Skype Blocking Tarnishes Maroc Web Awards

In another sign of the anger over Skype blocking, the Maroc Web Awards were thrown into chaos when participants withdrew in protest against Morocco’s telecom providers

The story on Morocco World News will cause further embarrassment for the telecom providers who have blocked VOIP calls without providing an alternative. To make matters worse, the providers are the contest's sponsors. Ironically, the Maroc Web Awards are considered the biggest competition involving the creative talent of youth in the MENA region. Its goal is to promote digital arts and creativity.

Writing for the prestigious news website, Youssef Igrouane, reports that amid the acute indignation over the bans on Skype, WhatsApp, Viber, and Facebook, most participants in the annual Maroc Web Awards (MWA) are withdrawing due to the suspension VoiP services.  The Telcos made the suspension effective on Friday.

The participants announced their withdrawal on Facebook, expressing their dismay towards the telecommunications triumvirate, which they say regard their consumers as “sheep.”.

Bilal Aljouhari, a Moroccan YouTuber who was a MWA nominee in the “Personality of the Year” category, announced his withdrawal on Facebook on Saturday. “I can’t participate in a competition that is sponsored by companies that does not care for its consumers, and because of the their decision to ban VoiP services. This is some sort of sick joke,” he said.

After Aljouhari, the withdrawals just kept coming. Marouane Lamharzi Alaoui, a Moroccan engineer, Carte.ma’s CEO, and nominee for the “Video of the Year,” also announced his withdrawal on Facebook. He was nominated for his epic video entitled “From Sahara to the Sky.”

Marouane Lamharzi Alaoui

Alaoui apologised to his voters and organisers for not proceeding with the competition.

The engineer also suggested launching a campaign to file a lawsuit against the regulator ANRT, stating that the ban of the VoiP services is “illegal.”

Social media users launched a campaign to express their anger at the decision to block VoiP services by disliking the official pages of the telecom companies on Facebook.

24 hours after the campaign was launched, the number of the telco's fans have been greatly reduced.

The number of Maroc Telecom’s fans decreased by 163, 674 likes, Inwi by 137,364 likes, and Meditel by 528,415 likes.

With the mounting backlash against the telcos, it will be interesting to see how they, or the regulator ANRT, react. Will they simply try and tough it out, or will they realise that this is a fight that does them no credit.

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Anger Grows Over Call Blocking in Morocco

This weekend saw Moroccan telcos extend the blocking of VOIP (Skype, Viber, WhatsApp) calls from phones to Wifi connections. The result was that around the world thousands of expat Moroccans were unable to contact their families back in Morocco

Moroccans living in Europe, America and Australasia were understandably angry and have been using social media to call for the government to quickly fix the problem and amend the laws effecting VOIP calls..

The anger spread to Moroccans throughout the Kingdom who were also unable to use Viber or Skype to talk to each other.

While the Telcos - Maroc Telecom, Meditel and Inwi - are indulging in blame shifting, saying the problem is the fault of the regulator, Morocco’s National Agency for Telecommunications Networks, for their part the regulator claims the choking of calls is “in accordance with the law, and that regulations governing the provision of telephone services (VoIP or other) are clear and those services can be provided only by holders of telecommunications licenses operators.”

 It seems to have escaped them that none of the Telcos at the heart of the mess offer any such service.

The situation is proving to be an embarrassment for Morocco, which in so many other areas is embracing new technology. However, this step backwards, fuelled by the desire for increased revenue by the telcos, is the thing that needs to be blocked - not Viber, Whatsapp and Skype.

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The Famous Fez Chouara Tannery Gets a Makeover

Probably the most visited site in the Fez Medina, the Chouara Tannery, is undergoing a transformation. With all the dye vats being rebuilt. Sue Bail, reports for The View From Fez

The 11th-century Chouara tannery still operates as it did a thousand years ago.  It is the place where cow, sheep, goat, and camel hides are brought to be preserved, dyed, and turned into the handbags, jackets, and wallets sold in the surrounding souks. However, at the moment the tannery resembles a construction site, with two large cranes and 240 builders working around the clock.

