Moroccan Puppy ~ Cute and Available from the American Fondouk in Fez

A young puppy was recently given to the American Fondouk in Fez. It was rescued from being tormented by children and has now recovered. The puppy is available to someone looking for a cute and affectionate pet

The puppy has been vaccinated (given all its inoculations), wormed and generally looked after. It is now in perfect health. Anyone interested in adopting the puppy should contact the American Fondouk or email theviewfromfez@gmail.com and we will put you in touch with the Fondouk. It is suggested that the new owner should make a small donation to the valuable work (with Medina donkeys and horses) done by the Fondouk.

To find out more about the work of the Fondouk, CLICK HERE

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Moroccan News Briefs #121

Morocco in solidarity with Ebola affected countries

With the suspension of Air France flights to Sierra Leone, Morocco is being praised for being the last country to provide flights to the three main countries affected by the outbreak of Ebola.

On Thursday, after the decision by Air France, the World Health Organization (WHO) said it was "vital" that airlines would resume flights as soon as possible so as not cut  Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea-Conakry off from the rest of the world.

Only the national carrier Royal Air Morocco (RAM) continues to operate 12 scheduled flights a week into these three countries.

"We are in a supportive and non-mercantilist approach that echoes the ongoing commitment of the kingdom to Africa," said RAM spokesman Challot Hakim,. He also noted that the current profitability of these destinations was zero, with flights in and out of Casablanca being at no more than 10% capacity .

Along with this decision the government ensures that all health safeguards have been taken.

The Ebola virus continues to spread in a "fast fashion" according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The WHO review released on Thursday, 28 August  identifies 1552 deaths and 3,069 patients. For comparison, a week earlier, the figures were 1,427 fatalities and 2,615 patients. WHO now predicts that the Ebola virus will affect at least 20,000 people. And will likely more than 10,000 deaths. According to the UN agency, "more than 40% of the total number of cases occurred in the last three weeks" .

Dr. David Nabarro, the UN coordinator appointed against the Ebola virus, and Dr. Keiji Fukuda, deputy director of WHO's health security, have estimated it would take at least six months to stop the epidemic of qualified '"uncontrollable" by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF).

"The international health community has been slow to react," wrote Anja Wolz, MSF emergency coordinator in Sierra Leone, in the New England Journal of Medicine .


Casa - Fez train derailment "due to human error"

The derailment last Wednesday at Zenata of the Casablanca-Fez train, "was due to human error," said  the Office National des Chemins de Fer (ONCF), stating that "the driver and the conductor of train did not comply with "the protection signals "and that the employee who died" had no responsibility for the accident."

The investigation by a commission of experts from ONCF revealed that "a freight train from Ain Sebaa was normally proceeding on a service line at Zenata. Thus, the signaling system automatically put the protection signal in the stop position".

"The driver and the conductor of train did not comply with this signal and crossed at high speed despite the action of the emergency brake. This caused the derailment of the train and due to its momentum it slid about 300m and hit a contributor and an empty car parked on adjacent tracks, "the statement said.


North Africans prefer a beer

The World Health Organisation has published its latest report on worldwide consumption of alcohol. Viewed from an  international perspective, the figures for the Maghreb are not alarming. 

In North Africa the figures put Tunisia in top spot where consumption has grown from 1.4 litre per person in 2003-2005 to 1.5 litres in 2008-2010. Algeria is in second place an annual average of with 1 litre of alcohol per person on average. This figure remains the same as it was back in 2003. The most surprising thing about the Algerian figures is that it is now the country with the highest alcohol consumption in the Maghreb.

Morocco comes in in third place with a slight increase (0.9%) on the figures from 2003-2005 to 1.5 litres in 2008-2010. The figure is suspect as some Moroccan information is missing.  Morocco does not release statistics or information concerning tax revenue on spirits, wine and beer.

An interesting statistic that emerges from the WHO figures is just how much the three Maghreb countries in the survey like their beer.  Tunisian beer consumption accounts for 68% of all alcohol consumed. In Algeria it is 63% and and finally 44% in Morocco.

The differences between the countries are more stark when it comes to wine. While not being as popular as it is in France (56%) Moroccans take top spot with 36% followed closely by Algeria where wine accounts for 35% of alcohol consumption and Tunisia on 38%.

