necessity for the development of our countries, according to the Chair of the Economic and Finance Committee of the Moroccan parliament, Mustapha Hanine, at the opening session of the IMF Microeconomic Policy Seminar for Parliamentarians from the Maghreb Region.

Chair of the Economic and Finance Committee of the Moroccan parliament, Mustapha Hanine.

Organised by the International monetary fund (IMF) in the Moroccan House of Representatives, the seminar gathered parliamentarians from Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Libya, along with IMF officials.

This seminar is “an important opportunity for exchanging views and expertise of the macroeconomic policies, economic development and the current reform programmes in the Maghreb countries,” said Hanine.

Tags: Morocco, Maghreb, IMF,

Poverty and Terrorism.

British-based North Africa analyst George Joffe has his say about the links between fundamentalism and poverty:

Aware of the risk of a violent backlash to tough security measures, Moroccan authorities have tried to improve conditions in the state of 30 million people where nearly 14 percent live below the poverty line and over 40 percent are illiterate.

In May, around the second anniversary of the Casablanca bombings, King Mohammed unveiled a national development plan expected to cost 1.0 billion dirhams ($114.3 million) a year, which initially targets the worst slums and is to extend to hundreds of rural councils and dilapidated urban areas.

"Morocco's problems relate to global poverty, not to global terrorism," said Joffe.

The main source of popular opposition in the kingdom, the Islamist group al-Adl wal-Ihsane (Justice and Charity), which shuns violence and has a strong following in universities and poor districts, is banned from politics but allowed to carry out charity and other work linked mainly to education.

Morocco's moderate Justice and Development Party, the only Islamist political grouping allowed to operate legally, surged in 2002 parliamentary polls to become the biggest opposition group in the assembly, trebling its seats.

Attending a European-Mediterranean summit in Barcelona this week on countering terrorism, Rabat's Minister-delegate for Foreign Affairs Taieb Fassi Fihri insisted each country should go at its own pace on democratic reforms.

"We are doing it for ourselves, by ourselves and because it matches a uniquely Moroccan vision," he told France's Liberation newspaper on Monday. "But in this area, just as with terrorism, we have a dialogue (with Europe). And it stops there."

The full article can be found here: Morocco sees poverty at root of Islamist militancy

Tags: Morocco, Fes, Jihad, Terrorism,

Morocco's King Mohammed VI meets Koizumi

Morocco's King Mohammed VI meets Koizumi and wins Japanese development aid!

Morocco's King Mohammed VI met Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi on Tuesday and won pledges from the Japanese government for 10 billion yen in development loans and grants.

The aid includes 9.46 billion in loans for sewage and rural power projects as well as a 500 million yen grant not tied to any project, Japan's Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Japan is also committing up to 46.1 million yen for sound, lighting and audiovisual equipment for Morocco's National Library, the ministry said.

King Mohammed VI arrived in Japan on Saturday and met Emperor Akihito on Monday. He leaves Japan on Wednesday.

Tags: Morocco, Fès, Japan, Fez,

Positive moves on human rights in Morocco

While much of the media attention paid to the Human Rights Watch report Morocco's Truth Commission Honoring Past Victims during an Uncertain Present has concentrated on negative aspects, it is important to record that the report also has some positive things to say. While not disregarding the important findings of the report, which will be handed to the King, the following section has received little coverage. At the International Union of Lawyers 49th Congress on August 31 2005, King Mohamed VI pointed to the Commission as "a major achievement for the consolidation of the democratic transition".

Positive steps

Authorities have taken some steps in response to criticism of its recent human rights record. On December 28, 2004, the government council, headed by the prime minister, approved a law defining torture as a criminal offense. Parliament approved the measure on October 21, 2005. This law, which is pending publication in the official bulletin, makes it easier to prosecute acts of torture. It also subjects torturers to long prison terms and stiff fines.

In a related step, Prime Minister Driss Jettou indicated on February 22, 2005, that Morocco would withdraw its declaration relating to the U.N. Convention against Torture, where it stated that it does not recognize the competence of the Committee against Torture. He also said that Morocco would become a party to the optional protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), and withdraw its declaration on Article 14 of the International Convention for the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD). Jettou also announced plans to lift Morocco’s reservation to Article 14 of the CRC, and its replacement by a declarative explanation, to be followed by an inquiry into the possible lifting of Morocco’s substantial reservations to the CEDAW.18

Some of these pledges had been filled by the time this report went to press. Morocco has recognized the competence of the U.N. Committee against Torture under Article 22 of the CAT but not under Article 20. The former allows the committee to investigate complaints of torture that are submitted by individuals; the latter allows the committee to launch an inquiry upon receiving information that torture is being practiced systematically. Morocco lifted its reservation to Article 14 of the CERD, but not yet its reservations to the CRC or the CEDAW. Nor has it yet joined the optional protocol of the ICCPR.

In contrast to some countries where state agents have carried out “disappearances,” Morocco played a constructive role in the U.N.-sponsored committee that drafted the International Convention on the Protection of all Persons from Enforced Disappearance, approved by the United Nations (U.N.) on September 23, 2005.19 The draft convention, which applies to future cases of disappearance but not past ones, will be opened for ratification by countries once it is approved by the U.N. General Assembly. It requires states to make forced disappearances a crime in their legislation (Article 7) and to pursue the suspected perpetrators, as well as any superiors who ordered or knew about the commission of “disappearances” (Article 6). It enumerates safeguards for those being held in detention (Article 17) and establishes a “right to know” for relatives of persons in detention (Article 24.2).

LINKS:

See related story: A mass grave in Fès?