There had been speculation in the last few years that, because of environmental concerns, the tannery might be moved out of the Medina. The major concern was that of waste water pollution. However, as the present work includes adding a waste water system, it appears that the tannery will remain where it has been for the last 1000 years or so.

One of the alternative architectural visions for the tannery

The need for control of waste water is obvious as the process begins with the raw skins being soaked in a mixture of cow urine, pigeon faeces, quicklime, salt, and water. This loosens the hair from the hides and makes them softer. After a few days of steeping in this concoction, the skins are hauled out and hung from rails on the balconies to dry. Then comes the dyeing. Tannery workers plunge the skins into the coloured wells, leaving them there for a few more days to absorb each hue. The dyes all come from natural substances, such as indigo, henna, saffron, poppies, and pomegranates.

The tannery vats prior to the makeover

When the tannery will be operational again is not clear, but The View From Fez will report on progress.

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Morocco's Raw Deal With Netflix

When it comes to Netflix, not all countries are equal. According to research done by Exstreamist, vast disparities exist in the television and film streaming services offerings around the world, with Morocco at the very bottom of the heap

Morocco is the worst country in world for Netflix subscribers

Netflix in Morocco only offers 157 different TV shows and films compared to Netflix’s No. 1 country, the United States, which offers  5,750.

Considering Moroccan users pay $7.99 per month for Netflix’s basic service, the same amount American subscribers pay, Moroccans are definitely getting a worse deal.

Of course, this problem isn’t exactly Netflix’s fault. “Ridiculously complicated content ownership rights have made consistent distribution a logistical nightmare for Netflix, who would of course love to offer everyone around the world the same streaming library,” the report by Exstreamist said.

Although Morocco finishes dead last on the ranking, Iraq is the only country in the Arab world to even make it into the top 40, with 2,029 titles available. That’s still much less than half of the amount available in the United States.

Netflix may now be available in every country in the world – except for China, North Korea, Syria and Crimea due to U.S. government restrictions – but the service offered is definitely not created equal and as far as Morocco is concerned deserves a total thumbs-down.

In Fez, nobody seems particularly perturbed . As, Lahcen, a film-buff ,says,"Netflix? Why bother? You can download most things for free anyway."

Top 10 ranking for the Arab world
Iraq (2,029 titles)
Lebanon, Kuwait and Bahrain (1,768)
Yemen (1,767)
United Arab Emirates (1,764)
Qatar (1,647)
Libya (1,443)
Tunisia (1,408)
Oman (1,360)
Jordan (597)
Egypt (594)

You can view the full report along with the complete global ranking on Extstreamist’s website.

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French Tourist Numbers are Down in Morocco

Tourism in Morocco continues to be affected by association with other Maghreb countries such as Tunisia, Algeria and Egypt, which have seen terror attacks. French tourists are still reluctant to go to Morocco, as is shown by the latest travel survey of travel for January,  released by the National Union of Travel Agencies (SNAV).

The numbers do not bode well for tourism in Morocco. Reservations of French visitors to the Kingdom suffered a 17% drop in during January according to French tour operators. French tourists favour medium-haul destinations such as Portugal (+ 20%) , Spain (+ 16%) and Italy (+ 7%).

Morocco recorded a 35% decrease in the number of French tourists actually arriving in Morocco compared to January 2015 and that of 2016. Tunisia, which recorded a drop of 50% arrivals. Morocco continues to be victim of the amalgam with the Maghreb countries like Tunisia which saw the attacks. Recently, it was a suicide car bomb targeted a convoy of the presidential guard in the centre of Tunis.

Destinations such as Cape Verde (+ 52%), Portugal (+ 15%) and Spain (+ 4%), are considered safer. On the other hand, French tourists are turning to long haul destinations in North and South America and Asia. Cuba is a winner (+ 59%), China (+ 48%) and India (+ 34%).