The least consumed alcohol in all three countries remains spirits - Morocco 20%, Tunisia 4% and Algeria below 2%.

In comparison to the rest of the world the inhabitants of the Maghreb are very moderate drinkers. The religious aspect of Muslims drinking is explained by Moroccans as an understanding that the Holy Koran does not specifically forbid the consumption of alcohol but rather it forbids becoming intoxicated.


Contemporary art exhibition in Asilah

The MAC EXPO 2014 International Symposium of Contemporary Art in Asilah continues until September 20. Organized by the Association for Art and Culture (APAC), this exhibition brings together painters and contemporary sculptors from different cities of Morocco and from around the World.

Of particular note is the House of Contemporary Art located on the beach at Briech (6 km on the road to Tangiers). The MAC Expo helps strengthen exchanges between artists and intellectuals and artists from both sides of the Mediterranean and Middle East. Among the artists exhibiting include Mohammad Al Jaloos (Jordan), Mohamed Abou El Nagua (Egypt), Sami Ben Ameur (Tunisia), Christine Kertz (Austria), Nadira Mahmoud (Oman), Enzo Marino (Italy), Ali Rashid (Netherlands / Iraq), Diego Moya (Spain) and Moroccans Bouragba Omar, Ahmed Jaride, Tawfiq Chichani, Ahlam Lemseffer and Abdelkrim Ouazzani.

The House Contemporary Art is a cultural arts center that features a gallery and artists residence. For more Asilah Information: 0661.460648

Dates for Moroccan school year

The 2014-2015 school year is scheduled to commence on Wednesday, September 10 for primary schools and Thursday, September 11 for college and high schools.

The school year for students in the second year of preparatory classes at higher technician certificate (BTS) is also scheduled for September 11 while students in the first year of the BTS preparatory classes begin the school year Monday, September 15, 2014 and preparatory classes will begin Monday, September 8.

Back to school for teaching and administrative staff is set, meanwhile, for the first Monday in September, while for teachers, it is scheduled for Tuesday, September 2.


Tourism growth in Marrakech

Tourism in Marrakech is booming again. According to a report from the CRT (Regional Tourism Centre) the city has seen over 1 million arrivals in the first seven months or 2014

CRT Statistics indicate that the 1,084,305 arrivals is an increase of 9.06% over the same period the previous year.

The number of bed nights sits at 3,093,065 an increase of 11% and the occupancy rate of hotels has risen to 53% with an attendance rate that reaches 84%.

The 14 main clubs and entertainment centres in Marrakech are showing a variable occupancy rate between 60% to 90%.

Forecasts until December indicate a good year for tourism establishments in Marrakech with no fewer than 35 conferences, international events and festivals planned in the next five months.

As the top tourist destination in Morocco, Marrakech has 175 registered hotels and 980 guest houses. Marrakech represents 48% of the capacity of national accommodation and 42% of overnight stays at a national level.

~ SUNDAY OPINION ~

THE BURKA AND BURKINI ARE NOT MOROCCAN!

The New Tribune (La Nouvelle Tribune) has created something of a storm with its discussion about the burka in Moroccan society

New Tribune recently conducted a photo shoot on the beaches of Morocco that appeared to show a resurgence of full burkas and in some cases "burkinis" (female "Islamic" bathing costumes invented in Australia - see story here).

The news site says that after publishing its findings on social networks they received a drubbing in comments from Internet users who accused them of being "mentally ill infidels" and asked the question "Why do you condemn the burka which is Moroccan and Muslim normality?"

The New Tribune responded with an opinion piece by Zouhair Yata in which he points out that Moroccan women are free to wear what they want but notes that the burka and Burkini are not the characteristics of Moroccan Islam. Instead they are concrete evidence of a behavioral disruption of those in Moroccan society influenced by Saudi Wahhabism, which according to Mr Yata is promoted specifically by the explosion of satellite TV programmes in Morocco over the last twenty years.

The journal goes on to say that Morocco has a strong Muslim tradition, as expressed by our commitment to the Sunnah in the Maliki rite and "Tarika ashaarîa." In addition, they point out that the King is not only the Head of State but also Commander of the Faithful and that in the public sphere, including the highest levels of the state including the Royal Family, the burka has never been adopted. Even the Islamist PJD does not require its female executives or spouses of its male executives to wear a hijab.

