Morocco did not ban YouTube

Recently the respected website Global Voices ran this story:

Yesterday, May 25, 2007, it has been reported by numerous Moroccan blogger that Morocco has blocked access to YouTube video sharing website. There have been many ongoing speculations that the ban followed the broadcasting of material critical of the country's king and pro-Western Sahara. This is the third major sites blocked by the Moroccan filtering regime after Google Earth and Livejournal.

However, it turns out not to be true.

Technical research has shown that the problem started in Pakistan where the authorities decided to block YouTube by creating a false path - a Cul de sac - that would divert potential visitors. The block was intended to cover only Pakistan but extended to about two-thirds of the global Internet population.

The outage followed a letter sent Friday evening by the Pakistani Telecommunications Authority (PTA) to Internet service providers, ordering them to prevent people in Pakistan from visiting YouTube. The authority cited a "highly blasphemous" video featuring right-wing Dutch politician Geert Wilders.

Pakistan Telecom established a route that directed requests for YouTube videos from local Internet subscribers to the cul de sac and then published that route to its international data carrier, PCCW of Hong Kong, which accepted the new route. From there it spread quickly to other systems.

OTHER REACTIONS FROM THE BLOGOMA

A very good post by one of our favourite bloggers EATBEES takes up the case of Fouad Mourtada, the blooger jailed over identity theft. There is an old saying "you don't need an axe to break an egg" - it seems very true in this instance. Here is some of what EATBEES had to say,

Sadly, the world doesn’t stand still for bloggers, or follow our idealistic wishes. While I’ve been comfortably going about my business these past couple of weeks, sitting in my favorite cafe, watching animes or chatting with friends online, 26-year-old Fouad Mourtada has been in a Moroccan jail because he created a page on Facebook in the name of Prince Rachid, the younger brother of the Moroccan king.

His case provoked an outcry across the Moroccan blogosphere, because of the feeling that if such a thing could happen to Fouad — a mild-mannered IT engineer who has always been a model citizen — then it could happen to anyone. Yet the outcry didn’t sway the Moroccan injustice system. On February 22, Fouad was sentenced to three years in prison and a fine of about $1300. This despite the fact that his foolish gesture harmed no one, and had no malicious intent.

Read the full story here: EATBEES

Tags: Moroccan Morocco Fes, Maghreb news

Easyjet flying to Fez?

Rumours have been flying thick and fast around the Medina of Fez to the effect that Easyjet, (see our earlier story about their new routes) the low cost carrier, will soon start a London-Fez flight. Now, we have no idea where these rumours started, but our intrepid reporter Lumen fired off an email and received this response.

Subject: Can you please tell me if you'll be flying direct London/Fez any time soon?

Response:
(Magdalena Kolko)
28/02/2008 05.33 PM
Dear View from Fez,

Thank you for contacting us. Unfortunately, we do not operate flights to Fez but, our nearest destination would be Marrakech (from London Gatwick). For more information about flights to Marrakech i.e., flight times and prices, please visit www.easyJet.com. I have included a link below for more information about easyJet destinations:

http://www.easyjet.com/EN/Planning/Destination/index.html

Thank you for taking the time to contact us View from Fez. If you require any further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us again via the contact us section of the easyJet web site.

Yours sincerely
Magdalena Kolko
Customer Services Representative

So - the answer is no. Now, what was the next rumour you wanted us to check???

photographs: Sandy McCutcheon

Tags: Moroccan Morocco Fes, Maghreb news

So you have a story for The View from Fez...

Each week The View from Fez gets emails from people with stories they think we should publish. When the story is about new business ventures, real estate offers and so on, we politely decline. Other stories are full of scandal and juicy little rumours - and again we decline. So, to save some people the trouble of wasting precious time emailing, we thought it would be good to set out our story guidelines.

We do like to get tips on breaking news. We do share this information with the English language radio service in Morocco who often broadcasts the story or interviews the main players. We love human interest stories, tales of your adventure in Fez (or Morocco in general) and stories of cultural or historical value. We also publish recipes from time to time so feel free to share your favourites.