Faced with this situation, Morocco has undertaken a set of security measures to protect crowded places and hotels. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Tourism has undertaken a major campaign to "sell" Morocco as a destination in the international fairs of the sector. Lahcen Haddad has been a major force in the efforts in the countries of Eastern Europe but also on traditional tourist source markets.

Morocco : Cold Weather Alert

Morocco Weather Alert: Cold weather and rain from Friday night

A Moroccan village under snow

From Friday to Saturday a low pressure system will approach the Morocco, generating westerly winds and bringing cold, moist air from the Atlantic.

The announcement was made Thursday by the National Directorate of Meteorology, which warned citizens to "be vigilant".

The Kingdom can expect moderate rainfall from Friday night until Monday and the north, centre and east of the Morocco may experience severe thundershowers over the regions of the Middle Atlas and the north of the High Atlas and the plains.

The Met office says "significant" snowfalls are expected in the High and Middle Atlas, the Rif and the highlands.

Moderate to strong winds and dropping temperatures in the interior regions of the country and the Atlas are forecast. Maritime conditions will deteriorate with the Atlantic coast and Mediterranean waves reaching  4 to 5 meters.The situation will start to improve from Tuesday.

As residents of Fez area told The View From Fez, "Any rain is welcome."

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32% of the Moroccan population is still illiterate

The Head of Government, Abdelilah Benkirane, has called for raising the level of institutional coordination and joint action in order to succeed in the fight against illiteracy

Chairing the Board of Directors of the National Agency Against Illiteracy,  in Rabat, he noted that the illiteracy rate remains high in Morocco, affecting about 32% of the total population.

"Illiteracy is an obstacle that hinders the economic growth of our country and prevents us from taking advantage of real opportunities that can improve the indices of this growth. The scale of the problem goes beyond simple economic calculations to touch the development of intellectual capital based on the building rights, enabling target groups to benefit from their constitutional right of access to an education that guarantees social inclusion and a dignified life" - Abdelilah Benkirane

The number of beneficiaries of the struggle against illiteracy programs during 2014-2015 reached 747,000 people, an increase of 20% compared to the previous year.

The ongoing project aims to reduce average illiteracy to less than 5% by 2024, by eradicating illiteracy among young people aged 15 to 24 years and by improving the skills of the illiterate or semi-illiterate workforce.


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Free Concert in Fez Medina

A History of Popular Music in England & America. Gary Ward, Jimi Whyte & Tom Vernon in Concert

Starting pre-20th century, folk songs were regularly sung all over the US and UK. These songs were adapted in many ways to fit the music of other genres emerging around the turn of the 20th Century: Jazz, Blues, Gospel, the orchestras of the 20s-40s leading into Rhythm & Blues, Rock and Roll.

This was followed by the mass explosion of new musical genres which emerged in the 1960s right through to the current day.

The show will explore each musical genre through the decades using electric guitar, electric bass, and drums.

This concert, organised by the ALC-ALIF Music Club, is free and open to the public.

Friday, February 26 at 7 PM
ALIF Riad, 6 Derb Drissi, Batha
Contact: Hamza El Fasiki - 06 49 89 41 97

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5th Marrakech International Airshow to Promote Morocco's Aerospace Industry

Morocco will hold 5th International Air Show from the 27th to 30th of April 2016, under the patronage of King Mohammed VI, at the base of the School of the Royal Air Forces in Marrakech

More than 150 exhibitors, 50 delegations and 30,000 visitors are expected. With big names in the industry taking part:, Air Tractor, Alenia, Beechcraft, Bell Helicopter, Boeing, Catic, Cessna, Dassault, Diamond Aircrafts, Embraer, Finmeccanica, Gulfstream, Harris Corp, Lockheed Martin, MBDA, Pratt & Whitney, Trescal and others.

