The Strange Case of a Moroccan Kiss That Went Global

There is an old Moroccan saying that translates as "if you come to Morocco, prepare to be amazed". It's true, and even if you live here there are times when amazement turns to incredulity. Take events in Nador during the last week, where a simple kiss ignited a storm. (See update at foot of story) 

It all started when a photograph of two teenagers kissing ended up on Facebook. A local newspaper then printed the photograph and someone lodged a complaint with the police which resulted in an investigation.

Then, in a surprise move, the two teenagers and their friend who took the photograph were arrested.

"It involves a teenage boy and his girlfriend. They were arrested on Thursday for violating public decency by posting a photo of them kissing," said Chakib al-Khayari, president of the Rif Association of Human Rights. The young couple are being held in the juvenile detention centre in Nador. The couple and the photographer are due to appear before a juvenile court next week.

A sit in is taking place outside the detention centre in support of the young people. Their arrest, for violating public decency, has caused such a stir among young people that other couples have begun posting similar photos on their Facebook pages. And on Twitter a campaign has started using the hashtag #FreeBoussa. The Facebook page supporting the cause of their freedom has more than seven thousand likes in the last few hours

In Nador, the issue rapidly gained momentum when preachers in several mosques urged parents to keep a closer eye on their children to prevent a repetition.

For Ibtissame Lachgar, co-founder of the Alternative Movement for Individual Liberties (MALI), the incident was an outrage so she went online and posted a photograph of herself kissing a male fellow activist. Lachgar then launched a campaign to post one million copycat photos online in support of the teenagers.

Comments on the case on Facebook and Twitter show how the arrest has touched a public nerve. Some respondents decry the police's response, urging them to focus on more serious crimes, while others accuse society of hypocrisy for castigating a young couple for copying what they see on TV. A few blame the couple's parents for failing to teach them well.

Unfortunately for Morocco's reputation as an open and forward thinking society, news of the kiss went global with reports on major media services including the BBC and Sky News.

After the scandal went viral, Mr. Mustapha Ramid, the Minister of Justice, in a filmed interview, said that he was made aware of the event on his way to the radio headquarters, when a media site called him to gauge his opinion regarding the issue.

Mr. Ramid confirmed that he is confident that the court in Nador will take proper procedures concerning the teenagers in question.

A video tracking the events of the arrest is underway and in it, Omar Belafrege, President of the Movement of Clarity Ambition and Courage, questioned how a simple kiss could have created such a problem for Moroccan society.

“If a kiss between two teenagers created a problem to the society, the problem, then, is not with the kids, but rather with that society,” - Omar Belafrege

In the same video, Chakib al-Khayari, president of the Rif Association of Human Rights said, “the lawsuit filed against the teenagers is, we believe, invalid because it doesn’t represent a crime.”

Most of students interviewed in the video expressed their solidarity with their peers, saying that the arrest is an extremely harsh punishment.

The Paris "Kiss-in" in support of the Nador teenagers

In Paris, France, a "Kiss-in" was organised on Saturday in solidarity with the two students and their photographer. On Facebook a call has been launched  for a giant kiss-in on Wednesday Oct.9 at the Green Park in the city of Mohammedia, and on Saturday Oct. 12 in Rabat.

UPDATE:  According to a report carried in the Moroccan Arabic language media, a judge has ordered the release of the teenagers involved in the "Facebook Kiss" incident. 

The mother of the young girl involved was pleased that her daughter's freedom had been to restored. However, it appears she has had quite enough of the city of Nador. "I will move to the city of Fez with my daughter, I am grateful for all peace activists from all over the world, and I thank all those who helped in the return of the children to their parents."

It is worth mentioning that the juvenile judge's decision came following a huge wave of resentment from within Morocco and around the world that demonstrated what sensible people thought about the possibility of a minor going to prison on charges of "kissing."

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Drug and Smuggling Crackdown in Morocco

The first two months of 2013 have been a busy and successful time for police in Morocco. During that time a large number of arrests have been made particularly for incidents of smuggling and drug trafficking

In the latest incident in Casablanca police at Mohamed V airport arrested a Brazilian man attempting to fly to Europe with 90 capsules of cocaine in his stomach, a total more than one kilo. Security guards became suspicious when the 35 year old man became increasingly nervous going through security. An ultrasound was performed to confirm the presence of the ingested packages. According to initial statements by the arrested man, the capsules were ingested in São Paulo and he intended to take them to Europe. In October, a Nigerian died at the Casablanca airport after the collapse of 76 capsules which he concealed in his stomach.

