Moroccan Children Watching English Language TV

The push for wider English language usage in Morocco is getting a small but unexpected boost from parents. While many politicians, educators and business leaders are calling for English to be a bigger part of the education system, it appears some parents are taking matters into their own hands and using the internet to show their children programmes in English

Time for Teletubbies...

Among the most popular programmes are the British Teletubbies and two Australian favourites; Play School and Bananas in Pyjamas.  From the USA the standout favourite is Sesame Street. 

The Teletubbies characters, Tinky Winky, Dipsy, Laa-Laa and Po, may speak in their own peculiar way, but even if they are not fully understood by Moroccan kids, their names are becoming well known. The programme is aimed at pre-school children and is easily found on YouTube. Some YouTube sites are subscription, while many others are free.

"Play School encourages a child to think"

Play School has been on Australian TV for the last fifty years and is recognised as one of the highest quality children's programmes. It describes itself as "aiming to encourage a child to wonder, to think, to feel and to imagine. The program shows two warm, caring people taking the time to be with one child. They address the child directly and personally. Into this relationship are woven the stories, songs and activities that form the fabric of Australian children's culture. Play School is successful because it satisfies our basic human need to interact with other people and to be valued by them."

Play School uses clear language and repetition that young Moroccans quickly pick up and t's values are totally compatible with those of Morocco.

"Are you thinking what I'm thinking B1?"

Possibly the most popular, and certainly the most addictive, children's programme is Bananas in Pyjamas. The main characters are two anthropomorphic bananas named B1 and B2. Other characters include the three teddy bears Amy, Lulu and Morgan, and Rat in a Hat. The bananas, the teddies and Rat in a Hat all live in the same neighbourhood, a cul-de-sac called "Cuddles Town". The characters enjoy eating "munchy honeycakes" and "yellow jelly". Together they solve problems and care for their friends.

Until recently it was difficult to access many programmes in England and Australia, but now, thanks to simple and popular tech-solutions, access is possible for anyone with a wifi connection.


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Another Hamadcha Marathon ~ Photo Essay

(Click on all images to enlarge)

In preparation for their tour in Australia, the Fez Hamadcha have been hard at work rehearsing. This week they took a break and travelled to Casablanca to take part in the pre-recording of a television show to be shown on the first week of January on TV1. The trip was intended to be a quick in and out of the studio. The reality was something different

Preparing the Hamadcha turban filled in some time - as did getting makeup for the cameras

Arriving at the studio mid-afternoon the group were informed that they should be ready by 6pm for an initial interview with the Hamadcha leader Abderrahim Amrani Marrakchi to be recorded. However things did not go as planned as the TV1 studio was recording a number of performances and were running well behind the schedule.

Rachida El Jokh with popular Moroccan singer Khalid Bennani who was also waiting to record

Abderrahim Amrani Marrakchi was interviewed prior to the performance

The next timeslot, they were told was at around 9pm for fifteen minutes of recording. We would, they assured us, be ready to return to Fez at about 9.30pm.

The impromptu concert in the waiting room lasted several hours

As the hours went by, the Hamadcha put on an impromptu concert in the waiting room. Dancing, singing and drumming for four hours, much to the appreciation of television crews during breaks in filming.

Once in the studio Abderrahim Amrani Marrakchi was in top form

Eventually the call to came to come into the studio. It was 1 am. Despite the extremely long wait, the filming went without a hitch and after fifteen minutes or so the audience gave the Hamadcha and Master Abderrahim Amrani Marrakchi a much deserved standing ovation.

Hassania and Rachida (right) letting their hair down was a hit with the audience

The actual performance went well and the group were more than ready to head home. However, what the group hand not factored in were the number of fans who insisted on being photographed with the Hamadcha members. It was interesting to see so many younger audience members showing an appreciation of traditional music and the musicians, though exhausted, were happy to spend time with them.

In the end the group left the TV complex at 1.52 am and arrived back in Fez at 7.15 in the morning.

When asked about the amount of time waiting in order to record just fifteen minutes of music one Hamadcha member responded with a shrug. "Ah but it was a great fifteen minutes."

The TV1 concert will be shown on February 2nd 2015

Story and photographs: Sandy McCutcheon

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Moroccan News Briefs #113

Moroccan TV pushes for better representation of women

The Moroccan channel 2M recently unveiled a  charter which it has established, for the enhancement of the image of women in the media. Recognizing that in the media in general does not adequately reflect the role of women in society, and diversity of responsibilities they assume, 2M has established an ad hoc committee that has worked for nearly a year with the various stakeholders, in a participatory and innovative approach .

This helped develop a a pilot project aimed at creating a positive ripple effect on to other media.

According to Salim Sheikh , CEO of 2M, "the persistence of negative female stereotypes in the media is an obstacle to self-esteem and promoting the rightful place of women in Moroccan society".

"2M , by its historical role as citizen chain and its status as a major public media leader, a pioneer role in the field of promoting gender role . It is a long process that requires the involvement of everyone, " he said.

Moroccan women occupy leadership responsibilities in the media. In fact, over 40 % of journalistic body 2M is composed of women. They also benefit from encouraging visibility with more than 40 % of transmissions broadcast being dedicated to women.


Fighting for gender equality in Morocco

Morocco World News reports that over the weekend Moroccan women organized a March in Rabat to denounce the government’s lack of will to implement the provisions of the constitution on gender equality.