The meeting will examine the development of Morocco's aircraft manufacturing sector to ensure employment opportunities for young professionals. Job opportunities have increased after the arrival of large international groups in Morocco, such as Stelia (a subsidiary of Airbus), Bombardier, Boeing, Safran Group, United Technologies and others.

Morocco has been working consolidated its position as an international hub in this sector which is currently experiencing sustained growth. Today, Morocco's airports handle almost 18 million passengers a year, and some 45 airlines provide dozens of links to the world.


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Free French Movie in Fez

The Minister (French: L'Exercice de l'État)

Director: Pierre Schoeller
Year: 2011 / Duration: 1h55min / Genre: Comedy, Drama/ Language French

Cast: Olivier Gourmet, Michel Blanc, Zabou Breitman, Sylvain Deblé, Didier and Laurent Stocker Bezace

The Minister is a 2011 French-Belgian drama film directed by Pierre Schöller

Transport Minister Bertrand Saint-Jean is awoken in the middle of the night by his head of staff. A bus has gone off the road into a gully. He has no choice but to go to the scene of the accident. Thus begins the odyssey of a politician in a world that is increasingly more complex and hostile. Speed, power struggles, chaos, economic crisis... Everything follows in quick succession and clashes. Emergencies follow on each other's heels. What sacrifices are men prepared to make? Just how long will they hold up in a state that devours those that work for it?

Schoeller won three Césars 2012 with this virtuoso movie: Best Screenplay, Best Sound and Best Supporting Actor for Michel Blanc.

Movie times: Wednesday, February 24, 19h, Cinema Boujloud
Thursday, February 25, 19h, Cultural Complex Al Houria

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Megumi Matsubara at the Marrakech Biennale

Our Arts Editor's pick performance at the Marrakech Biennale

Toi, un coquelicot — Un coquelicot, moi aussi

Performance by Megumi Matsubara & Marine Chesnais

Sound by Clovis Lemée

Toi, un coquelicot—
Un coquelicot, moi aussi.

A coquelicot, you are—
A coquelicot, me too.

When will our bodies coincide?
A vanishing point will be explored. ​

Two performers ​will be present for one another i​n ​the peculiar​ environment of Palais El Badii's underground cave​.

"Toi, un coquelicot - Un coquelicot, moi aussi." (performance, 2016) is fabricated upon Megumi Matsubara's installation of ​"A proposal for a textbook to learn Braille, English, and other languages" (bronze, 2012-2015)​, "La Japonaise" (scent​​, 2015)​​ and "Undress" (text, 2015).

The performance which will have been once presented will leave a series of afterimages unfolding the works' varied states within the space.

The installation will remain on view through the closing of the biennale, 8th May 2016.

"The peculiar​ environment of Palais El Badii's underground cave​"

Details:
Palais El Badii - Cave
25th, 26th, 27th Feb - 16:00 / 17:30 twice each day

*Late arrival will not be accepted.
*Each performance will start on time and its duration is 20 minutes.
*Limited capacity of 20 persons maximum for each performance during 25th-27th.
*Photo/Video documentation is strictly prohibited.

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Marrakech Biennale 2016 Programme

The curatorial concept of this year’s biennial starts the premise of the designated title for the Biennale: Not New Now. It aims to provide for an intellectual framework that unites multiple arenas of art and cultures by looking at it from the particular location and history of the city of Marrakech. It builds on a longstanding history of Pan Afro-Arab unity, through critically investigating socio political projects, cultural partnerships, and art movements that have led to many shared artistic tendencies.