The New Tribune article concludes that it time to choose sides. "Either we defend a Morocco steeped in our traditions and our vision of Islam, or we choose to be sheep who copy imported practices that do not fit us."

 We must defend the achievements of the Kingdom because its openness means job creation and growth. We should rejoice in Morocco's tolerance and singularity because the alternative is to fall into the same chaos as Libya, Egypt, Syria, and Iraq with their very different set of values, traditions and a different vision of Islam.- New Tribune

Stereotypes anyone? Why Gulf Men Are Obsessed with Moroccan Women

Aziz Allilou, writing for Morocco World News, reports that a Saudi author has revealed in an article that Gulf men prefer Moroccan women rather than Middle Eastern women, due to the special charm they hold, saying Gulf women are themselves to blame rather than faulting the Gulf men for favoring Moroccans.

In the Middle East, the majority of women believe in the stereotypes that label Moroccan women as scheming witches plotting to ensnare rich Kuwaiti husbands by casting spells on them.

These stereotypes were even promoted on Arab Gulf TV channels, such as Kuwait’s Al Watan. The latter broadcasted the animated comedy series Bu Qatada and Bu Nabeel that portrayed Moroccan women using sorcery and witchcraft to seduce and lure Kuwaiti youngsters for marriage.

Saudi author Ghazi Abdul Aziz

However, Saudi author Ghazi Abdul Aziz explained that the truth is far from these myths. He said that Gulf men’s obsession by Moroccan beauties can be explained by the two unbearable powers they hold: their “dazzling beauty and rich culture.”

“Gulf women’s culture is a blend of the desert’s customs and traditions, Eastern Islam teaching, luxury communities plus a lot of Indian and American spices, whereas the Moroccan women’s culture is of such a different power,” Ghazi Abdul Aziz wrote.

“It consists of the Amazigh customs and traditions, pride, the Arab Islam’s teaching plus some French spices… this makes the Moroccan women very different than the Middle Eastern women,” he continues.


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Moroccan Tomatoes - Ripe for the Picking

Even the cat thinks Moroccan tomatoes look tasty

The flavour of Moroccan tomatoes is unsurpassed, compared to those grown in cooler climes. They are one of the country's most significant exports, with sales to Europe doubling in 10 years to 365,000 tonnes 

This summer has seen some tense negotiations between the EU and Moroccan authorities, after the Brussels Commission changed the rules for determining the entry price of Moroccan tomatoes into European territory, which would have meant taxing them much more heavily. However, a compromise was reached in late June.

For the past decade, Morocco has profited from the increasing openness of the European market, through EU-Morocco Association Agreement, which granted a duty free quota provided Moroccan tomatoes were sold at a minimum price. But Spanish tomato producers contested this, saying that Morocco circumvented this rule by selling cherry tomatoes broken into lots for a greater profit.

Brussels decided to impose the official sales price of the European market, which is often very low and determined by subsidised producers.  However, Morocco had a bargaining chip - their rich fishing waters. King Mohammed VI suspended the signing of the fishing agreement until the dispute over tomatoes was sorted out with the Europeans. The Brussels Commission agreed to make a concession, and a compromise was reached.

Most Moroccan tomatoes are grown in large greenhouses around Agadir and Casablanca, although small producers ensure a steady stream for domestic consumption.

Story and photo: Suzanna Clarke

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"National Sardine Day" ~ Morocco is World's Top Producer

On the occasion of the "National Day of the Sardine", Minister of Agriculture, Aziz Akhannouch, said that Morocco is in a noble position, vis-a-vis the sardine. However, others claim it is a shame that the everyday fish of coastal folks is a luxury elsewhere in the country

"With nearly 57% of national fish production, Morocco is the world leader in the production of sardines" - Aziz Akhannouch:

The marine fisheries sector has recently undergone major advances especially with the upgrade of a large number of seaports, noted Aziz Akhannouch as part of the first edition of "Day of the Sardine".

President of the Moroccan Association for Consumer Protection, Dr Bouazza Kherrati, claims that in some regions of the country, particularly in the south, sardines can cost as much as 40 dirhams a kilo. He goes on to say that events such as the "Festival of the Sardine" should be held not only in coastal towns but in the interior as well.