Moroccan women organized the march in Rabat

Between 1,000 and 1,200 people marched on Sunday morning in Rabat in response to the call launched by Civil Coalition for the Implementation of Article 19 in the Moroccan Constitution. Demonstrators, who came from all corners of the country, including from distant cities such as Laayoune and Guelmim, denounced Benkirane government’s policy that “blocks the establishment of legal mechanisms guaranteeing the rights of women,” particularly those contained in Article 19 of the Constitution. Demonstrators demanded the elimination of all forms of violence and discrimination against women and girls.

Article 19 of Moroccan Constitution, adopted by referendum in July 2011, clearly calls for gender equality and yet its implementation is taking very slow steps.

Article 19 states that: “Men and women have equal civil, political, economic, social, cultural and environmental rights and freedoms as listed in this article and in the rest of the constitution as well as the conventions and international treaties duly ratified by Morocco in conformity with the constitution’s provisions and the kingdom’s constants and its laws. The state shall work towards the establishment of parity between men and women. Therefore, it has assigned a specialized authority to ensure parity between men and women and fight against all forms of discrimination.”


Tourism represent 9.7% of GDP in 2024

According to a new 2014 report: "The economic impact of tourism and travel" by the WTTC (World Travel and Tourism Council ), tourism and trips to Morocco will grow significantly in 2014.

Tourism's direct contribution to GDP accounted for 76 1 billion dirhams, or $ 9.5 billion ( 8.6% of total GDP) in 2013 and is expected to increase 8.1% this year. This share would experience an average annual growth rate ( CAGR ) of 5.6% between 2014 and 2024 to represent term 141 500 000 000 dirhams ( DH), or 9.7 % of GDP.

The tourism sector had a direct workforce of 814,000 people in 2013, or 7.6 % of total employment. This contribution is expected to increase 6.1% in 2014 and 2.7% annually to 2024, to reach 1.13 million direct jobs (8.8% of total employment).

For indirect jobs, the WTTC expects an increase of 6.4 % in 2014, 1.91 million jobs. In the coming 10 years, 1.31 million indirect jobs will be created thanks to tourism and travel .


District Police in Casablanca nab a gang of scammers

National Brigade of the PJ in this Casa have caught a gang, reported to be the authors of many scams. These alleged suspects were arrested in possession of numerous falsified documents and hardware ( a scanner), says a police source. This band of seven alleged crooks has been raging across the country and scammed finance companies.

The seven under police guard

Their technique: after falsifying documents, including identity cards, the crooks have created "fictitious" companies with business registers also falsified. With these documents they managed to deceive banks into giving credit for the acquisition of luxury cars.

Though captured in Casablanca, the leader of the "mafia network" is from the south. He is said to be an expert in document forgery.

 "The members of this criminal gang admitted falsifying a dozen cards to date. With these false documents, the suspects were able to create 14 companies and build business registers to obtain bank loans. This allows them to feed an underground pathway for acquisition of luxury cars (twenty) they flowed thereafter at ridiculously low prices,  says the local Police Chief

Subjected to intensive interrogations, the suspects have admitted the facts alleged against them.

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Security Problems in Israel - Homeland Shoot Transfered to Morocco

The TV series Homeland is running into real life security issues in Israel. Because of the security situation, the award winning show is to move its locations from Israel to Morocco. 

The present problem has been caused by the possibility of retaliatory strikes against Israel if the USA attacks Syria. The show's American producers, concerned over situation in Syria, contacted their Israeli counterparts last Sunday to inform them of decision.  Scenes from series one and two were shot in Israel, but were criticised as not looking like Beirut!

A scene from “Homeland” showing Claire Danes as a CIA agent walking around in
 “Beirut,” which was shot in Tel Aviv, as some Hebrew artefacts can be seen on the right side of the photo
.

According to Israeli media, the American producers of the show contacted their Israeli counterparts on Sunday to notify them of the decision. Estimates say that Israeli production companies are set to lose hundreds of thousands of dollars over the location change.

"Homeland" was adapted from the Israeli drama "Hatufim" ("Prisoners of War"). Its first season hit an all-time high for a new drama series on Showtime, the U.S. cable channel which has broadcasting rights for the show.

Other shows such as Game of Thrones have used Moroccan locations for their previous series.

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Game of Thrones Will Return to Shoot in Morocco

The news that the hit TV series, Game of Thrones, will return to Morocco is good news on many fronts. The series, which has been hugely successful, will provide much needed employment in the Atlas Corporation Studios in Ouarzazate and possibly Marrakech, as well as a tourism boost for the area.

Game of Thrones is an American medieval fantasy television series created for HBO by David Benioff and D. B. Weiss. It is an adaptation of A Song of Ice and Fire, George R. R. Martin's series of fantasy novels, the first of which is titled A Game of Thrones.

Primary filming for seasons one and two occurred on a soundstage at Paint Hall Studios in Belfast, Northern Ireland, as well as on location elsewhere in Northern Ireland and in M'dina on Malta and, in Croatia, Dubrovnik and the Minceta, Bokar, and Lovrijenac fortresses. In Iceland the filming was done at the Svinafellsjokull calving glacier in Skaftafell, followed by shooting near Smyrlabjorg and Vik on Hofdabrekkuheidi. Morocco featured in the original pilot as well as in series two. Ouarzazate and Marrakech have both been used.