OPENING WEEK PROGRAM

24 - 28 February, 2016
Main Program
* Partner and Parallel Programs
Wednesday 24 February
15:00-18:00 Opening Ceremony - Palais El Bahia
16:30 Main Exhibition Tour at Palais El Bahia with curator Reem Fadda and assistant curator Ilaria Conti
18:00-19:00 “3600” Performance by Radouan Mriziga – Palais El Badii
19:00 Vernissage exhibition by Larbi Cherkaoui – Dar Cherifa *
Thursday 25 February
11:00 “NOT NEW NOW” - Curatorial Talk with Reem Fadda - La Mamounia
13:00-16:00 “The Book of Exile” Performance by Sandi Hilal & Alessandro Petti – Citernes de la Koutoubia
13:00-17:00 “Victoria Dearest” Performance by Rayyane Tabet – Pavillon de la Menara
16:00-17:30 Vernissage – Parallel Projects – L’Blassa *
16:00 Main Exhibition Tour - Dar Si Saïd
16:00 Street Art Sunset Party - Attollo - Café des Epices *
16:00-16:20 and 17:30-17:50 “Toi, un coquelicot - Un coquelicot, moi aussi” Performance by Megumi Matsubara and Marine Chesnais (music by Clovis Lemée) - Palais El Badii
16:00-17:00 “Inside Ahmed Bouanani’s Library” Improvised Talk by Juan Asís Palao Gómez - Palais El Bahia
17:00 Vernissage KE’CH collective – KE’CH swap2016 – Riad Laarouss *
18:00 “Le Départ…” - Performance by Chourouk Hriech – Dar Cherifa *
18:00-19:00 “3600” - Performance by Radouan Mriziga – Palais El Badii
18:00 Opening group exhibition “Global Wonderland” - Jnane Tamsna *

EXPOSITION VENUES

1- Bank Al Maghreb* 
2- L’Blassa* 
3- Dar Cherifa 
4- ESAV 
5-Medersa Ben Youssef 

*Open from 10am-6pm every day; February 24-28 open from 10am-8pm

EXPOSITION/VIDEO INSTALLATION

Amine Oulmakki – Morocco
Oxygène – Video installation
With the support of The French Institute of Marrakech
L'Blassa

Baerbel Mueller, Juergen Strohmayer, Stefanie Theuretzbacher – Austria
Tracing the Periphery – Installation and interventions in the public space
Vernissage April 24
L’Blassa

Ben Rivers – England
The earth trembles and the sky afraid and two eyes are not brothers – Film and installation
L’Blassa

Céline Croze – Maroc/ France
Mourakouch (La terre de dieux)– Video and live performance
L’Blassa
Performance February 29 at 6pm

Emma Brack – Canada
Catching the Wind: on extinction and radical resistance – Video installation
With the support of the Canada Council for the Arts
L’Blassa

Emo de Medeiros – Benin
Kaleta/Kaleta – Video and performance
L’Blassa

Estabrak Al-Ansari – Oman
Tales of the Mother Tongue – Video and performance
March 4 from 5:00-5:30pm
Dar Cherifa

Fana Wogi – Ethiopia
Group Exhibition
Emanuel Tegene, Aida Muluneh, Wendimagne Gashaw, Tamrat Gezahegne, Ephrem Solomon
L'Blassa

Heba Y. Amin – Egypt
The Earth is an Imperfect Ellipsoid – Photography
L’Blassa

Houda Ghorbel and Wadi Mhiri – Tunisia
Comme un flamand rose – Video installation
L'Blassa

Marco Guerra – United States
Tangiers – Photography
L’Blassa

Mouna Jemal Siala – Tunisia
Le fils – Video
L’Blassa

Nadia Mounier – Egypt
The reflection of the moon – Photography
L’Blassa

Nadine Hattom – Iraq/Australia
Shadows – Photography
With the support of the Ifa Galerie Berlin 
L’Blassa

Patrick Morarescu – Germany
Performers & Performing Grounds – Video and performance
L'Blassa

Saddie Choua – Belgium
The Chouas – A Work IN Progress#Episode 3 Je jure par Dieu Tout-Puissant, je dis que la vérité et rien que la vérité – Video
L'Blassa 
Intervention March 3 at 6pm at ESAV

Sara Frikech and Lucas Ter Hall – The Netherlands
Follow the Thread – Installation
L’Blassa