If you would like to write the item yourself then we would be happy to publish it under your name. But do note that with few exceptions we do not pay a fee.

The story should be of general interest to both Moroccan and expat readers. Stories should be no longer than 500 words. If there is further work to be done such as research, we are happy to assist.

Before submitting a story, please ask yourself the following questions:

(1) Would you be prepared to be quoted? If not we probably won't publish.
(2) Is it really interesting? If we think so we will fact check and probably publish
(3) Can you supply one or more photographs? We love a good pic.

Send your news tip, story idea or written article to The View from Fez : fes.riad@gmail.com

Tags: Moroccan Morocco Fes, Maghreb news

Jennifer Smith in Fez

The Times Online has an article about Jennifer Smith and her Moroccan venture...

Less than a year after graduating from cookery school, Smith was the proud owner of a riad-style house in Fez, badly in need of renovation before she could open it as a guesthouse. She used her bank training to put together a business plan but after only 24 hours in her new home she realised that her calculations were all “utterly useless”. It took four years to open the guesthouse, not months as she’d hoped.

“I lived extremely simply. I could live on £100 a month here... because I was living in my building site. I was sleeping on sheepskins. I didn’t travel, buy new clothes. I had no expenses, I was washing my clothing by hand.”

The reality of following a dream is the hard work but there was also time for some romance. Smith married an American guitarist studying flamenco in Fez and they now run the guesthouse together.

“It is hard work. Harder than I expected, but because we are working for ourselves and we are doing something that we really love, it doesn’t always feel like work.”

Read the full story here: TIMES ONLINE


Tags: Moroccan Morocco Fes, Maghreb news

Cafe Clock - Cultural Explosion!

Driving force - Jess and the indomitable Mike!

You have to hand it to the expat community in Fez, when it comes to innovative explorations of cultural expression, they are doing a superb job. From Frédéric Calmès wonderful work with the Hamadcha musicians, through to the traditional concerts at Riad Zany and art exhibitions in the Ville Nouvelle - there is a lot to chose from.

Anass at Cafe Clock

Now Cafe Clock has made a substantial contribution by beginning a cultural program (see our earlier story) - and Mike and his team are to be congratulated.

Josephine and Evelyn

Word is that, at least in the area of music, Cafe Clock will also collaborate with Riad Zany and look at holding complimentary concerts showcasing some of the visiting Celtic musicians that are due in Fez in May. A tentative agreement last year looked at the possibility that Cafe Clock would not only continue to cater the riad concerts and but would look at holding additional concerts at Cafe Clock.

We will keep you posted.

Photo credits: Amin Kavata

Tags: Moroccan Morocco Fes, Maghreb newst

Clock Culture Launch

Wednesday night at Cafe Clock saw the launch of Clock Culture - an enticing array of cultural events to be staged at the Cafe by Cultural Coordinator, Jess Stephens.

The place was packed with locals and visitors who were entertained by well-known Fez singer Anass, accompanied by Aiysha, who'd come specially from Barcelona, along with North African dancer, Leali.

On the walls were splendid examples of calligraphy art by Noudine Daifallah, supplied by the Orientalist Art Gallery, a huge photograph by Tom Fakler and a calligraphy mural by Mohamed Charkaoui. Projected onto the Cafe wall was the Fishli and Weiss art video, The Way Things Go.
There was soft sculpture and installation art by Jess Stephens, and while the Sabul Assalam Centre presented an outline of their lecture programme, henna artists Fatima and Amina got to work.

Here's a sample of what Fez residents and visitors can look forward to in the future:

February 17: Sunday Sunset Concert with Anass
February 23: Knit4Peace 'knit-in'
February 24: Sunday Sunset Concert with classical guitar duet 'The Thunder Boys'
March 2: next calligraphy course commences
March 7: Lecture by Subul Assalam Centre The Role of the Hijab
March 8: International Women's Day celebration 14h00-18h00

Cafe Clock would like to thank their sponsors for the evening: The Orientalist Art Gallery, Fez Riads, the Arabic Language Institute in Fez/American Language Center and the Subul Assalam Centre.