The news about Morocco being included in the shooting of series three came from Vancouver cinematographer Robert McLachlan who revealed in an interview that the final two episodes of season three would include locations in Morocco

"I just received the schedule for the show and they've got units going in Morocco and Croatia and Ireland, and indoors and outdoors, and logistically I've never seen anything like it. It's incredible," says McLachlan. "It's absolutely gigantic."

Because of the size and scope of the show, Game of Thrones uses about five different DOPs (directors of photography) and five directors working in teams of two, he notes.

The first season debuted in the U.S. on April 17, 2011. Two days later, it was picked up for a second season, which began airing on April 1, 2012. Nine days later, it was picked up for a third season.

Highly anticipated since its early stages of development, Game of Thrones has been very well received by viewers and critics.

Season 1 was nominated for or won numerous awards, including Outstanding Drama Series for the Emmy Awards and Best Television Series – Drama at the 69th Golden Globe Awards.

Interestingly, due to the limited availability of the series, it has achieved a dubious record as the most pirated series this year. The number of pirated downloads stands at around 3,900,000, while the USA viewer numbers are estimated to be 4,200,000. HBO held up the release of series two in Australia until after the release in the USA and so Australians became the country with the highest illegal downloads.



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New Film Reveals Masterpieces of Islamic Art

Islamic Art: Mirror of the Invisible World.
Narrated by Susan Sarandon

Perceptions and ideas around Muslim identity and culture vary widely and too few are aware of the significant works of art and architecture that make up a large part of Islamic civilization’s legacy. Islamic Art: Mirror of the Invisible World, is a new documentary that brings this legacy to life. 

Islamic Art: Mirror of the Invisible World is the ninth film by Executive Producers Michael Wolfe and Alex Kronemer and UPF (Muhammad: Legacy of a Prophet, Cities of Light: The Rise and Fall of Islamic Spain, Prince Among Slaves).

Islamic Art presents a kaleidoscope of exquisite works of art – from the opulent Taj Mahal of Agra, India, to the written word in the form of Arabic calligraphy with master calligraphers such as Mohamed Zakariya. A common theme linking each of the showcased works is the way each piece of art is so different from the next – exemplifying not only the beauty, but the diversity within Islamic cultures. Each masterpiece is a contribution to the larger narrative of just how much Muslims have contributed and still contribute to society.

 The film was produced to nurture a greater appreciation for the exquisite works of art that Islamic culture has contributed to humanity. “I believe all viewers, Muslim and non-Muslims alike, will bepleasantly surprised with what our film uncovers,” states Alex Kronemer. “As a window into an often misunderstood culture, this film has the ability to be a real catalyst for understanding and perhaps offer a new perspective on Islam’s values, culture and lasting legacy,” continues Kronemer.

Narrated by actor, Susan Sarandon, this 90-minute film takes audiences on a global journey across nine countries and over 1,400 years ofhistory to present the stories behind the masterworks of Islamic art and architecture.

Michael Wolfe says, “Never before have viewers had the opportunity to explore such richness of Islamic art and history with commentary from some of the world’s most renowned experts who have the ability to explain just why these works are so important.” “We hope watching the film will result in Muslims feeling a source of pride, aswell as celebration in their heritage,” continues Kronemer.

After its American television debut July 6th on PBS , Islamic Art will be available on DVD for $19.95 through www.upf.tv.

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Morocco's Public Media Debate - Continues

The Moroccan government's announcement that it would issue new public media guidelines at the end of May has reignited a stormy debate around independent media in the kingdom.

The debate began nearly two months ago when the Islamist government, led by Abdelilah Benkirane, forced public television channels and radio stations to broadcast the five daily calls to prayer, which put many citizens on the defensive against what they saw as a deliberate attempt to Islamise an otherwise moderate sector of society.

The new law was supposedly imposed in an effort to decrease the prevalence of the French language in favour of Arabic, though experts and activists were quick to point out that the government did not pay nearly as much attention to broadcasting Amazigh, the original language of the country, over the airwaves.

For years, the 6th public television channel, as well as the public radio station 'Mohammed VI for Saint Koran', have been completely dedicated to religious issues 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Following his ascension to the throne in 1999, King Mohamed VI jumped headlong into this debate by announcing his "project of the modernist and democratic society", supposedly aimed at curbing the presence of extremist Islam in the public realm.

The King, who approved a new constitution on July 1 last year that grants the monarch substantial powers of arbitration, has come under fire for dishing out an inadequate response to the complicated debate.

Last month, his new head of government, Benkirane, of the Justice and Development Party (PJD), declared that the old, 'Islamised' guidelines were not set in stone and could be amended. The controversial law was scrapped, sparking scattered debate around the complicated issue of media in Morocco.

'Islamisation' a hurdle to democracy?

Fayçal Laâraichi, director of the country's national broadcasting corporation, SNRT, told the daily 'Al Ahdath Al Maghribia' newspaper last month, "The independence of the public media is sacred."

Laâraichi warned that the new manuals have to respect "openness, pluralism, linguistic diversity and the national identity", all enshrined in the country's constitution.

But his reaction has been criticised as having its own agenda.

"There are (some professionals) who stereotype Islamists as a threat to openness and modernity," Ismail Azzam, a columnist for the local Hespress magazine, told IPS.