HRW Report in Arabic

HRW Rapport en Francais (PDF)

HRW Report in English (PDF)

Tags: Morocco, Fes, Jihad, Terrorism,

Abdel-ilah Salhi. (Moroccan poets #1)

LOVE FRONT

What we learnt of love was from novels, stories, and poems.With poverty, frustration, and narrow horizons we began to fall in love at dreadful ease, and suffer much more easily. Despite that we clung to that love which has no life and existence outside books.

Defeats in love destroyed many of us, dispersed a lot into vagabondage, and caused many others to disappear. Despite that, from time to time some warrior appears; a young man in most cases, waving a tattered flag, mocking the crushing weight of reality, and its bloody grinding mill. He seems sure that his anguish is more valuable than the Mercedes cars which besiege his poor girlfriend, and that true feelings are a mortal weapon which it suffices to draw for the battle to be settled.

We are the disabled victims of this war, feeling for our scars, meanwhile drinking cheap wine with anonymous prostitutes in dark pubs, and pitying every young man who surges from the suburbs of towns riding a gifted poem, and entering the front defenceless.

Abdel-ilah Salhi was born in 1968 in Beni Mellal, Morocco, but spent most of his childhood and adolescence in El Jadida where he completed his education in 1990. He began writing and publishing poetry when he was still a university student, and managed at that early age to tie strong relations with most of the representatives of the “new poetry” generation in Morocco.

Tags: Morocco,
Fès, poetry, Fez,

A mass grave in Fès? Updated

FRENCH INVESTIGATOR IN MOROCCO OVER BEN BARKA

At the same time as the French judge Patrick Ramael met his Moroccan judicial counterpart in Casablanca on Monday probing the 1965 disappearance and suspected murder of opposition leader Mehdi Ben Barka, a Moroccan panel, which is due this week to publish the findings of an enquiry into rights violations in the north African kingdom before 1999, announced it had found the bodies of 106 more victims of repression.


Ben Barka, a charismatic foe of Morocco's late king Hassan II, vanished after being kidnapped outside a Paris restaurant in 1965. The affair remained shrouded in secrecy for 40 years despite appeals launched in both countries.

Under the current monarch Mohammed VI, Hassan's son, the Moroccan and French justice ministries reopened the case, while an Equity and Reconciliation Panel (IER) has been amassing details of other disappearances, killings and torture during the so-called "leaden years", 1956-99.

Ramael declined to make any comment upon his arrival earlier Monday, but sources close to the case in France said he plans to question several people whom his predecessors were unable to interrogate before Mohammed VI began political reforms.

The Equity and Reconciliation Panel said that it had found 99 people buried in a cemetery in the the southern town of Fès and seven others in a different graveyard, known to have been victims of a 1990 crackdown after labour activists called a strike. The 99 of were found in Bab el Guissa cemetery and 7 others in the Abi Bakr cemetery, but the victims' identities were not revealed.

"We can't, however, identify the bodies," said an Equity and Reconciliation Panel statement, adding they had been buried in secret in isolated parts of the cemeteries.

During the unrest in December 1990, officials said five people were killed, though press reports put the toll at 49. A total of 150 people were charged and many were convicted of criminal offences.

Hassan II then spoke of trouble caused by "criminal bands and thieves, drug traffickers and deliquents who took advantage of the strike."

The Ben Barka affair has been raised many times as one of the most prominent of the "leaden years". Ramael's probes have allegedly implicated key former government members and top security officials amid claims of a joint cover-up by Rabat and Paris. The Moroccan monarch was an ally not only of France but of the United States during the Cold War and its aftermath, and though Morocco is not among the oil-rich nations of north Africa, its regime was considered staunch, stable and important to Western interests in the Arab world and Africa.

In 2003, the Socialist Union of Popular Forces (USFP) party founded by Ben Barka filed a civil suit for justice. Then in October 2004, French's national defence authorities declassified secret files the French judiciary had been seeking in the case.

The Equity and Reconciliation Panel is expected to release its findings on Wednesday in the capital Rabat after 18 months of hearings and collecting evidence from the "leaden years" from plaintiffs, victims of torture and the families of political activists.

A Moroccan legal source said Ramael had arrived for "a first contact to get the process going in cooperation with the Moroccan judiciary". A French lawyer for Ben Barka's family, Maurice Buttin, is due in Rabat on Tuesday.

The New York-based Human Rights Watch has issued a statement urging Moroccan authorities "to bring to justice the people (the Equity and Reconciliation Panel ) has identified as having committed serious human rights violations when there is enough proof".

The international watchdog appealed to Morocco's rulers "to asbtain from decreeing any amnesty ... that would exempt from legal proceedings people implicated in 'disappearances' or other serious rights violations. Any measure of clemency should be made once individual responsibilities are clear."

HRW called for the punishment or sacking of anyone implicated by the IER who is still in a position to violate human rights.

LINKS: See related story: Positive moves on human rights in Morocco

Tags: Morocco, Fès, history, Ben Barka

Rami Ayash to tour Morocco

Lebanese singer Rami Ayash will begin a Moroccan concert tour in December. The singer will hold performances in Marrakech, Casablanca and Fes with possibly some other cities.

The only album I have heard is DIWAN AL HOB which isn't too bad. The singer is tremendously popular among his Moroccan fans.

In the meantime, Rami is preparing for his upcoming album produced by ‘Rotana.’ The album will feature a variety of songs composed by Rami, and he is scheduled to film a music video for the song “Mabrook” (Congratulation) under the direction of Saeed Al Marouq.

Rami has released his latest music video "Khalini Ma’ak" (Keep me with you), directed by Saeed Al Marouq. The video includes graphic scenes, such as Rami being executed in an electric chair that have given rise to much criticism.