Morocco currently has seven wholesale markets, 22 fishing ports, 22 halls for grading industrial fish (CAPI) and well-established fishing villages 40 km apart across the entire coast of Morocco. The Minister, Aziz Akhannouch, remarked that these facilities are effective in improving the productivity and competitiveness of the fishermen. The minister also noted that nearly 50 per cent of the domestic production of sardines has a development plan that provides a sustainability structure by introducing biological rest periods, quotas and areas closed to fishing, to ensure durability and conditions for reproduction.

Sardines have always held a special place in the food habits of Moroccans in terms of their nutritional value and price that remains accessible to all segments of society, Aziz Akhannouch noted, adding that the importance of the Sardine Festival is that it helps promote the characteristics and benefits of sardines.

The vice president of the Association of Owners of fishing port of Al Hoceima, Fikri Ould Chaib, agreed with the Minister and added that this first edition of the "Festival of the Sardine" is an opportunity to showcase the product fishing in the region characterized by a variety and quality that is renowned nationally and internationally.

Calling the meeting successful event Fikri Ould Chaib added that civil society is willing to work in coordination with the supervisory department for the development of the province.

 Initiated from August 27 to 31 by the National Fisheries Authority (NFA) in the context of the implementation of the strategy to promote seafood, "Day of the Sardine" is organized simultaneously in five beaches in the Kingdom - Al-Hoceima beach (Quemado) Martil beach, Agadir Beach (Taghazout) Dakhla beach, and Mehdia. This event aims to promote domestic consumption of fresh sardines and its value to the Moroccan public as ` flagship of the national fish production and awareness of the benefits of sardines for health.

As our contribution to "Sardine Day" The View from Fez offers a Moroccan Sardine Recipe - Chermoula Sardines

2 kg fresh sardines, double filleted or "butterflied"
1 cup of  Chermoula (see recipe below)
1/2 cup flour
vegetable oil for frying
Prep Time: 20 minutes Cook Time: 25 minutes.

Method

Place the sardine fillets skin-side down and spread the chermoula generously over the fish. Some people also place another sardine on top, skin side up. When sardines are all covered in chermoula set them aside to marinate (in the fridge is the best place.

When you are ready to cook, coat the sardines with a sprinkling of flour and cook in vegetable oil in a pan set on medium to high. Do make sure you have enough oil in the pan to cover the entire surface.

Cook in batches until golden (four to five minutes on each side), and then place on paper towels to absorb excess oil before transferring to a serving plate.

Fried stuffed sardines can be served hot or at room temperature

Chermoula

Chermoula can be used as a great dipping sauce for flatbread, but is traditionally used as a marinade. Superb on fish but fine on any other meat - or even vegetarian tagines.

To make one cup:

1 well washed bunch of fresh coriander.
3 large cloves of garlic, peeled and squashed.
1 teaspoon each of ground cumin, coriander and paprika.
1 small red chilli (remove the seeds!)
1/2 teaspoon of sea salt.
Juice of 1 large lemon
1/4 cup of olive oil.

Blend to a rough textured paste with a food processor or mortar and pestle.

**For a marinade - add 1/2 a tablespoon of tomato paste, 3 extra tablespoons of olive oil, 2 generous pinches of good quality saffron and 1/3 of a cup of water. After coating fish or chicken in the marinade, assemble in tagine and pour remainder over entire dish.

See more Moroccan Recipes in our Cookbooks Section

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Major Moroccan Motorway to be Closed for Filming

A section of a major motorway in the south of Morocco is to be closed for several days in order to allow filming of a sequence for a major movie

The motorway between Marrakech and Agadir will be closed in the area around the Agadir/Tamansourt interchange from 6 am on August 30th to midnight on September 12th.

Signage will be put in place showing motorists the alternative route available. Those travelling from Agadir to Casablanca will exit at the Tamansourt junction and rejoin at the Marrakech Palmeraie station.

There is no official disclosure of the name of the movie being shot but much speculation.  The best bet is probably Mission Impossible 5 whose shooting dates in Morocco appear to coincide with the road closure. The film is directed by Christopher McQuarrie and its cast includes Tom Cruise, Paula Patton, Simon Pegg and Jeremy Renner.

Another possibility is Batman vs Superman: Dawn Of Justice, which also shoots in Morocco in September.