Moulay Touhami Bahtat, editor-in-chief of the local 'Assdae' ('Echoes') publication, believes, "Saying that the Islamists use the public media to Islamise (our) society reveals a blatant ignorance of the (situation)."

According to him, "The reality is that the public media was always an island completely separated from its environment, whose (practitioners) continue to act as if satellite dishes do not exist."

Citizens have long lamented the poor quality of programmes on public TV, while management of the public media has been under close scrutiny since "official reports from the Supreme Court indicated very grave financial gaps (in the media's accounts). The people in charge of the public media not only have to leave, but must be judged" on the issue of corruption, Azzam said.

The real fight, according to him, is not between Islamists and modernists, but between good governance and mismanagement. "Even if there were a leftist government, the opponents of the reform would have accused it of secularising the public media," he explained. Abdessalam Benaissa, a prominent writer, commented in Hespress last month, "the suspension of the manuals (by Benkirane) without so much as informing citizens means that the first experience within the framework of the new constitution, namely the right of citizens to information, has just been violated."

He is not alone in this critique. "The intervention of the palace in the affair of the media manuals was expected because we are not still at the stage of a parliamentary monarchy," Azzam commented, referring to the core demand of the February 20th movement, for a separation of powers between the monarch and the government.

Benkirane, who was then the leader of the Islamist opposition, opposed the movement and stubbornly defended executive powers for the monarch.

"The head of the government shows courage only against unemployed graduates," commented Azzam ironically, hinting at the violent police interventions against demonstrations by unemployed youth.

According to him, Benkirane benefits greatly from the current political order, in which the monarch retains several executive powers and Benkirane himself has a great deal of authority.

Mohammed Nabil Benabdellah

A governmental committee, chaired by the minister of housing and former minister of communications, Mohammed Nabil Benabdellah, is now in charge of establishing new media guidelines, which will be released no later than the end of this month.

The government is bound by law to establishes media guidelines and subject them to the High Authority of Communications and the Audiovisual sector (HACA), which ratifies the new rules before making them public on an official bulletin board.

Though the new guidelines have already been ratified, Fatiha Aarour, a HACA representative, told IPS, "Professional secrecy forbids us from speaking to the press about this issue."

Originally posted in AllAfrica.com

Several Moroccan commercials have lately come on fire for undermining social and family relations by inciting wives against their husbands and ridiculing the mothers-in-law.

According to a report on Al Arabiya News, several private radio stations, TV channels, and websites have been broadcasting commercials perceived by many as violating social norms in order to promote the advertised product.

Some commercial advice women to be harsh with their husbands while others portray the mother-in-law as an intruder who needs to be gotten rid of for the sake of the family’s peace of mind.

This has prompted many activists to launch pages on social networking website Facebook to express their anger at commercials that “insult men” by telling women to mistreat them if they want to “live in peace.”

The campaign against the commercials aims to call upon the relevant authorities to be firm with companies that produce them and the media outlets that communicate them to the public due to their negative effect on Moroccan society, especially the uneducated people, said Monsef Farouhi, the admin of one of the Facebook pages.

“Those commercials usually address uneducated women who follow the advice without thinking. This affects their behavior and their relationship with their husbands,” he told Al Arabiya.

An official at the Higher Authority of Audiovisual Communication, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the authority, which is in charge of monitoring the performance of audio and visual media, will not hesitate to take firm action against any media outlet that violates the principles of Moroccan society.

“However, we have not yet made a decision about the commercials that have caused this controversy,” he told Al Arabiya.

The reason for the prevalence of such commercials, the source explained, is that some channels or websites take advantage of the amount of freedom available to the media in Morocco to broadcast material that contradict the socially established laws of the conservative Moroccan society.

“These bodies only care about financial gains and do not pay attention to the negative social or ethical impact.”

The controversial content, he added, is not necessarily presented in an indirect way.

“Some commercials undermine social values in a subtle way in order to promote the product or service they are offering.”

(Translated from Arabic by Sonia Farid)

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Media Freedom in Morocco Takes a Backward Step.

“Islamist ministers are having trouble casting off their religious clothes and dealing with their ministerial jobs” 

That statement from a Moroccan news website was in response to the rather foolish comments by a newly elected Moroccan Justice Minister, Mustafa Ramid, who upset almost everybody by claiming tourists went to Marrakech in order to sin. Now another minister has created an unholy row by attempting to make public TV and Radio stations more religious. It is unfortunate to have come at a time when the media in Morocco are seeking greater press freedom. Ibn Warraq reports.

Communications Minister Mustapha Khalfi

"Khalfi is the minister of communications and a government official, not an imam or a mufti to say what is licit or illicit," Mohammed Ouzzine, Minister of Sport

Somehow it has escaped the Communications Minister Mustapha Khalfi from the newly elected moderate Islamist party that he is a servant of the people and not an imam.  His new guidelines for public broadcasters include petty measures such as banning lottery advertisements and mandating the broadcast of the call to prayer five times a day.

In another controversial section the detailed guidelines also call for reducing the amount of French on public television and including programs about youth and social issues that must include a mufti, or Muslim cleric.

"These channels are performing a public service and so they must submit to certain minimum requirements," Khalifi told L'Economiste daily last Thursday.

The state channels previously had little overtly religious programming.