Director Saeed explained that images of death and torture were used in the clip to reflect a person’s inner pain, and to reflect the chaos that the singer is experiencing from the desertion of his love. Portraying Rami in a destroyed home, seated on an electric chair, and running as if someone is following him, are images created to translate the words and emotions of the song into actual events.

At the end of the clip Rami returns to his home, but this time it is not destroyed, to show that despite all of his pain, he can still find comfort in life and time will make him forget his heartache.

In no way did Saeed intend on portraying Rami as a criminal running from the law and hence being punished in an electric chair, as many critics wrongly concluded.

Tags: Morocco, Fès, travel, Lebanon

Fulla the Barbie!

In her 45 years, Barbie has been a doctor, pilot and figure skater, to name just a few accomplishments of this busty vinyl overachiever. But some in the Muslim world also consider her a decadent symbol of the West - hence Saudi Arabia's recent decision to ban Barbie along with her "revealing clothes and shameful postures."

Like Barbie, she is about 11½ inches tall, but unlike Mattel's product, she is noticeably less bosomy. Fulla's creators have gone to great lengths to make her modest and conservative.

"Arab" is the key – if not always specifically defined – sales point.

Fulla's face has a "kind look, the Arab look," said Fawaz Abidin, head of marketing for Fulla at Damascus-based NewBoy, the doll's maker. She has Arab values, not those of Barbie the American, he added.

NewBoy Design Studio, based in Syria, introduced her in November 2003 and now in 2005 she has taken off and become a best seller all over the region. It is nearly impossible to walk into a corner shop in Morocco, Syria or Egypt or Jordan or Qatar without encountering Fulla breakfast cereal or Fulla chewing gum or not to see little girls pedaling down the street on their Fulla bicycles, all in trademark "Fulla pink."

Young girls here are obsessed with Fulla, and conservative parents who would not dream of buying Barbies for their daughters seem happy to pay for a modest doll who has her own tiny prayer rug, in pink felt. Children who want to dress like their dolls can buy a matching, girl-size prayer rug and cotton scarf set, all in pink.
Fulla is not the first doll to wear the hijab. Mattel markets a group of collectors' dolls that include a Moroccan Barbie and a doll called Leila, intended to represent a Muslim slave girl in an Ottoman court.

In Iran, toy shops sell a veiled doll called Sara. A Michigan-based company markets a veiled doll called Razanne, selling primarily to Muslims in the United States and Britain. But none of those dolls have enjoyed anything approaching Fulla's wide popularity. Fawaz Abidin says that is because NewBoy understood the Arab market in a way that its competitors had not.

"This isn't just about putting the hijab on a Barbie doll," Mr. Abidin said. "You have to create a character that parents and children will want to relate to. Our advertising is full of positive messages about Fulla's character. She's honest, loving, and caring, and she respects her father and mother."

Fans of Barbie, though, would probably take issue with his characterization of what separates Fulla from the American doll: "She's loving. She respects her mother and father. She's good to her friends. She's honest and doesn't lie. She likes reading. She likes, rather, she loves fashion."

Despite the effort to create an Islamic fashion doll, Fulla and Barbie are more closely related than the Saudis and others might like to admit. Fulla may frequent the souks of the Mideast and Barbie may hang out in the malls of America, but they were "born" in the same place - China.

Tags: Morocco, Fès, Arabic, Fez,

Human rights defenders on trial

Morocco/Western Sahara: Human rights defenders on trial

Amnesty International announced today that it is sending a delegate to observe the trial this week of seven human rights defenders from Western Sahara who the organization believes may be prisoners of conscience. They are standing trial together with seven other accused who are being prosecuted for participating in demonstrations against Moroccan rule.

Tunisian lawyer Samir Ben Amor will be representing Amnesty International at the trial proceedings, which are due to begin at the Court of Appeal in Laayoune on 30 November 2005. He is an experienced human rights advocate who previously was Amnesty International’s observer at the October 2003 trial of Algerian human rights activist Salaheddine Sidhoum in Algiers.

Currently detained in Laayoune Civil Prison, the seven human rights defenders – Aminatou Haidar, Ali-Salem Tamek, Mohamed El-Moutaouakil, Houssein Lidri, Brahim Noumria, Larbi Messaoud and H’mad Hammad – were arrested between June and August 2005. They face charges of participating in and inciting violent protest activities and belonging to an unauthorized association, charges which they deny. Two of them allege that they were tortured during questioning.

Amnesty International is concerned that the seven and an eighth activist, Brahim Dahane, appear to have been targeted because of their leading roles as human rights defenders, as well as their public advocacy of self-determination for the people of Western Sahara. Most recently, all eight have been instrumental in collecting and disseminating information about human rights violations committed by Moroccan forces against Sahrawi protesters in the context of demonstrations in Laayoune and other towns and cities in Morocco and Western Sahara since May 2005.

Brahim Dahane, who was arrested on 30 October 2005, is also facing charges related to his human rights activities but his case remains under judicial investigation and he is expected to be brought to trial separately. Amnesty International believes he too may be a prisoner of conscience.

Amnesty International’s concerns and recommendations regarding these cases are the focus of a newly released report Morocco/Western Sahara: Sahrawi human rights defenders under attack (AI Index: MDE 29/008/2005), which can be consulted on Amnesty International’s website at the following address: http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGMDE290082005

The report also details cases of other Sahrawi human rights defenders who have been subject to harassment and intimidation by Moroccan security forces in recent months and allegations of human rights violations against demonstrators, including the death in suspicious circumstances of a protester in October 2005.

Background
Human rights activists in Western Sahara have repeatedly been targeted for their human rights work in recent years. Some have been prevented from travelling abroad to report on human rights violations, while others have been arbitrarily imprisoned.