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Ronda and the Legacy of Islam in Spain

The links between the Medina of Ronda and that of Fez go back a long way. From the 13th to the 15th century Ronda was the most resplendent medina in the Kingdom of Granada. It was the last Islamic stronghold in the region and, though much has faded from historical memory, there is a street in the Fez Medina that carries the name Derb Ronda and where refugees from the brutal last struggles on the Iberian Peninsula began to rebuild their lives in Morocco

Ronda ~ the sunset of Moorish Spain

The city of Ronda (Izna Rand Onda in Arabic), about 100 kilometres west of the city of Malaga in Andalusia, is now home to a population of around 35,000. The Islamic influence can still be seen in the narrow winding streets of the medina-like historic city, and in several significant buildings. These include the Arab baths, or Banõs Arabes, at the base of the hill.

The "New Bridge" links the city of Ronda

The baths or hammam are the Muslim adaptation of Roman baths. Those in Ronda were constructed between the 13th and 14th centuries. As is typical of Islamic baths, they have three main rooms - hot, temperate and cold. Whereas the Romans traditionally immersed themselves in pools, the Muslim baths were steam rooms with small pools for collecting water for washing.

The preserved remains of the once fabulous hammam of Ronda

Traditional waterwheel

The baths were often in close proximity to the city gates, as they served both a social and religious function. Visitors to the city would normally wash before entering the main city. In the case of Ronda the baths were next to the Bridge Gate (which no longer exists).

The other reason for the siting of the baths was the need for a supply of water. Being situated beside a river was of primary importance, but it was also necessary to be able to distribute the water. To do this a huge water-wheel was constructed that raised the water to the level of the baths, from where it went to a wood-fired boiler and to a tank for storing cold water. Under floor heating in the room next to the boiler kept the paving hot enough to produce steam for the baths.

Lighting was achieved by small holes in the domed ceiling supported by cruciform pillars and arches.

Ronda ~ a short history

After the disintegration of the caliphate of Córdoba, Ronda became the capital of a small kingdom ruled by the Berber Banu Ifran, the taifa of Ronda. During this period Ronda received most of its Islamic architectural heritage. In 1065 Ronda was conquered by the taifa of Seville led by Abbad II al-Mu'tadid. Both the poet Salih ben Sharif al-Rundi (1204–1285) and the Sufi scholar Ibn Abbad al-Rundi (1333–1390) were born in Ronda.

The Islamic domination of Ronda ended in 1485, when it was conquered by the Marquis of Cádiz after a brief siege. Subsequently, most of the city's old edifices were renewed or adapted to Christian roles.

The cliffs of Ronda were ideally suited to defence 

The Spanish Inquisitions affected the Muslims living in Spain greatly. Shortly after 1492, when the last outpost of Muslim presence in the Iberian Peninsula, Granada, was conquered, the Spanish decreed that all Muslims and Jews must either vacate the peninsula without their belongings or convert to Christianity. Many people overtly converted to keep their possessions, while secretly practised their religion. Muslims who converted only overtly were called Moriscos. Moriscos were required to wear upon their caps and turbans a blue crescent, which brought upon them taunts and violence of a fanatical population. Traveling without a permit meant a death sentence. This systematic suppression forced the Muslims to seek refuge in mountainous regions of southern Andalusia; Ronda was one such refuge.

On May 25, 1566 Philip II decreed the use of the Arabic language (written or spoken) illegal, doors to homes to remain open on Fridays to verify that no Muslim Friday prayers were conducted, and heavy taxation on Moriscos trades. This led to several rebellions, one of them in Ronda under the leadership of Al-Fihrey.

After a bloody and vicious battle, the Spanish forces advanced, while the Moriscos forces retreated. While the Spanish forces were busy with collecting loot left behind from the retreating army, the Moriscos army launched a surprise counterattack. This forced the Spanish forces to flee, except for Alfonso a few soldiers he was able to gather around him. Alfonso, badly wounded, was able to escape with two-hundred of his soldiers to an area shielded with two large rocky areas. Al-Fihrey and his men followed Alfonso until they found him. At this point both leaders prepared for a head-to-head combat. Their almost insane stubbornness, strength, and will-power is shown by their war of words. As Al-Fihrey approach, Alfonso shouted to him: “If you thought that you found an easy prey, know that I am Don Alfonso de Aguilar.” Al-Fihrey answered him: “If you are Don Alfonso, know that I am Al-Fihrey.” A few minutes later Al-Fihrey struck down Alfonso.