The furor over the guidelines' religious aspects has grown over the last few weeks as the heads of the normally docile public TV stations have publicly criticized the measures as a threat to their independence.

Observers say the controversy is also about a newly elected government attempting to assert itself against the all-powerful palace and king that have traditionally controlled the media.

In an interview on Friday, the news director for Channel 2M said the guidelines represent "a will to kill the programming on Channel Two. This is not a license agreement. It is a programing list, and logic and our profession says that politics should not dictate TV programing," Samira Sitail told the daily Al-Ahdath Al-Maghrebiya.

The head of public broadcasting, Faisal Laraachi, said: "Our editorial independence is sacred."

Members of Khalfi's own Justice and Development Party have fired back, with one parliamentarian threatening street demonstrations against the heads of state media, if the measures aren't adopted.
"These figures fighting against our party are the same ones resisting reform," Abdallah Bouanou told the daily Akhbar al-Maghrebiya.

The influential Morocco World News is reporting that Abdelilalh Benkirane, head of the government, is believed to be heading towards dismissing both Samira Sitail, head of the news department of 2M channel, as well as Salim Sheikh, director of the channel.

PM Abdelilah Benkirane and Samira Sitail head of news at 2M-TV

Backed by constitutional amendments that give the government greater powers, the Islamist-led government has been flexing its muscles. Yet, if PM Benkirane does not bring a little more common sense to his ministers' proclamations, he may find he is leading a one-term government. Or, in the short term may even forfeit its majority, because, while the Islamists are the dominant party in the coalition, it shares power with three other parties.

Many of these coalition partners are uneasy with the Islamist party's reform efforts and a number of ministers have been vocally critical of the media guidelines.  Nabil Benabdellah, the minister of housing and former communications minister from the left-wing Party of Progress and Socialism, even threatened to quit the government over the guidelines before backing down in a later radio interview.

There is also opposition to the guidelines from the public who who fear the Islamization of the media. At a time when the Arab Spring could have headed to a glorious Arab Summer, these developments could be an indication of an early and unpleasant Autumn. 

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America's Next Top Model in Morocco

There are, of course, some people who wouldn't notice if a bomb went off in the main square of Marrakech. The crew and contestants of America's Next Top Model, on location in the Red City, are concerned with much more important things, such as whether make-up will stay on your face while you're riding a camel in the desert, and the size (4!) of one of the contestants.


Apparently there are four girls left in the contest: like Big Brother, one is voted off each week and this week's loss was the 'fat' one, Kasia (above). On location in Morocco, they have had a photo shoot in the souk as well as in the desert, and have visited local designers.

May the best girl win!

100% Fez ~ a plus for Fez !

Frederic Bissiere is a man with a mission - to put Fez on the map, film-wise. He chatted recently with The View from Fez team.

Frederic has a background in sustainable development with the World Bank. His cameraman, Jacques, is a film-maker and teacher of film. Together they came to Fez some eight months ago and set up the TV channel, 100% Fez. They make documentaries about Fez which they screen on the internet at http://www.centpourcentfes.com/en/home, on Youtube and on Apple TV.

An example of their work is the film they made about the recent visit of Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, to the Fez medina (see it on The View from Fez here). So far, most of their work is in French, but English will be added soon. 100% Fez works with public institutions such as the CRT (tourism authority) and the Investment Bureau, as well as private companies and the University of Fez. The idea is to provide communication and serve as a link for the community, particularly the youth and women.

Odd spot! - Reality TV with an Islamic twist.

Forget Iron Chef, American Idol, Big Brother or Survivor, the latest reality TV show to hook the viewers in Malaysia is a hunt for "The Hottest Imam". Ibn Warraq reports on a show that has Malaysians swooning.

This is a story about a TV show in Malaysia, I don't think it is going to be copied in Morocco anytime soon, mind you, stranger things have happened.

They're young, tall-ish, dark and handsome and they've captured the hearts of Malyasian TV viewers mesmerized by their quest to be declared the nation's hottest up-and-coming imam.



Muslims may only make up 60% of the population, but a reality TV show appears to have the entire nation hooked. Contestants on the new reality show Imam Muda (Young Imam) are judged by one man - the former grand mufti of Malaysia's national mosque - and are ranked by their knowledge of Islamic theory, the quality of their voices citing Koran verses and intellectual feats. But they also tackle social issues involving young people, like motorcycle gang members and unmarried, pregnant teenagers. The show has it's own Facebook page and thousands of fans.


Show creator Izelan Basar says they are looking for the ideal imam - one who is well versed in spirituality and current affairs.

"There are two levels of audition. One is to ask him lots about religious knowledge and the second stage is about current issues and current affairs," he says.

"For example what do you know about the environment? What do you know about the monetary system, the economy? That is what we want. An imam who is balanced between the world we live in and the life after."

So if the contenders manage to win through, what is their reward? A university scholarship to study in Saudi Arabia, a job leading prayers at a Kuala Lumpur mosque and a trip to Mecca to perform the Haj pilgrimage.

The show is an odd mix of Hollywood razz matazz and ancient religion as the nation juggles the demands of faith and the modern world. And the show has attracted international attention with coverage in major newspapers and TV shows.

In the Wall Street Journal, one fan, Hafizul Fadly, a 27-year-old shipping analyst, enthused, "These young imams are modern, and we need that. Muslims are very progressive. After 9/11, it's good for us to show the true picture of Islam."