Since May 2005, the territory of Western Sahara, particularly the town of Laayoune, has been rocked by a series of demonstrations. In many of them, demonstrators have expressed their support for the Polisario Front, which calls for an independent state in the territory and has set up a self-proclaimed government-in-exile in refugee camps in south-western Algeria, or called for independence from Morocco. These views are anathema to the Moroccan authorities, who have responded in a heavy-handed manner to the protests, exacerbating tensions.

Western Sahara is the subject of a territorial dispute between Morocco, which controversially annexed the territory in 1975 and claims sovereignty there, and the Polisario Front. Both parties have agreed that a referendum on the future status of Western Sahara should be organized under UN auspices, but this has been repeatedly postponed and is yet to be held.

Tags: Morocco, Fès, Western Sahara, Fez,

Study Arabic in Morocco!

The Arabic Language Institute in Fès (ALIF) offers three and six-week courses in all levels of Modern Standard Arabic and Colloquial Moroccan Arabic throughout the year.

ALIF also has an excellent reputation as the preeminent institution in the Maghreb for the teaching of Arabic as a foreign language. Housed in a large, shady villa, ALIF provides an ideal setting for studying in Morocco's "intellectual capital", and for exploring the historic medina of Fès, one of the world's few remaining medieval cities.

The Institute's teachers are highly qualified native speakers with years of experience instructing both independent students and study abroad groups from major universities. Former students include translators, Fulbright, FLAS, NSEP, and SSRC grantees, company representatives, and graduate students from major universities in the US and Europe.

ALIF resources include an extensive library collection focusing on Arabic linguistics, the Maghreb, Islamic Art and Architecture, and Islam. In addition to language courses, ALIF offers cultural tours, lectures, and classes on Maghrebi literature, media and Islam. Private courses in any number of subject areas can be arranged. The modest ALIF tuition, low cost of living in Morocco, and widely available discount air fares, also render ALIF a cost-effective alternative for the study of Arabic abroad or domestically.

If you would like to contact them for more information you will find them extremely helpful and (as I found out) very friendly! The View From Fès weblog highly recomends ALIF!

The Arabic Language Institute in Fez, B.P. 2136, Fez 30000, Morocco
Tel: (212/55) 62 48 50 Fax: (212/55) 93 16 08
email: alifez@menara.ma

Tags: Morocco, Fès, Arabic, Fez,

22 refugees feared dead in Spanish tragedy

As many as 22 Africans are feared dead off Spain's southern coast in the latest tragedy involving refugees trying to reach Spain by boat.

The victims were tossed into rough seas during a storm, according to coast guards who found the boat off the coast of Almeria province, Spanish radio reported.

Two maritime rescue ships were searching for missing passengers today, although the chances of survival in the icy waters were said to be slim.

The wooden boat, which set out from Morocco with about 44 African nationals, 36 men and eight women, was sighted by a freighter yesterday after the passengers used a mobile phone to call for help.

Survivors said the boat was hit by a giant wave which washed 22 people overboard. The body of one man has been found.

About 19 African would-be migrants drowned in a similar incident off the Canary island of Fuertevenura in October.

Tags: Morocco, Spain, travel, refugees

Terror cell was to target American, Jewish interests in Morocco

The seventeen islamists that were arrested mid-November were planning to bomb American and Jewish interests in Morocco, according to police sources.


Mohamed Mazouz and Brahim Benchekroun while leaving the prison of Salé in March.

One of the main suspects, Moroccan-born Belgian national, Mohamed Reha, 18, told the police that some Moroccans and Algerians, linked to al Qaeda, were planning to "bomb American and Jewish interests especially in Tangier (northern Morocco) and south-west city of Essaouira," as well as "representatives of the impious and infidel Moroccan authorities," said the same source.

He revealed that the group had intentions to "lead the jihad war against the regime in order to establish the Islamic Caliphate" in Morocco.

Police said the group, “shouldered by Algerian nationals who sneaked into Morocco,” was planning to perpetrate bombings “against hotels especially in Essaouira, where there is a big flow of Jewish tourists, and in Agadir (south-west), as well as against the casino in Tangier and the parliament in Rabat.”

Ships that transport Americans were also listed as targets, said the same source.

The police said Reha also revealed during the interrogation that some young people were being recruited to be sent to Algeria to be trained on “handling weapons and manufacturing explosives,” as a “first step” in the “Jihad project in Morocco and in the region.”

The suspect has also confessed he had come to Morocco “to conduct the terror operations” and admitted having “recruited some young people, who were arrested at the same time as himself, in Tangier, Agadir and Casablanca.”

Mohamed Reha, considered as one of the “masterminds of the terrorist cell,” told authorities he had discussed with his uncle, Ahmed Zemmouri, also a Moroccan-born Belgian islamist who was arrested, the need to “create a secret organisation.”

According to him, Algerian Khalid Abou Bassir, one of al Qaeda leaders in Europe, was to “contact our brothers of the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (SGPC) to take charge of the training the Moroccan recruits.”

According to the police, Abou Bassir would have revealed to Reha his intention to create a “jihadist movement in the Arab Maghreb under the management of al Qaeda with a joint organization for Morocco and Algeria.” The group was to be named “al Qaeda Organisation in Arab Maghreb Countries.”

Tags: Morocco, Fes, Jihad, Terrorism,

Moroccan intellectuals to strengthen their presence in society

As a novelist I was interested to read the views of Abdelhamid Akkar. The president of the Union of Moroccan writers (UEM), Abdelhamid Akkar, considered that Moroccan intellectuals are called to strengthen their presence in society and express their opinions about the social changes that are taking place.

