Several readers have emailed us with links to the BBC story by reporter John Laurenson on HRH Mohammed VI. For those of you who didn't see the article a link is below. The thing that strikes Laurenson is the devotion towards the King held by a majority of Moroccans.
Laurenson's findings would be confirmed by even a quick poll of Moroccans. The reasons for the devotion are, of course, more complex. Many will point to the reforms he has instituted, some to the new family code, others to his obvious diplomatic skills. But as an outsider, looking in, it also becomes clear that the Moroccan king has a charismatic appeal. He is young, bright and, if his actions are a measure, equally devoted to his people. Under Mohammed VI the door of modernity has opened in Morocco and unlike leaders in many other countries, it is open to a majority of the population. The initiatives on literacy, poverty-eradication, slum-clearance and truth and reconciliation are great examples of forward thinking and deserve praise.
Of course, there is always more that can be done but under Mohammed VI the door to the future remains open. I hope in the future to obtain an interview with the Moroccan king and report back. In the meantime here's a taste of the BBC article:
The Moroccan royal family is one of the most ancient and most powerful in the world. It also commands extraordinary loyalty from its subjects. I had been round at Moulay's house for at least 15 seconds. It was, therefore, high time for tea. I remained sitting on a mat on the red earth floor while the master of the house, as tradition requires, went off to make the sweet, minty national drink. We were high in the scrubby, green hills of the Middle Atlas. When we stopped the car, the only sounds were of birds and children. I waited for the tea. A fly buzzed in from the afternoon sun. A couple of uncles who had also dropped in nodded benignly from the other side of the room. I hazarded a bit of small talk. "One of your brothers?" I asked, pointing to a photo of a rather introspective looking chap with a sweaty face on top of the television. "The King!" they replied.
Full article here: BBC ONLINE
Tags: Morocco Fes, Maghreb news
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