Thought the program has the look of Survivor meets Britain's Got Talent, the feats are unique. In one episode, contestants had to prepare unclaimed corpses for burial; an essential rite in Islam. "It's a tough contest, but if we want to be imams and lead our community, we should expect to face difficult challenges any time, any place," declared one brash contender.

The BBC tracked down some of the fans, amongst the Al Hussaini family. Syed Ja'afar Al Hussaini and his family try to watch every episode.

The Al Hussaini family

"The show is informative because I get to learn new things myself and refresh my Islamic knowledge," he says.

His four children, wife and mother-in-law gather every Friday evening to watch the prime-time programme and love it as contestants turned up at a halal slaughterhouse to inspect whether chickens were being prepared according to Muslim law.

It is a side of imams that the eldest son, Syed Muhammad Shafiq, rarely gets to see.

The 22-year-old says he would go to the mosque more if the imam was closer to his own age.

"The old generation of imams tend to only be in the mosque," he says. "They tend to only mix with the old people, because the way they think is quite orthodox."

A young imam would relate better to younger people and become a role model for them, he believes.

For the record, Malaysians, like Moroccans are Sunni. However, where a majority of Moroccans follow the Mālikī school of thought, In Malaysia the Shafi'i school is the official, legal form, although syncretist Islam with elements of Shamanism is still common in rural areas.

Morocco launches Amazigh TV channel

It has been a long time coming but finally on Wednesday Morocco launched the first Amazigh TV channel.

There has been radio coverage for Amazigh speakers for some time, with RTM Chaîne Amazigh catering for Tachelhit, Tamazight and Tarifit speakers. These are all derivations of the Berber language. Tachelhit is spoken in south-west Morocco, in an area between Sidi Ifni in the south,Agadir in the north and Marrakech and the Draa/Sous valleys in the east. Tamazight is spoken in the Middle Atlas, between Taza, Khemisset, Azilal and Errachidia. Tarifit (or Rifia) is spoken in the Rifarea of northern Morocco. A small number of programmes are broadcast in Hassaniya, which is widely spoken in Western Sahara.

As we reported two years ago, the road to Amazigh tv has been a rocky one

There are an estimated 23 million Amazigh, the majority of whom are Sunni Muslim . The largest populations are in Morocco and Algeria, in addition to smaller numbers in Tunisia, Libya and Egypt. The Amazigh have been living in North Africa for nearly 4,000 years. Some 75 percent of the Moroccan population is Amazigh who say their language and culture are not properly acknowledged by the authorities and this has caused friction with the Moroccan government.

They were named Berber by the Arab invaders, but this is perceived as a derogatory term.

Back in 2008 a joint statement from several rights organizations said they were protesting against what they called a perpetual policy of discrimination and marginalization from the government. According to the statement, “Officials are insisting on not fulfilling their obligations as far as the existing television station programming is concerned.”

Morocco’s Ministry of Communication promised that an Amazigh television channel could be set up during 2007 but several obstacles have prevented this plan from being realized. Moroccan authorities say the money allocated for this purpose, some 160 million dirhams ($21 million) is not enough to establish a professional high-quality channel.

Officials, they say, maintain the programming is of low quality, that there is a shortage of journalistic staff and that there is no agreement on the language that will be applied in this programming. The Amazigh say all these reasons are baseless.

Now it is a reality and we await a reaction from those who have struggled so long to make it happen. The Amazigh TV will air for six hours each day during the week and ten hours on the week-ends.

Moroccan News Roundup #3507

Rice visiting Morocco

The U.S. Secretary of State , Condoleeza Rice is expected in Morocco later this week, part of a tour in north Africa, the U.S. State Department announced on Tuesday. The visit to the north African States is scheduled for September 4-7, and includes Libya, Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco. Rice will also make a stopover in Portugal

The U.S. Secretary of State is due to meet with the top officials of the visited countries to "discuss a wide range of bilateral and regional issues," the State Department added. In light of the unrest in tge Caucus region it will be interesting to hear if Ms Rice raises the thorny issue of Morocco's developing stronger ties with Russia.

King inaugurates professional training and elderly centres in Rabat

A centre for professional training and a social centre for the elderly, with a global budget of MAD 14 million ($1.8 million USD) were both inaugurated on Wednesday by King Mohammed VI.

The professional training centre is due to receive 300 male and female young beneficiaries, including the disabled, the non-schooled and job-seeking degree holders. Courses will be given in IT, business management, secretarial work, accountability, jewellery professions, and artistic gardening.

The centre's major goal is to help young people develop the most-sought after skills in the job market and to fight against social exclusion.

The building is part of a broader program to erect 10 similar centres across the country in partnership with the Mohammed V Foundation for Solidarity and the Office of Professional Training and the Promotion of Labour (OFPPT). Two of these centres are operational in Settat and Tangier.

A convention was established to identify the actions of the different players, and give the beneficiaries access to microcredits.

The social centre for the elderly will provide housing, food, and medical follow-up to the old people lacking family support and financial resources.

The centre aims to improve the life conditions of elderly people, and to develop good practice in terms of services offered to them. There will also be a “Regional Observatory for Aged People”.

The centre will provide 40 people with long-term accommodation and 10 people with one-week accommodation, while it will offer medico-social services to the non-resident elderly.