The police prefecture of Oujda this week seized more than three tons of gasoline during a smuggling control operation. They also impounded three light vehicles, trucks and buses. During the operation 290 people were also arrested. An international network of drug trafficking, which operated using zodiac inflatable boats, was also dismantled during the same period and several people wanted by the judicial police were arrested in Nador. The police reported the seizure of large sums of money.

It has been a productive time for the police prefecture of Oujda who announced they had arrested 4,560 people during the first two months of 2013. Those detained are suspected of being involved in various crimes and misdemeanors. Among those arrested in 1210 were sought at the national level.

These operations have resulted in the seizure of more than 235 kg of marijuana, 24 kg of hashish, 77 grams of cocaine, 56 grams of heroin, 4,160 packets of contraband cigarettes and 1150 and psychotropic pills.

The 2012 report of the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) confirmed the major role of Morocco in the export of cannabis, especially to Europe, its biggest market.

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26 Die in Two Morocco Bus Crashes

According to official reports at least 26 people were killed and 40 others injured in two separate bus accidents in Morocco on Monday. Ten people died and 33 others were injured, five of them critically, when a passenger bus crashed near the northern city of Nador. The accident took place on Monday afternoon near Nador. The accident took place when the bus travelling between Rabat and Nador overturned because it was going too fast, according to a police source.

Essaouira Bus Accident

17 Dead in Essaouira Bus Accident

A tragic bus accident near Essaouira has left seventeen people dead including two tourists; one from the Netherlands and one from Germany. Earlier reports had put the death toll at sixteen. According to the latest information there are twelve people injured.

The accident occurred on Monday when the bus was travelling between Essaouira and Agadir. The accident occurred around 6 pm when the coach overturned on the lower side of the RN n1 at the urban commune of Tamanar (Essaouira province).

The wounded were evacuated to the provincial hospital in Essaouira Sidi Mohamed Benabdallah.

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Ryanair v Morocco - So Far a Scoreless Draw

There is no doubt that there is a tough game of bluff being played between Morocco and Ryanair. However, as The View from Fez suggested (see story here) , the ambit claims are simply opening moves in a longer tussle. Ryanair's cuts, of 34 weekly services from October, represent about 15% of its seats – less dramatic than it would like the public and ONDA (the Moroccan Office National Des Aéroports) to believe – and still leaving it #2 after Royal Air Maroc. Ryanair disputes the imposition of a new monopoly handling company claiming it will mean “a massive increase in charges.” The airline has had a combative relationship with many European airport authorities in recent years and has not hesitated to reduce services when faced with higher costs.

There is no doubt that, for a number of reasons, airline growth in Morocco has stalled and that now is probably the wrong time for ONDA to be trying to stare-down Ryanair. 

After a phenomenal period of growth that saw passenger numbers Morroccan airports double from 7.7 million in 2004 to 15.4 million in 2010, last year saw passenger traffic grew just 2%. The rapid growth can be almost completely explained by Morocco’s decision to sign an ‘open-skies’ agreement with the EU in December 2005, opening the way for Europe’s route hungry low-cost carriers to explore a new, tourist-friendly region only just a little bit further away than the south Spain resorts.

Closer analysis of the figures for 2012 provided by ONDA shows that the French market is down only 4%, but that demand from the rest of Europe has dropped 12%. Curiously the domestic Moroccan market itself is down just under 10%.

Passenger numbers at the country’s three biggest airports (Casablanca, Marrakech and Agadir) remained almost unchanged in 2011 with growth coming from Nador (+29%), Tangier (+11%) and Oujda (+10%). As a result Nador has leapfrogged Oujda to be the country’s sixth busiest airport. Casablanca handled 7.3 million passengers in 2011.

Ryanair Still #2 in Morocco

Morocco’s national carrier Royal Air Maroc still accounts for almost half of all scheduled seat capacity at the country’s airports, although its share has fallen slightly compared with last summer. Second-ranked Ryanair recently announced that it plans to axe 34 weekly services from 1 October, representing around 15% of its Moroccan summer seat capacity, including all flights at Oujda. However, this will still leave it as the second biggest carrier in the Moroccan market.

A significant development has been the decision by local TUI subsidiary, jet4you, to become part of Belgian TUI subsidiary Jetairfly. This explains the big jump in Jetairfly’s market share since last summer.