Yasmina Alaoui – Morocco/France
Sans-titres – Painting and sculpture
L’Blassa

Younes Atbane – Morocco
Looking at the World Through Legs – Photography
L’Blassa

PERFORMANCES

Chourouk Hriech – France/Morocco
Le depart... – Live performance
February 25 at 6:00pm at Dar Cherifa
February 25 at 12:30pm at ESAV 

Mohamed Abdelkarim – Egypt
Christopher Columbus meets Diego Diaz and Ahmed’s Revenge – Performance
May 4 and 6
Medersa Ben Youssef

ARTS IN THE PUBLIC SPACE

Anahita Razmi – Germany
HERESCRIPTS – Cinema
With the support of the Goethe-Insitut Morocco 
Website and L’Blassa

Allard Van Hoorn – The Netherlands
Urban Songlines Marrakech – Performance
February 26, 27 and 28 from 3:00-5:00pm
Ramparts of Marrakech – Bab Nkob

Blond & Gilles – Switzerland
Carte blanche – Interventions in the public space
L’Blassa

Zbel Manifesto – Morocco
Bab(z)bel – Installation in the public space
L’Blassa

The Parallel Exposition is commissioned by the artistic committee of the MB6, designed by M’Barek Bouhchichi, and coordinated by Sanaa El Younsi.

Biennale Website

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Marrakech Gets A Much Needed Toilet Break!

The two most frequent complaints by visitors to the Marrakech Medina are "too many motorbikes and too few toilets". Though nobody disputes the danger and pollution caused by motorbikes, there appears to be no political will to ban them anytime soon. Toilets, however, are another story...

The very few public toilets of Marrakech are described by both locals and tourists as disgusting and the lack of toilets near tourist sites is a real headache for tour operators

"Although there are public amenities in the red city, they are in a filthy state and unusable" - L'Economiste

Public toilets in Marrakech "filthy and unusable"

Now, at last, the toilet situation may be about to change.

The news came with a headline one might not expect to see - but is nevertheless welcome: 8,5 millions de DH pour des pauses pipi - (8.5 million DH for pee breaks).

According to a story in L'Economiste, the most frequented tourists locations have been identified and the Marrakech Council will commence the project of public toilets with the rehabilitation of 60 latrines.

Additionally, the private sector is involved in the construction of seventeen toilets through the enterprise of a Moroccan resident in the Netherlands. Mustapha Chraou has been inspired by a concept that has been a hit in Europe - Darlodo (which literally means hygiene house) - a health shop and toilet complex.

Apart from pay toilets at a price of 5 DH, each site includes space for ablutions and a sales counter for hygiene products.

"In Marrakech, Darlodo's mission will be to improve and standardise the level of the health service with standards that meet health and the environment requirements," says Mustafa Chraou.

With an investment of 8.5 million DH, the company is committed to the creation of seventeen shops each of which will employ a dozen people. The first to open will be in places most visited by tourists, squares, gardens and boulevards. Two prototypes are being built: the first is located at the Place Moulay El Yazid and the second at the Koutoubia Esplanade.

Female toilets

Male toilets

Last Tuesday(February 23) Darlodo opened its first store at Moulay El Yazid. The ceremony was attended by the Minister of Tourism, Lahcen Haddad and the Wali of Marrakech Mohamed Moufakkir.

The toilet project will also be a new resource to improve the revenue of the city. But this is not the first concern of those responsible. "What interests us most is to make this service available and manage it effectively by professionals," says an adviser.

For Chraou, the experience of Marrakech is a first step in this project he hopes to expand to other cities in Morocco. In the medium term, Darlodo wants to establish 150 sites throughout Morocco by 2020.

The installation of public toilets at tourist sites is one of the main projects of the charter tourist cities, presented in December 2015 by the Ministry of Tourism. And because, according to a survey of 10,000 tourists prepared by the international consulting firm TNS Sofres on behalf of the Tourism Observatory, the lack of toilets in public places, even in the most important tourist sites, is a major cause of dissatisfaction for tourists visiting Morocco.