Spouse of late king Mohammed V dies

Lalla Bahia, spouse of late King Mohammed V and mother of princess Lalla Amina, passed away on Wednesday, the Ministry of the royal household, protocol and chancellery has announced.

The funeral of Lalla Bahia will take place on Thursday after the afternoon prayers (Al 'Asr) in the Moulay El Hassan mausoleum in Rabat and will be a private family ceremony.

King Mohammed V, grandfather of king Mohammed VI, was the sovereign of Morocco between 1927 and 1961.


Casablanca to host 1st international leather fair in October

Casablanca, will host the first international leather fair "MaroCuir" on October 9-11. The fair is expected to bring together some 130 national and international exhibitors who will display their latest products and their know-how in the area of subcontracting and co-contracting in leather industry, luggage, leather clothes, footwear industry, equipment and services.

The event will feature conferences, a fashion show as well as business meetings.

According to organizers, the event is part of "the Emergence Plan for leather industry", which provides for developing leather professions and prompting the sector firms to upgrade their offer and adapt it to markets' expectations.

Egyptians ban Moroccan film

Alexandria's International Film Festival celebrates fifty years of Moroccan cinema this year, but after organisers suddenly pulled a movie scheduled for opening night last week, the renowned event has been marred by controversy.


According to a report on Maghrebia.com the last-minute cancellation of Moroccan movie "Whatever Lola Wants" at the opening night of the Alexandria International Film Festival has sparked a major reaction in by the film's director and others in the industry.

Since the film has already been screened at festivals from New York to Abu Dhabi, the organisers explained, it was not possible to use it at the opening of a major festival such as Alexandria. The festival committee also called the film "average".

"Pulling the film at the last minute was better than showing a film which has already been screened elsewhere and which would have brought the festival into disrepute and offended visitors," said festival president Iris Nazmi.

In addition, scenes set in Egypt featuring gay characters were likely to offend Egyptians, Alexandria festival officials said.

"The film includes a lot of scenes in which insults are directed towards Egypt and Egyptians and which depict them as panders and rascals," Mamdouh Al Laithy, head of the Egyptian Cinema Writers and Critics Association, said.

Set in New York and Cairo, "Whatever Lola Wants" depicts the clash of cultures that arises from a romance between an American girl and an Egyptian young man. They meet in New York and fall in love, but the relationship fails. The man then decides to go back to Egypt and the girl follows him.

It is the costliest production in the history of Moroccan cinema, coming in at a hefty 10 million euros.

Egyptian critic Tarek al-Shenaoui told an Egyptian magazine that the sudden decision to replace the movie "makes Alexandria Festival management lose its credibility and proves that the Festival management has never seen the film".

Ramadan Television programming - is it better this year?

The View from Fez would like to hear from those who have started watching the Ramadan Television offerings. According to early comments, the reaction has been mixed. Writing to Maghrebia.com one viewer had this to say:

I keep thinking that my family (in America) will visit me in Morocco during Ramadan - and am terrified they will want to experience the whole culture; i.e the execrable after-fast TV programming. I've seen many of these performers (at different times) under talented directors, including Nabil Ayouch: Great things can be certainly done with them...why Ramadan programming is so singularly atrocious in it's production values and abysmal in it's content is a one big question mark. The most pandering, shoddy, poorly produced garbage is to be found on 2m: topping or next to the worst of stoned college radio, high-school drama and children's entertainment anywhere else in the world. The talent is definitely here in Morocco : Abdul Haqq Zarwali, Mohammed Khouy, Touria Alaoui... It's just as my dear friends say here in Fes, the production teams just cannot "make the finish."

A preliminary breakdown of the schedule published Wednesday (August 27th) by L'Economiste lists the following programmes: "Mbarak ou Massoûd", a new sitcom inspired by daily life; interviews by Rachid and Hicham of stars including Khaled, Alpha Blondy, Amel Bent and Chimène Badi; the return of sitcom "Sir Hta Dji", traditional programme "Rommana wa Bartal" and crime drama "Al Qadia".

Also on offer are sketch comedy shows, musical performances in the Sufi, Malhoun and Aïssaoua styles, and a variety of Moroccan and international cinema. 2M will air an original mini-series, "Les hirondelles reviennent toujours" (The Sparrows Always Return), as well as Moroccan films each Tuesday night: "Wake Up Morocco" by Narjiss Nejjar, "Mémoire en detention" by Jilali Ferhati, "Moroccan Dream" from Jamal Belmejdoub, "Tilila" from Mohamed Mernich and "Les cœurs brûlés" by Ahmed El Maouni.

Despite promises made by officials in the past to cater to all tastes and promote Moroccan shows, the public still criticise the unreliability of presenters and the production mistakes that mar the locally-produced programmes.

Student Samira Boulfatah told Magharebia that television viewers are often "ashamed of Moroccan shows, which patronise Moroccans. The same faces come back every year with almost the same material, even repeating their mistakes."

Tags: Moroccan Morocco Fes, Maghreb news

Morocco and the Eurovision Song Contest.

The words "Eurovision Song Contest' and "Morocco" don't seem to be a natural fit. In fact if you ask most people around Fez they have not heard of the contest. Yet, strange as it seems, Morocco once entered the contest. To be fair, it was a while ago.

Back in 1980 Morocco entered the history of the Eurovision Song Contest with a cute young singer named Samira Ben Said. Then... nothing. Although it is not likely that Morocco will enter again any time soon, we are reminded if it because the Eurovison website - has a story about Samira.