In an interview published on Sunday by the Moroccan daily Al Ahdath Al Maghribia, Akkar indicated that Moroccan intellectuals have to “search for an added value in the field of their speciality and be interested in analysing and treating the diverse social issues”.

The president of the UEM emphasised the importance of respecting the freedom of expression within the limits of the acceptance of the other, adding that the intellectual cannot develop this added value in the absence of creation and innovation.

In this context, he stressed that the UEM, as space of dialogue, will pursue its mission which consists in setting up a cultural approach aiming to contribute to solving the social conflicts, defending the plurality and the presence of social issues in the cultural programme of the UEM in this season.

Abdelhamid Akkar became president of the Union of Moroccan Writers at the 16th congress when the replaced the poet Hassan Nejmi who had run the Union for six years. Akkar is a little known 59-year old literature critic who spent thirteen years within the union's central bureau, from 1983 to 1996.

Born in the 1940s, Akkar wrote mainly in the 70s and the 80s, and published several articles in magazines such as “Tarbaouia” or “Anfi.” From 1981 to 1984, Akkar directed the Arabic language magazine “Jossour.” He also used to publish articles in dailies such as “Anoual”, “Al Bayane”, “Al Quds Al Arabi” and “Asharq Al Awssat.” A literature critic and a researcher, Akkar is now a university professor in Rabat.

Tags: Morocco, Fès, literature, Fez,

Luxury Golfing Community for Morocco.

In my last post I mentioned that the Brits were expected to flood into Morocco along with the Russians who can now enjoy visa-free travel to Morocco. Now I am not too certain about the Russians, but I expect a few very wealthy Brits will be pleased to know their golfing game will be able to be honed in luxury surrounds.

While the poor and homeless may find some employment as groundsmen, green-keepers and cleaning staff, they certainly won't have a chance to improve their golf handicap. Trickle-down economics may create a lot of benefits however and any investment in Morocco should be seen as a good thing.

The unveiling today of Emaar Properties Bahia Bay development is the second in Morocco by the largest real estate developer in the world in terms of market capitalization. The partners in the venture will be the ONA Group, the leading Moroccan industrial and financial group. The US$1.2 billion project will see the joint venture develop a large scale residential golfing community along the picturesque Moroccan coast.

In close proximity to Casablanca, the 530 hectare development will combine all the benefits of an Emaar golfing community along with the advantages of a coastal location. This announcement closely follows the ventures first project launch last month in Morocco - Amelkis II, the luxury residential golfing complex in Marrakech which allows individual buyers to purchase plots of land and design and build their ideal home.

Mr Mohamed Ali Alabbar, Chairman Emaar Properties said: "Situated along the breathtaking Moroccan coast, Bahia Bay is a unique development in an idyllic setting. Following the success of our existing golfing communities in Dubai - Arabian Ranches and Emirates Hills - the Bahia Bay community will become a flagship development for Emaar's expansion in the North Africa region."

Residential units in the Bahia Bay project will range from luxury villas and spacious semi-detached houses to townhouses and apartments with views overlooking the golf course and spectacular views of the Atlantic Ocean.

The development will also feature a beach hotel, golf hotel, beach clubs, equestrian facilities, retail and entertainment and a community and recreation centre making Bahia Bay an ideal location for residents and visitors alike. The development is expected to be completed in five years.

This latest announcement sees the continuation of Emaar's roll out strategy of undertaking prestigious master-planned residential developments in strategic locations - whether in the heart of the city or coastal picturesque locations. As it bids to consolidate its position as the world's premier property developer, Emaar continues to provide buyers with quality lifestyle projects and shareholders with value.

Added Alabbar: "Morocco is a significant part of Emaar's international expansion plans. Already we have seen the great potential in the Moroccan market with our Amelkis II development. Not only will this project benefit the people of Morocco, but it will also boost tourism within the area. Our mission is to offer our customers world class communities - constantly integrating parks, landscaped areas and retail centres into master-planned themed lifestyles."

With rock pools and breakwaters to help create sandy white beaches and an array of water sports and leisure options provided by the beach clubs, the latest Emaar offering in Morocco makes the most of the beautiful coastal views and surrounding natural beauty. Golfing facilities provide residents with the perfect opportunity to improve their golf as well as making the most of the relaxed and friendly clubhouse.

Located in close proximity to the Casablanca/Rabat coastal freeway, Bahia Bay is within easy reach of both major cities and is the ideal getaway for those in search of a premier luxurious lifestyle. Extensively landscaped with an array of indigenous plants and featuring picturesque water features, expansive open parks and a world-class golf course, the lifestyle offering is beyond compare.

Tags: Morocco, Golf, travel, Casablanca,

The Brits are coming...

The other day wrote posted about the new visa-free status for Russians that is expected to raise the number of Russians coming to Morocco for holidays.... well, news from the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) says Britons also think Morocco a great destination and the numbers are up.

Around two million UK travellers are set to holiday abroad this festive season, with Turkey and Middle East destinations among the most popular.

So far this year there has been a 54% increase in UK visitors to Egypt, a 27% increase to Turkey, around a 25% increase to Morocco and a 15% increase to Jordan, according to latest figures from travel agents.

While the backbone of winter holiday destinations remains the Canary Islands and the USA, but medium and long-haul trips had become much more popular.
Other hot destinations this year include Dubai and Oman, with the top winter locations for 2005/06 being Spain, France, Cyprus, Turkey, the USA and the Caribbean.

Morocco, currently hosting around 1,600 delegates at the ABTA annual convention, is set to welcome around 215,000 Britons this year as more tour operators begin programmes to the country.

ABTA's Martin Wellings said: "Everyone knows that tourism is a great way to broaden horizons, break down barriers and is the enemy of narrow-mindedness and bigotry.