The Moroccan low-cost airline Jet4you, was started in 2005, but "since its inception, the Moroccan airline ran at an annual loss," says Hans Vanhaelemeesch, a spokesman for Jetairfly.

Due to its small size Jet4you was hit hard by the economic crisis. This strategic merger will involve staff, flights, and planes as well as costing 39 Moroccan jobs with another 259 at risk. Jetairfly carried 2.2 million travellers in 2011. In 2012, its fleet will comprise 20 aircraft, mostly new generation Boeing 737s. The close collaboration between the two companies will enhance their position as well as create an opportunity to strive for further growth.

Air France has almost doubled its market share thanks to the launch of services to Casablanca and Marrakech from its new regional bases in Marseille and Toulouse. Another carrier to significantly increase its market share in Morocco since last year is British Airways, which has taken over bmi’s Agadir, Casablanca and Marrakech services, although the Marrakech service does not operate in winter.

Emirates is now ranked inside the top 12 and has gained market share by replacing its daily A340-500 service with the larger 777-300ER. Qatar Airways and Etihad also serve Casablanca from their hubs in the Middle East.

New routes this summer from five Moroccan airports

Compared with last summer there have been rather fewer new airline services starting this summer but Air France, germanwings (which has not previously served Morocco), and Ryanair, have each launched three new services.

Airport	Destination (Airline, start date, weekly frequency)
Casablanca	Cologne/Bonn (germanwings, 6 June, 1) Malaga (Hellitt Lineas Aereas, 4 May, 4) Toulouse (Air France, 2 April, 3)
Marrakech	Marseille (Air France, 25 March, 3) Toulouse (Air France, 1 April, 2)
Nador	Cologne/Bonn (germanwings, 30 March, 1-2) Frankfurt Hahn (Ryanair, 27 March, 2) Girona (Ryanair, 25 March, 2)
Oujda	Madrid (Air Europa, 24 July, 1) Marseille (Ryanair, 27 March, 2)
Tangier	Cologne/Bonn (germanwings, 7 June, 1)

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Maroc Challenge - A Cheap and Cheerful Rally

Driving across the sand dunes or wandering remote mountain passages of Morocco as part of a rally usually means having deep pockets or a friendly, sports-minded bank manager, but the Maroc Challenge bills itself as the ‘Low-cost Rally’, giving almost anyone the chance to take part in a fund-raising adventure to support women and children in remote areas.

This Sunday forty-four vehicles will set off from Javea, on Spain’s Costa Blanca, and Lisbon in Portugal. They will rendezvous at Almeria on the southern coast of Spain to begin a 2,000 kilometre adventure through the wilds of Morocco. Billed as being a ‘unique raid which aims to provide a low cost alternative for those who wish to experience an extraordinary event that incorporates both sporting and humanitarian spirit,’ unlike the souped-up and shiny cars you normally see undertaking this sort of ride, the first and foremost rule of Maroc Challenge is that every vehicle must be registered before 1st December, 1995. The organisers suggest that you really wouldn’t want to pay more than about 300€ for a car, assuming, of course, that you haven’t got an old scrapper lying around somewhere that only needs some air in the tyres and a change of engine oil.

Brian Hampshire and Rob Hull will be sharing a Nissan Patrol loaned to them by a friend. Hull is an English builder living in the Costa Blanca, and has only been to Morocco on holiday a couple of times; Hampshire is a painter and decorator and has never been to Morocco at all. Neither knows a thing about car mechanics, and as Hampshire says, “If we break down Rob can build a garage and I can paint it, but we have absolutely no idea how to put the car right.”

The whole event is slightly tongue-in-cheek, with no rushing for first place or being at the head of the race, but it does have a serious intent – to deliver clothing, school supplies and toys to remote schools and villages.

Hampshire and Hull, (who’s joint names sound like a comedy act) said that every cent raised through events and donations would go to buying materials, and have had such support from local people and businesses that they had to take a full car load to the depot in Javea before they fill up their car a second time with toys that will be distributed along their way. Children’s shoes supplied by a local manufacturer; chalk and chalk boards, note books, pens, rulers, pencils, pencil sharpeners, colouring books and felt pens, skipping ropes, etch-a-sketch pads and musical recorders bought at an enormous discount from a local shop – they even have a sack-full of deflated footballs to blow up and hand out along the way.

This year’s rout takes the cars from Nador, through Missour, Erg-Chebbi, Ouarzazate and Agadir to end in Essaouira.