Al-Fihrey’s soldiers continued to hunt down Alfonso’s soldiers until the next morning. Every Spanish solider found was killed and no prisoners were taken. After a ferocious battle, Al-Fihrey's insurgent army was able to defeat the Spanish army sent to suppress them under the leadership of Alfonso de Aguilar. So violent was the retribution that no Spanish soldier captured was spared his life, including Alfonso himself. This prompted Phillip II to order the massacre of all Moriscos in Ronda. Those few who survived were sold into slavery.

The streets of the historic city resemble those in a medina

This systematic method of ethnic cleansing continued until 1609. It is estimated that this exodus led to the expulsion of half million people. From 1492 to 1609, it is estimated that a three million people have been expelled from Andalucia and an unknown number of people have been killed in Inquisitions and battles of 1499 and Rebellion of Alpujarras of 1568. As for the rebellion`s leader, Muhammad ibn Abouh, he was caught and his head was left hanging on one of Granada`s doors for 30 years.

Ronda continued to decline economically and politically until the 19th century. In the 19th century, the New Bridge was built which connected the old city of Ronda and the new Christian city, which were previously separated by a large valley. A new bullring was also built.

Today, Ronda is a popular tourist site. Some of the older Muslim sites still stand, including the Arab Public baths, Palace of the Arabian King, Arab Walls and City Gates, and St. Sebastian's Minaret. This last site, St. Sebastian`s Minaret, was formerly a small tower belonging to one of the mosques in Ronda and later was used as a bell tower for the church of St. Sebastian, which no longer exists. The foundations of the tower date back to the 14th century. It was declared a historical monument in 1931.

For further information on Ronda CLICK HERE

Story: Sandy McCutcheon  Photos: Suzanna Clarke

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Exploring Morocco's Tazekka National Park

The Tazekka National Park is one of the great parks in Morocco. It was created in 1950 with only 580 hectares of land in order to protect the many natural resources that could be found at Jbel Tazekka in the Middle Atlas mountain range. The park proved to be a successful venture and today it covers an area of approximately 12,800 hectares of land

The Tazekka National Park in Morocco was created with the main goal of protecting a grove of cedar trees (Cedrus atlantica) found in the Jbel Tazekka area. The park has since been extended on more than one occasion to include a variety of natural habitats. It now features forests of cork oak and holm oak, caves, canyons, rural landscapes, cascades and a mountain – Jbel Tazekka - which is some 1 980 meters high. The interesting variety of altitudes and resulting flora is home to a variety of wildlife and the national park has become a haven for bird watchers. The park was first extended in 1989 and now includes a central core zone of 2,500 hectares and a cork-oak production zone of 6,000 hectares. The original parcel of land is a tourist zone and features a number of excellent forests that make for particularly good nature hikes. There is information displayed about the length and difficulty of each hike.  For our report on the caves, see HERE

Located near the city of Taza in Morocco's Middle Atlas mountain range, Tazekka National Park has varied terrain offering habitats to a wide range of reptiles, amphibians, birds and mammals including the rare Barbary deer (Cervus elaphus barbarous). Also known as the Atlas deer, the Barbary deer was once extinct in Morocco, but was reintroduced into  Tazekka National Park through a Moroccan-German collaboration launched in 1994.

Barbary deer (Cervus elaphus barbarous)

Initially two males and six females were transported from Tunisia to Tazekka where they were allocated a reserve of 1.5 hectares. Unfortunately, two of the females died upon arrival, but the remaining animals appeared in good health and in 1995, ten Barbary deer were counted in the reserve. More recently up to seventy deer have been observed in an area of around five hundred hectares within the park.

A group of Barbary wild boar

The Barbary wild boar is another mammalian inhabitant of the National Park. It is best seen in the park's wooded areas where it spends early mornings and late afternoons foraging for food. While their preferred food appears to be roots, nuts, berries, tubers and other plant matter, Barbary wild boars are known to eat just about anything they find, including carrion, ground-nesting birds, insects and small reptiles. Females and their offspring of varying ages live in groups, while males are solitary and only seek out company during breeding season. Females are known to defend their young fearlessly by charging the intruder with a wide open mouth and biting if given the chance. Males respond to intruders by lowering their heads, charging and slashing upward with their tusks. As the wild ancestors of domestic pigs, wild boars have many species and subspecies in different parts of the world. Although they can be predatory, they serve an important role in the environment as scavengers and seed dispersers.