See www.cafeclock.com for more details.


Tags: Moroccan Morocco Fes, Maghreb news

Fez Festival of Sufi Culture - 2008.

The Fez Festival of Sufi Culture is coming back again this year. Although the sceptics doubted that it would survive, we are very pleased to announce that it will take place in Fez from the 17th to the 24th of April 2008, under the title “Orient Occident”. There are also training courses in Moroccan Sacred Music between the 17th of April and June 14th

Once again under the command of Faouzi Skali, the projected program is looking good!

Jeudi 17 avril
9h Accueil des participants
10h Présentation, à la bibliothèque de la Qaraouiine, des principaux manuscrits sur le Soufisme à travers l’histoire des 12 derniers siècles du Maroc.
16h Faouzi Skali : Conférence introductive
« Soufisme et développement de civilisation : 1200 ans de quêtes spirituelles à travers l’histoire du Maroc » (Medersa Bouanania)
21h Soirée d’ouverture (Musée Batha)
Nahal Tajadod et Jean Claude Carrière (Iran/France)
« Sur les pas de Rûmi »

Vendredi 18 avril
10h Conférence (Medersa Bouanania)
Mustafa Chérif :
« Valeurs chevaleresques et relations internationales »
18h30 - 20h Concert (Bab Boujloud)
1ère partie : « Moultaqa Salam » de Ali Alaoui (Maroc / France)
Chants des confréries religieuses populaires du Maroc.
2ème partie : « Haj Mohammed Bennis » Samaa de Fès (Maroc)
21h Concert
1ère partie : « Aicha Radouane et les « Rabi’a » » (Maroc/France) 2ème partie : Soirée de Samaa - Confrérie : Harraqiya

Samedi 19 avril
8h45 - 9h Introduction Artistique : 15 min (Medersa Bouanania)
9h - 12h Table ronde
« Femmes et spiritualité »
16h - 18h Concert (Musée Batha)
1ère partie : «Voix soufies à travers le temps », Autour de Hallaj , Rûmi , Majrouh.
Saadi Younis Bahri , Reem Sharabeh, Farouk Gholem Païenda, Meradjaudine Emamzahdah. (Irak/Syrie/Afghanistan)
Mise en scène: Lionel Tardif
2ème partie : « Oumnia et Elie Ashkar » (Maroc/Liban)
Chants spirituels d’Oum Keltoum
18h30 - 20h Concert (Bab Boujloud)
1ère partie : « Aissaoua » Mouhcine Zemmouri (Maroc)
2ème partie : « Said Hafid » (Egypte)
21h Concert
1ère partie : « Marouane Hajji » (Maroc)
2ème partie : « Nihad Najjar » (Syrie)

Dimanche 20 avril
8h45 - 9h Introduction Artistique : 15 min (Medersa Bouanania)
9h - 12h Table ronde
« Spiritualité et Entreprise »
16h - 18h Concert (Musée Batha)
1ère partie : « L’ensemble Ibn Arabi » (Maroc)
2ème partie : « Curro Piñana » Chants Flamenco des poèmes d’Ibn Arabi (Espagne)
18h - 20h Concert (Bab Boujloud)
« Nihad Najjar » (Syrie)
21h Concert (Jnan Palace)
1ère partie : « Haj Mohamed Bennis » Samaa de Fès (Maroc)
2ème partie : « Said Hafid » (Egypte)

Lundi 21 avril
8h45 - 9h Introduction Artistique : 15 min (Medersa Bouanania)
9h - 12h Table ronde
« Spiritualité et environnement »
16h - 18h Ateliers
21h Soirée de Samaa (Musée Batha)
Confréries : Boutchichya / Chadhilia