"It's fantastic that the travel industry is bucking the political trend and that the Middle East is the new hot destination to be seen in.''

Tags: Morocco, Fès, travel, Fez,

Everything you need to know about Fès

If you are keen to find out more about Fès, here is a list of great links that will allow you an insight into everything from conservation issues to history and beyond.

Geoffrey Porter has a great article on the Historic Preservation of Fès,

Josh Martin on Preserving the city of Fès

Stefano Bianca's has three worthwhile articles:

Fès: Toward the Rehabilitation of a Great City

Conservation and Rehabilitation Projects for the Old City of Fès

Fès:The Ideal and the Reality of the Islamic City

Bonnie Kaplan takes a little inspiration from Paul Bowles...Sweeping Out the Spiders: Restoring Morocco’s Medersas

Alessandra Grillo on Traditional building Techniques in Fès

Catherine Cambazard-Amaham is a prolific writer on things Moroccan and here is a selection of her work:

Woodworking in Fès

Moroccan Bronzework in Fès

Moroccan Rugs

Craft Heritage of the Atlas Mountains

Historical essay on Fès

And last but not least! Where to stay in Fès? A beautiful house in the historic Old Medina. A million times better than a hotel! Dar Bennis is a small 18th century traditional Moroccan house in the heart of the Fès Medina, on a small street just off Talaa Sghira, the main business street of the medieval quarter of Fès. The house has been carefully restored over the past four years, using only traditional craftsmanship and materials. TO FIND OUT MORE CLICK HERE!

Tags: Morocco, Fès, travel, House in Fez

Plan for "Bloody December" Terror Attacks.

In a follow up to the arrests we commented on in an earlier post, seventeen suspected members of an Islamic terrorist group appeared before an examining magistrate court in Sale, across the river from Rabat and were charged with "criminal conspiracy for terrorist attacks and breach of the peace".

The court was told that the men allegedly planned a "bloody December" that would have attacked tourist sites and public institutions in the kingdom.

They are also being accused of belonging to a "terrorist organisation linked to small groups operating on the Iraqi border, and having close connections with some leaders of the Al-Qaeda network".

Moroccan security forces have recently broken up what was described as a "terrorist cell on the make," consisting of elements affiliated to an extremist Islamic movement connected to small groups supervised by Al Qaeda.

According to security forces, Khalid Azig (a student in Syria), who entered Morocco last June was on 29 September joined by another suspected militant, Mohamed R`ha, a Belgian citizen of Moroccan descent.

The latter is known to have lived in Syria and maintained close ties with "former Moroccan Afghans" Brahim Benchekroun and Mohamed Mazouz, two former detainees at the U.S.-run Guantanamo detention camp, who were released temporarily.

Other charges accuse the men of "belonging to a criminal group, non- denunciation of terrorism and breach of national security. The charges also include giving support to a criminal group (Al Qaeda) through the transfer and distribution of funds to Moroccan citizens working against the country`s interests, forgery and use of a forged passport," the sources added.

In August 2004, the USA handed over to Moroccan officials five Moroccan nationals who had been captured in Afghanistan and detained in Guantanamo.

It would be interesting to know what sites the men were planning to attack and why December was chosen. If the aim was to create havoc amongst tourists like the attacks in Bali, then December is an odd choice as it is not a high season for tourists.


Morocco's Arabic-language daily Al Ahdath al Maghribia, widely seen as well-informed in security matters, quoted security sources as saying the plot included bombing two hotels and a "big company" in Casablanca, and unspecified government buildings in Rabat.

Al Ahdath al Maghribia said security forces arrested Azig, R'ha and 15 others early this month and recovered pictures they had taken of their intended targets.

"Morocco is one the first countries at the forefront of the global fight against terrorism. That is why it is targeted by al Qaeda," Maroc Hebdo quoted a police officer as saying

Tags: Morocco, Fes, Jihad, Terrorism,

Aljazeera protest Bush bombing threat.

See the staff blog: Don't Bomb Us.

See Channel 4 report: Officially secret

Tags: Morocco, Aljazeera, Jihad, Terrorism,

A tunnel between Spain and Morocco?

The Spanish government has earmarked, in next year's general budget, 4 million Euros for the construction of a tunnel linking Spain with Morocco. The decision was taken after technical studies confirmed the feasibility of the project which is estimated to cost around five billion Euros and be paid for by the EU, the private sector and Spain and Morocco.

According to Hujaina's comment on this post it was first suggested a long time ago by King Hassan II.

The studies, undertaken by the two public companies, the National Company of the Strait studies (SNED) and SECEGSA, concluded that a tunnel of 40 km should run between Tarifa in Spain and Malabata Region, near Tangier. About 28 km of the tunnel will be constructed under water, and the rest on each side of the Strait's ground.

The Spanish government expects the launching of the project at 2008 and its final completion at 2020.

Tags: Morocco, Fès, travel, Fez,

Bahrain names street for King Mohammed VI

Strong and historic relations between Bahrain and Morocco were hailed as His Majesty King Hamad held talks with King Mohammed VI at Al Bustan Palace last night where the two monarchs also discussed current Arab and regional issues, extending their support to peace efforts.

Earlier, His Majesty ordered one of Seef's main streets to be named after the Moroccan monarch in appreciation "of his constant efforts, outstanding role and unflinching keenness to reinforce and consolidate bilateral relations".

Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs, Central Informatics Organisation head and acting Municipality Affairs and Agriculture Minister Shaikh Ahmed bin Atiyatallah Al Khalifa unveiled the plaque. Present were Capital Governor Shaikh Humood bin Abdulla Al Khalifa, Capital Municipal Council chairman Mohammed Badr, works and housing under-secretary Naif Al Kilani, Bahrain's Ambassador to Rabat Shaikh Khalid bin Salman Al Khalifa and Morocco's Ambassador to Bahrain Yazeed Al Qadiri.