The common genet

Other mammals found in the park include the crested porcupine (Hystrix cristata), common otter (Lutra lutra), common genet (Genetta genetta), North African hedgehog (Atelerix algirus), golden jackal (Canis aureus) and the red fox (Vulpes vulpes).

A Golden Jackel

The fact that the area is protected by law has not put a damper on local citizens who have long used the region to raise their livestock and grow a variety of agricultural products. As a result the eastern slopes of Jbel Tazekka have been overgrazed. However, the local population fully supports conservation efforts and they work together with forest-conservation authorities to ensure the continued survival of this massive natural area.

North African hedgehog

Crested porcupine

Recent years have seen a drastic improvement in tourist facilities with the development of better roads, tourist circuits, picnic areas and even an ecological museum. This has resulted in great numbers of tourists visiting the Tazekka National Park. If you should wish to visit this park  please take care not to disturb the natural way of things to the greatest degree possible and so contribute to the continued survival of this incredible national park.

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Fez the Sacred - Photo exhibition in The Hague

Fez photographer Omar Chennafi has an exhibition opening in The Hague, Netherlands. Fez the Sacred features his insightful perspective of the spiritual in everyday life

To see a selection of Omar Chennafi's images CLICK HERE

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Accident on Casablanca to Fez Rail Line

News reaching The View from Fez confirms that an accident took place at 1.35pm on the Casablanca to Fez railway line. Early reports are unclear as to the cause but we can confirm there have been injuries and at least one fatality

At three pm the ONCF (the railway authority) issued the following statement :

"On August 27, 2014, to 1:35 p.m., train No. 125 Casa ensuring liaison - Fez has emergency stopped at the entrance of the station Zenatta following its derailment.

A device was immediately set up by the ONCF for taking care of passengers, all of which are free.
Humans and technical resources have also been mobilized to restore normal movement of trains and an investigation was opened to determine the causes of this incident. ONCF provides its apologize to customers for any inconvenience caused." - ONCF statement

The statement suggests that all the passengers were rescued, yet photographs and video on social media contradicts this. The French language magazine TelQuel tried to contact the ONCF but reports that they were "unable to do so".

The causes of the accident are not yet known, but according to a technician employed by ONCF and quoted by the news site Rue20, poor rails including bolts, "that were too loose" would be a probable cause of the derailment of the train.

UPDATES:
The latest information is that the cause of the derailment was a collision between the passenger train and a freight train carrying coal. Media sources say that one person is dead and that between 20 and 100 people may have been injured.

Later reports bring the injury toll down to between 15 and 20.

There was at least one fatality

We will update the information as it comes to hand.

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Understanding Morocco ~ Why is it so different from other Islamic states?

In an important article, Ahmed Charai of the Huffington Post tells the often overlooked story of Morocco’s progressive path to reform, facilitated by a unique political and social culture, that weathered the violent unrest that swept much of the Arab world

King Mohammed VI  - 15 years of wise leadership

Recently, on August 21, Moroccans celebrated the birthday of King Mohammed VI. The occasion comes at a time of glaring contrast between the North African kingdom's ongoing development and stability on the one hand, and the massive bloodshed wracking the Arab world on the other. In Morocco today, there is a revolutionary new constitution, fine-tuned to the aspirations of the population. Women are on the way to achieving their due status and rights. The Arab Muslim majority population celebrates the country's hybrid, Jewish minority and Berber heritage. Jihadist groups - even as they gain unprecedented power in Syria and Iraq and threaten Africans from Egypt to the Sahel - are hard pressed to harm the kingdom thanks to the vigilance of the Moroccan police.