Things are not so advanced for those in Casablanca, where mobile toilets will soon be installed to address the lack of public facilities. An agreement was recently signed between the district of Sidi Belyout and a company working in the field. The city plans for the redevelopment of fourteen public toilets, including seven in the town of Sidi Belyout.

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Moroccan "Maestro" Dies at 100

Moha Oulhoucine Achibane, whom everyone called "The Maestro", died on Friday February 19th at the age of 100 years. Born 1916 in Azrou Ait Lahcen in the Province of Khénifra, he took part in the resistance against the French before turning to the music which brought him international acclaim 

In the early 1950s, he began an artistic journey that made him the undisputed master of the ahidouss, a traditional dance performed by the Amazigh (Berber) tribes of the Middle Atlas and High Atlas. His musical career took him to the four corners of the world as a worthy representative of Moroccan Amazigh culture. Among his fans was the late US President Ronald Reagan, who was responsible for giving Moha his nickname "The Maestro".

He was also nicknamed "the Eagle", after the smooth and agile movements of the ahidouss dance.

During his career Moha Oulhoucine Achibane attended more than 150 meetings and festivals in Morocco and around the world (Africa, Europe, USA), including the Popular Arts Festival of Marrakech and Fes Festival of World Sacred Music.

In 1982, he was the Moroccan who lit the torch of the World Cup in Spain.

Moha Oulhoucine Achiban suffered from ill-health in his last years, first with heart surgery in 2003 and then, nine years later, with a heart attack in 2012.

His death was announced by the president of the Association of Amazigh Poets, Khalid Zouani, who praised Moha for his more than 60 year career as a singer, dancer and orchestra leader.


Editor's Note: Some news sources are saying that Moha was aged 113 - but being born in 1916 that is hard to understand

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Four Seasons Casablanca Hits a Snag

The recently opened Four Seasons Hotel in Casablanca has run into a slight hitch. While its website advertises its "three Casablanca restaurants and bars with ocean views", the "chic" bars are running a little dry. as in a major "oops" moment, they failed to obtain a liquor licence.

The authorisation has been delayed due to the hotel’s location, which directly faces the Al Saud Mosque on the Casablanca Corniche.

"Refrigerated personal bar"?

The five-star hotel chain is at risk for not being granted a liquor license due to the terms of a very old royal decree dating back to July 17th 1967, which restricts the sale and consumption of liquor in establishments that are located near holy sites, places of worship, cemeteries, military buildings, and hospitals.

"The Bleu bar boasts a chic atmosphere for cocktails. Our sleek bar is the perfect place to enjoy the finest local oysters"

According to a report on the website Medias24, denial of a liquor license could cause serious losses for the hotel chain, which has invested one billion dirhams in building the hotel and expects to make 260 million dirhams in business during its first year.

The hotel administration are reluctant to comment on the status of the liquor license. “We do not know anything about it and the procedures for obtaining a license are under study,” a hotel official said.

Under Moroccan law there are two categories of venues with separate legal ramifications. The first category considers the sale of alcohol as the main activity, as in bars, for example. The second category, which would appear to apply in the Four Seasons' case, considers alcohol as a complementary service, as is the case of hotels.

If the venue in question falls within the second category, local authorities form a committee to study the distance between alcohol vendors in the area. According to Moroccan laws, there should be at least 300 meters of distance between alcohol vendors, but exceptions may be granted in the cases of hotels and restaurants.

Local authorities are ducking away from the case with the Governor of Casa Anfa, Najib Gourani, and the Wilaya declining to comment.

Alcohol is a divisive issue in Morocco, with many scholars pointing out that the Holy Quran does not explicitly forbid consumption of alcohol, but forbids "intoxication".  More conservative scholars beg to differ. But, as the Four Seasons Group is 50% owned by Saudi interests, and the mosque in question was built with Saudi money, it is expected the issue will eventually be sorted out in favour of the hotel.

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