"King Mohammed VI Avenue is one of the important streets in Bahrain, situated at the heart of the modern, throbbing Seef area which houses big firms, banks and financial establishments in addition to the largest departmental malls in the country," said a BNA statement.

The monarch's visit reflects the strong ties bonding the two nations, it added.

The signing of economic, investment, cultural and media agreements will further bolster these ties which have been distinguished since the era of the late Amir Shaikh Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa and the late Moroccan monarch King Hassan.

His Majesty's visit to Morocco last August during which he held key talks with King Mohammed VI and Prime Minister Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa's visit last March helped strengthen the relations.


HM King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa was at the airport on Friday to bid good bye to the Moroccan Monarch, King Mohammed VI, on departure from Bahrain, following a brotherly visit to the Kingdom.

Tags: Morocco, Bahrain, travel,

Dubai and the UAE

A writer on The View from Fez is planning to return to Morocco at the moment and have to stop in Dubai for a couple of nights for a meeting. Has anyone suggestions of good restaurants or things to do in Dubai? We have been there several times but usually only in transit to Casablanca.

By the way: Morocco is keen on expanding its trade relations with the United Arab Emirates, according to the Minister delegate to the Prime Minister in Charge of General and Economic Affairs, Rachid Talbi Alami. The deputy minister is leading a delegation on an official visit to the UAE.

Tags: Morocco, Dubai, travel, UAE,

An American diplomat's view of Sebta and Melilia

Dan Simpson, is a retired diplomat and a member of the editorial boards of The Blade and Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. He has just published an op-ed piece in the Toledoblade about Morocco. His article is an interesting perspective and worth a read. Of particular interest to THE VIEW FROM FÈS, in light of recent posts and comments by Foulla and Hujaina is his view on Sebta and Melilia.

... another odd phenomenon of Morocco, odd in the context of the 21st century.

There are still Spanish colonial enclaves on the Mediterranean coast, including port cities, one named Ceuta and another, Melilla. They are relics of the period when Morocco had been sawed into colonial territories and spheres of foreign influence by France, Spain, Turkey, Germany, the United Kingdom and, to a lesser extent, the United States.

The Spanish enclaves are small. If the Moroccans were to decide one fine day to walk into them as they did into the Spanish Sahara in 1975, the Spanish would be too embarrassed to fight, and, if they did fire on the Moroccans for their anti-colonial, liberating action, would be roundly condemned by virtually the whole world.

But the Moroccans don't act. They seem in some ways comfortable with the presence of the Spaniards at these gateways to their country. Spain greases the wheels with substantial aid to Morocco, supplementing the country's earnings from agriculture, tourism, remittances from workers abroad, and mining. In the days of the Barbary coast, the Moroccans would have called it tribute.

Tags: Morocco, Fès, travel, Fez,

Bush planned to bomb Aljazeera. UPDATED

According to a leaked transcript of talks at a White House summit on April 16 2004, between George Bush and Tony Blair, Bush told the British Prime Minister that he wanted to target Aljazeera even if it meant "military action" on the television channel's headquarters in Doha, Qatar. The summit took place as US forces in Iraq were launching a major assault on the insurgent stronghold of Fallujah that was later described as a massacre of civilians and involved the use of chemical weapons.

LINK: See our report on Fallujah

In a panic reaction, the UK government has ordered the British newspaper that disclosed the transcript to cease publishing further details from the allegedly top secret memo. Britain has also warned other media organizations they are breaking the law if they publish details of the document.

Reporters' rights groups called on the United States and Britain to promptly give clarification of the report.

"This is a very serious charge with grave implications for the safety of media professionals," said Ann Cooper, executive director of the Committee to Protect Journalists. "Refusing to address these reports in a substantive way only fuels suspicions."

Reporters Without Borders said: "We find it hard to believe that
President Bush really discussed this possibility. This would be extremely serious and would constitute a major and unprecedented violation of the right to information.

"If this report turns out to be true, it offers a new insight into the motives of the U.S. forces, which have already bombed Al Jazeera offices twice, in Afghanistan and Iraq."

Aljazeera "maintains a set of journalistic practices built on being fair, impartial, and balanced, and as is the standard practice with every story, Aljazeera is going through a due diligence process of verifying the details of the Daily Mirror report," the Doha-based network said.

It added: "Before making any conclusions Aljazeera needs to be absolutely sure regarding the authenticity of the memo and would hope for a confirmation from Downing Street as soon as possible.

"If the report is correct then this would be both shocking and worrisome not only to Aljazeera but to media organisations across the world."

In 2001, the station's Kabul office was hit by U.S. bombs and in 2003 Al Jazeera reporter Tareq Ayyoub was killed in a U.S. strike on its Baghdad office. The United States has denied deliberately targeting the station.

The Mirror said Bush told the British Premier Tony Blair, at a White House summit on April 16 last year, that he wanted to target Aljazeera. The summit took place as US. forces in Iraq were launching a major assault on the insurgent stronghold of Fallujah.

The paper quoted an unnamed government official suggesting Bush's threat was a joke but added another unidentified source saying the US. president was serious.

SO WHERE DID THE DOCUMENT COME FROM?

The memo came from Blair's Downing Street office and turned up in May last year at the local office of Tony Clarke, then a member of parliament for the town of Northampton. Clarke handed the document back to the government.

Leo O'Connor, who used to work for Clarke, and civil servant David Keogh were charged last Thursday under Britain's Official Secrets Act with making a "damaging disclosure of a document relating to international relations."

Both Keogh and O'Connor are due to appear in court next week on charges under the Act. It will be interesting to see how far the legal action goes if both the US and UK want the entire story buried.