Only three and a half years ago, the idea that Morocco would evolve differently than its Arab neighbors did not seem, to many observers, to be a foregone conclusion. High hopes had been placed on "Arab spring" states, then in the midst of overthrowing their rulers. International interest in Morocco was limited to the street demonstrations of the time - and speculation as to whether they would grow fiercer. But the real story of Morocco, harder for outsiders to perceive in 2011, lies in the reasons why the country bucked the revolutionary trend: King Mohammed VI had been working since the beginning of his reign to address young people's concerns before they had even voiced them. By the time the protests had begun, the country was well on its way to realizing freedoms and opportunities which Arabs across the region are still a generation away from attaining. The monarch built on the legacy of his late father, Hassan II, but also broke with it -- reconciling the kingdom's traditions with the 21st century, and tackling daunting social challenges which had gone largely unaddressed.

Moroccan women - standing up for their rights

The first major street protests under King Mohammed VI began a decade before the Arab spring, in March 2000. Back then, the main fault line of civil unrest was a conflict between modernizing forces and Islamist movements. The social democrats in parliament had been pressing for reforms in family law which would raise the legal age of marriage to 18 for girls, abolish polygamy, and establish equitable legal recourse for women in divorce court, including fair division of property. Islamists opposed all of the above. The king, in his capacity as "Commander of the Faithful" -- meaning, the highest ranking religious authority in the country -- stepped in to reconcile the feuding forces. He used his special status to pronounce new legal norms based on the Islamic principle of "Ijtihad" (independent reasoning). These norms became known as the "Mudawana" - a personal status code guaranteeing rights to the Moroccan family. Formalized in 2004, it has rescued underage Moroccan girls from a life of subjugation and divorced women from abject poverty.

The king also inherited a country that ranked near the bottom of countries surveyed in the United Nations Human Development Index. In May 2005, he declared that the war on poverty and disenfranchisement would be a principal driver of his policies. Nine years later, some 29,000 projects have been implemented for the benefit of the country's eight million most vulnerable citizens - from razing urban shantytowns to granting micro loans to female entrepreneurs. In the realm of health care, infant mortality has fallen off sharply. Sweeping educational reforms are in the works, as are anti-corruption measures geared toward strengthening governance, transparency, and the public trust.

Abedelilah Benkirane, head of the Islamist Party of Justice and Development

Whereas elsewhere in the region Arab states are struggling to grapple with the forces of political Islam, the Moroccan monarchy has found a way to engage Islamist moderates while containing extremist elements: The head of Morocco's Islamist Party of Justice and Development was empowered, through a constitutional process, to control much of the government, while at the same time proclaiming his allegiance and deference to the king. This may not have sat so well initially with some of the elites close to the royal family who have been vocal critics of political Islam for years. But over time, the wisdom of the king's approach to the PJD has been vindicated: The party's powerful role in government demonstrates the credibility of the new 2011 constitution, and grants Islamists who would like to serve their country a systemic framework in which to do so. Meanwhile, revolutionary Islamist and jihadist groups are weaker and more marginal than ever, and the king vests his own considerable religious authority in supporting the country's most tolerant forms of Islam, including its mystical Sufi traditions.

Morocco values and protects its Sufi culture (Photo: Suzanna Clarke)

The many transformations in state and society alike are steadied in Morocco by a flourishing civil society sector, which the king has also fostered. Over fifteen years, NGOs have vastly increased their scope of action and prominence in the public discussion, with as many as 60,000 private associations now active. Especially in rural areas, villages, and slums, these groups mitigate the shortcomings of the state in areas such as education, disenfranchisement, and public services. NGOs pursuing social justice work hand in hand with the government, and have been tapped by the kingdom as a prime mover in the war on poverty. Meanwhile, other groups aggressively pursue a variety of causes, ranging from human rights and gender equality to the struggle against corruption -- as well as ethnically-oriented causes, notably Berber cultural and civil rights. (Morocco is still the only country in North Africa where Berber languages are taught in schools.)

The future looks bright for Moroccan women (Photo: Suzanna Clarke)

Last week in his annual "Speech of the Anniversary " -  akin to a "State of the Union" address - King Mohammed VI noted that his population aspires "to reach the highest peaks, and catch up with the most advanced nations. This is not a pipe dream ... It can be a tangible reality, relying on the concrete steps which Morocco has taken on a path of democracy and development achievements." Fifteen years into the king's reign, Moroccans remain grateful to have wise leadership, and hopeful about their future.

About the author:

Ahmed Charai is on the Board of Directors of the Atlantic Council; Board of Trustees of the Center for Strategic and International Studies; Boards of Trustees of the Foreign Policy Research Institute and the National Interest.

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