More information HERE


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German Wings Over Morocco

Germanwings, a wholly owned Lufthansa subsidiary, is set to fly into Morocco on a regular basis. The Germanwings routes announced for the coming 2012 Summer Flight Schedule feature the Moroccan destination of Nador. 

Demand for flights is such that the airline is starting flights to Nador six weeks earlier than the actual planned launch date for the new route. 

Germanwings originally announced that Nador in the north-east of the country, would be included in the route network from 25 May. Now the first flight has been brought forward to 30 March.

This summer, Germanwings will initially fly to Nador every Friday, then from 25 May, every Tuesday and Friday. Using connecting flights, the routes Berlin – Nador (from 30 March 2012), Munich – Nador (from 30 May) London-Heathrow – Nador (from 30 March), Dresden-Nador (from 30 March) and Leipzig – Nador (from 30 May) can also be booked at germanwings.com.

However, be aware that all of these flights are operated via Cologne/Bonn with optimised transfer times.

The city of Nador is very popular with Moroccans as a holiday destination. The Mar Chica Lagoon (pictured above) with Nador on its western bank and both the Djebel Sebt and Djebel Tazoud volcanoes are particularly breathtaking beauty spots.

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Air Arabia links France and Morocco

Beginning at the end of March this year, Air Arabia will fly between Montpellier in southern France and the cities of Nador, Tangier, Oujda, Fez and Casablanca.

There will be a total of eight flights per week. Montpellier is Air Arabia Maroc’s third destination in the country after Paris and Lyon. Flights between Montpellier and Casablanca originally started on March 28, 2010.

Air Arabia Maroc flights will operate four times per week between Montpellier and Air Arabia Maroc’s hub in Mohamed V International Airport, Casablanca. The LCC (low-cost carrier) will also operate one weekly flight between Montpellier and the cities of Nador, Oujda, Fez and Tangier. Flights details will soon be available on www.airarabia.com.

The Middle East's first low-cost carrier, Air Arabia was established in 2003 by the Ruler of Sharjah and the Supreme Council of the United Arab Emirates, and is now a publically-listed company based in Sharjah with secondary hubs in Casablanca and Cairo. With its fleet of A320s, Air Arabia’s network includes services within the Middle East, the Indian Subcontinent and Europe. Air Arabia has established subsidiary airlines in Morocco and Egypt with local investors in each country. This is part of the airline's strategy to create the first pan-Arab airline.

Air Arabia - new Moroccan flight schedule.

Air Arabia today announced its flights details between new Moroccan airports and European cities for the winter season.

In addition to its primary base at Mohamed V International Airport in Casablanca, starting end of October, 2010, the airline will also operate from Nador, Fez, Tangier and Oujda airports with a frequency of sixteen flights per week between the five Moroccan cities towards Brussels, Amsterdam, Cologne, Paris and Montpellier
The new schedule:

Wednesday

Casablanca - Fez - Brussels

Casablanca - Oujda - Paris- Casablanca - Fez - Cologne

Casablanca - Tangier - Amsterdam

Sunday

Casablanca - Tangier - Paris

Monday and Thursday

Casablanca - Nador - Amsterdam - Casablanca - Nador - Cologne

Casablanca - Fez - Paris- Casablanca - Oujda - Brussels

Casablanca - Fez - Montpellier - Casablanca - Fez - Paris

Tuesday and Friday

Casablanca - Nador - Paris - Casablanca - Tangier - Paris

Casablanca - Fez - Brussels

Saturday

Casablanca - Fez - Cologne - Casablanca - Oujda - Paris

The airline it will also start direct services to the Egyptian city of Alexandria, from the carrier’s main hub in Mohamed V Airport, Casablanca. Egypt represents the 12th destination on the Air Arabia’s growing network from Morocco. The airline will start its flights to Alexandria on October 4th, 2010.

Another Deadly Mosque Collapse in Morocco

Just over a week after the tragic deaths of 41 people in a mosque minaret collapse, one person was killed and three others wounded when the dome of the Al-Amal mosque in the town of Zaio in the Nador province in northeastern Morocco collapsed on Saturday during repairs. The dead man was one of the repair workers.

Eight days ago, the 400-year-old minaret came down during prayers at the Bab al-Baradeen mosque (also known as the Lalla Khenata bint Bekkar Mosque) in Meknes, killing 41 worshippers and injuring over 80. king Mohammed VI ordered an urgent appraisal of all the country's old mosques after the tragedy in Meknes

Reports blamed heavy rains for the collapse.