Clarke, who opposed the invasion of Iraq and who lost his seat at the last election, returned the memo to Downing Street.

AL JAZEERA staff have started an online photo album showing pictures of the staff protest at George Bush's desire to bomb them. See it here:

LINKStaff photos.

LINK: ALJAZEERA HAS ITS SAY

Tags: Morocco, Aljazeera, Jihad, Terrorism,

Morocco's rising Islamist challenge

This is an interesting article from Geoff Pingree and Lisa Abend, correspondents of The Christian Science Monitor.

They claim that reforms by the Moroccan King are being tested by moderate and radical Islamist groups.




Photo Geoff Pingree

A law allows Morocco to monitor some mosques.
Men entered this one in Rabat in July.



Like the US after 9/11, Morocco has waged a war on terror ever since bombers struck the city of Casablanca in May 2003.

On Sunday, the country appeared to have won a minor battle: Its official press agency reported that Moroccan police arrested 17 men on Nov. 11 who may belong to Al Qaeda, including two who were previously imprisoned at Guantánamo Bay.

The arrests coincided with reports published in the newspaper Al Ahdath Almaghribia that Morocco's intelligence services were concerned about a serious threat of new attacks.

But in its struggle against Islamic extremism, Morocco faces challenges unknown in the US.

To combat terrorism, the country not only risks endangering the fragile civil rights its government has begun to encourage, but it must contend with the uncertain effects of emerging moderate Islamist movements. Indeed, the rise of Islamism in politics and Moroccan society will be a difficult test of the nation's proclaimed dedication to democratic reform.

For decades, Morocco has taken pride in its relatively liberal brand of Islam. Rather than an imam, King Mohammed VI is the chief spiritual leader here, and state law is influenced but not rooted in sharia, the Islamic code.

Diversity characterizes Moroccan Islam. Women's fashions, for example, range from head scarves to miniskirts. According to a recent Pew Research Center global survey, 79 percent of Moroccans - compared with 11 percent of Jordanians and 43 percent of Pakistanis - believe violence against civilians in support of Islam is never justified.

In the late 1990s, however, reports began to appear of Salafist radicals - many of them newly returned from the Afghan war - imposing a vigilante form of Islamic law in Morocco's shantytowns, stoning women who were "inappropriately" dressed, and throwing suspected drinkers and prostitutes into wells. The Casablanca bombings, which killed 45, awakened the country to an extremism within its own borders.

"We had always told ourselves that Morocco's Islam was tolerant," says Fatiha Ladayi, Morocco's director of communications. "I was aware that fundamentalism existed here. But I didn't think that our fundamentalists were violent."

The Casablanca attacks provoked fear among Moroccans that their homeland might succumb to the rigid Islamism that had overtaken neighboring Algeria. And the world at large noted the prominent role Moroccan-born men played in terrorist strikes in Madrid, Iraq, and elsewhere.

For Mohammed Darif, a political scientist at Mohammedia's Hassan II University, the connection is clear. "There are strong ties between the attacks in Casablanca and Madrid," he writes. "They were carried out by the same organization, the [Al Qaeda-linked] Moroccan Islamic Combat Group."

Radical Islam represents a double threat to the Moroccan state - undermining the government's image of moderation and challenging its control over the faith. In response, parliament approved in May 2003 the Ministry of Interior's wide-ranging Antiterrorism Law, which in its first five months permitted the arrests of 4,000 suspected extremists.

Some believe Morocco is exploiting the terrorist threat to justify its increasing control of moderate Islamic parties. When first proposed in 2001, the antiterrorism legislation - which allows the government to monitor imams, mosques, and the religious content of textbooks, and which defines even "apologizing for terrorism" as a crime - was opposed by the Islamist Justice and Development Party (PJD). After the Casablanca bombings, however, the party backed away from its stance and the law passed.

Such acquiescence, coupled with the PJD's agreement to run in just 20 percent of 2003's local electoral contests, prompted suspicion that the party is giving in to government pressure to protect its position as Morocco's only legal Islamist party. Tremendously popular, Justice and Development won 42 seats in 2002's parliamentary elections, and because all other major parties joined Prime Minister Driss Jettou's coalition government, the PJD now functions as the opposition. Yet as the government has cracked down on Islamist extremism, the party's moderate brand of religion-based politics has come under heavy scrutiny.

In March, the government drafted a bill, the Law of Political Parties, that would ban religious (as well as regional and ethnic) references from party platforms. If it passes, the law will effectively dissolve the PJD and all other meaningful Islamist opposition.

In June, the state arrested Nadia Yassine, spokeswoman for Islamic movement Al Adl Wal Ihsan, or Justice and Charity, when she expressed her belief that Morocco would be healthier as a republic than a monarchy. In many ways Yassine symbolizes the state's Islamist dilemma: while she's a devout Muslim, married with four children, she is also a highly educated women's rights advocate who once told the BBC she believed the Prophet Muhammad was a de facto feminist.

If antagonism between the government and Islamist moderates continues, it may well cultivate further Islamic extremism. Increased political participation by moderate Islamist groups is the best way to curb the growth of extremism in Morocco, says Haizem Amirah, the senior North Africa analyst at the Royal Elcano Institute in Madrid.

"The moderate Islamists need to compete more in the political game, and form alliances with the secular groups," he explains. "That would check the radical sectors, because they would start to feel that they had less popular support, less a sense of a mission."

At PJD headquarters, vice-secretary Abdelah Baha maintains that his party can work within the existing system. "Islam and democracy can go together as global principle," he says. "Our party bases its objectives on religious principles, and then adapts them to political ends. We're like the American evangelicals."

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