Mardi 22 avril
8h45 - 9h Introduction Artistique : 15 min (Medersa Bouanania)
9h - 12h Table ronde
« Les voies de la connaissance de soi en Orient et Occident »
16h - 18h Ateliers
21h Soirée de Samaa (Musée Batha)
Confréries : Tijaniya / Charkaouia

Mercredi 23 avril
8h45 - 9h Introduction Artistique : 15 min (Medersa Bouanania)
9h - 12h Table ronde
« Soufisme et dialogue Orient Occident »
16h - 18h Ateliers
18h30 - 20h30 Soirée de Samaa (Musée Batha)
Confréries : Alaouia / Ouazzania

Jeudi 24 avril
10h « Désir d'islam, le voyage soufi d'Isabelle Eberhardt »
Marie-Odile Delacour et Jean René Huleu (Medersa Bouanania)
21h Soirée de Clôture
Concert (Jnan Palace)
1ère partie : « Ba Jeddoub » (Maroc) 2ème partie : « Musa Dieng Kala » (Sénégal)

Expositions / Conférences / Films
(Musée Batha – Jnan Palace)
Reza Deghati, Olivier Weber: « Quêtes spirituelles sur la route de la soie »
Layla Benmoussa / Abdou Hafidi : «Fès, le Saint et la Cité »
Louise Cara : « Arts et spiritualité »

To see the program and find out about the training courses in Moroccan Sacred Music in other languages including English visit : The Festival Site

At the same time Sufi brotherhoods from different countries and cultures will have Dhikr (invocations) evenings open to the public, as well as art exhibitions and spiritual music.


Tags: Moroccan Morocco Fes, Maghreb news

Catching Haifa Wahbe - no easy task

Haifa Wahbe in Morocco

We have been bemused over the last few years with the number of visits we get on The View from Fez, seeking information about the famous Lebanese singer Haifa Wahbe. The usual search words are "Haifa Wahbe naked". Now while we have to admit that we can not pander to the prurient interests of young men with testosterone management issues, we can report that on her recent visit, the lightly clothed singer was as popular as ever.

Every time Ms Wahbe visits Morocco there is some sort of "incident" and one has to wonder if they are not part of a very sophisticated campaign to keep her name and image in the headlines. On a previous visit Haifa declared she would never visit Morocco again. (Here's a tip, never say "never" Haifa)

On this occasion Haifa had a couple of headlines: One, in the Watan newspaper, claims that the hard working police authorities had to intervene when a car began chasing Haifa Wahbe en route to the airport. The police stopped the car and discovered it was packed with with fans. Luckily the police could fully understand the young mens' motivation and while no charges were laid, they held the car until the singer was safely out of the area.

At one of her concerts her security men slipped up and Haifa was startled to find herself confronted with a group of young men screaming and begging her to let them in to the concert for free because they were out of work and didn't have two dirhams to rub together. Now say what you like about Ms Wehbe's dress sense, or even her singing abilitiies - she does have a very big heart. To the young men's delirious delight, Haifa said yes and presented them all with tickets to let them enter and watch for free. (All together now; "aw... shucks") It is the stuff of young boys' dreams.

Tags: Moroccan Morocco Fes, Maghreb news

Flights to Morocco - Easy-Jet update

It has just been announced that low-cost airline Easy-Jet has a low fair between Tangiers and Madrid. The cost? Fifty (50) euros. Six times a week (on Mondays and Fridays) the service will only be for the duration of the summer.

Easy-Jet became popular when it began the first cheap flights from London to Marrakech soon after the implementation of the "Open Sky" agreement between Morocco and the EU in 2006.

According to a company spokesperson Easy-Jet also plans to launch new links for Casablanca and Marrakech, and said that it would start a daily Paris (Charles de Gaulle)-Marrakech flight beginning 15 February and the launch of the links between Lyon and Marrakech and Lyon-Casablanca from early next May.


Tags: Moroccan Morocco Fes, Maghreb news