These days Samira is a superstar in the Arabic countries. After a three-year absence from the music scene, she released a new album, Ayam Hayati which has achieved huge sales in the Arabic world but has also been critisised by local media who accuse her that some of her songs bear similarities to Turkish songs.

Samira's new album, Ayam hayati, was released last month and it has already become a huge hit in the Arabic world, having won a MEMA (Middle Eastern Music Award). In a press conference, held on Tuesday, Samira spoke to the press about her new album and answered some negative comments by journalists who accused her that her songs bear similarities to popular Turkish ones.

Samira explained that her long absence was due to the fact she had been working on this new album and she denied all accusations of her songs being similar to other songs. She stated that, in her new album, she was aiming for "diversity in the quality", away from western influences. Samira also denied the similarities between Hob Mayous Meno and Al Gani Baad Youmeen, as they are both different in content or arrangement, the only similarity is the idea of ‘injured love’.

Will Morocco make a return to Eurovision?

Morocco only entered once and the result was not encouraging - 2nd last place in with Samira Ben Said's Bitaqat hob. For 28 years Europe has been waiting for a followup entry from Morocco, but none have been forthcoming. However, with a new Moroccan broadcaster interested in becoming an active member of the EBU, this could change in the next few years!

The Moroccan broadcaster, who is a founding member of the EBU and took part in the 1980 Eurovision Song Contest, is SNRT. After coming 2nd last in the competition, SNRT decided not to enter again. The sole Moroccan entrant to date, Samira Ben Said, has gone on to become one of the most popular singers in the Arabic-speaking world, a position she maintains even now.

However, a rival Moroccan television station, one that is not directly influenced by the Moroccan government, is now interested in joining the EBU. 2MTV has long been a source for free speech and taboo-breaking in Morocco, and is especially popular with the Moroccan diaspora in countries like France and the Netherlands. A spokesperson for 2MTV confirmed that the station is looking to join the EBU, and that a possible return to the Eurovision Song Contest for Morocco is not impossible, should they get the membership.

A participation in the Eurovision Song Contest could be extremely valuable to Moroccans, many of whom feel more European than African - the Moroccan government has even applied for a EU membership in the past. Eurovision could be a chance for people to consider the idea of a European Morocco once again.

And for those nostalgia freaks who want to zip back to 1980...Here she is.




Tags: Moroccan Morocco Fes, Maghreb news

The rocky road to Amazigh television.

There are an estimated 23 million Amazigh, the majority of whom are Sunni Muslim . The largest populations are in Morocco and Algeria, in addition to smaller numbers in Tunisia, Libya and Egypt. The Amazigh have been living in North Africa for nearly 4,000 years. Some 75 percent of the Moroccan population is Amazigh who say their language and culture are not properly acknowledged by the authorities and this has caused friction with the Moroccan government.

They were named Berber by the Arab invaders, but this is perceived as a derogatory term. Now,according to a story published on The Media Line, representatives of Morocco’s Amazigh community are demanding they be granted larger representation in the Moroccan broadcast media.

A joint statement from several rights organizations said they were protesting against what they called a perpetual policy of discrimination and marginalization from the government. According to the statement, “Officials are insisting on not fulfilling their obligations as far as the existing television station programming is concerned.”

Morocco’s Ministry of Communication promised that an Amazigh television channel could be set up during 2007 but several obstacles have prevented this plan from being realized. Moroccan authorities say the money allocated for this purpose, some 160 million dirhams ($21 million) is not enough to establish a professional high-quality channel.

Officials, they say, maintain the programming is of low quality, that there is a shortage of journalistic staff and that there is no agreement on the language that will be applied in this programming. The Amazigh say all these reasons are baseless.

Thanks to The Media Line.

Tags: Moroccan Morocco Fes, Maghreb news

Imam causes stir over TV remarks.

While most people agree that Fez is a conservative city a local imam has gone too far according to some locals. The imam in Fez has caused controversy by making remarks in contradiction of Moroccan law and the 2005 reforms of Moroccan family law (known as the Mudawana) when he suggested that a European who converts in order to marry then abandons Islam should be killed.

In an interview broadcast on Arabic satellite TV network al-Arabiya Sheikh Mohammed al-Tawil pointed out that marriages between Moroccan women and European men who are not Muslims are forbidden under Islam. "This kind of marriage, between Moroccan women and European men, is forbidden by the Qu'ran and the Sunna," the imam said."A Muslim woman may not marry an unbeliever while a Muslim man may marry Christian and Jewish women."

However, according to al-Tawil, Moroccan women may however marry European men who convert to Islam shortly before the wedding. "Islam only required two witnesses for someone to be able to convert and such a marriage is valid," he said. "If a European then decides to abandon Islam, Mohammed's words apply to him: those who renounce their own religion must be killed, as they are an apostate."

It is this last statement that has been condemned but fortunately such views are not widely held and the tide of history is on the side of the Family Law -each summer in a growing number of local women are reportedly marrying young European men. Almost 6,000 such marriages were registered in Morocco in 2007, almost all of them in the summer - an almost six-fold increase over the previous decade.

A total 4,320 Moroccan men married foreign women last year.

Tags: Moroccan Morocco Fes, Maghreb news

Morocco to launch Amazigh language TV channel.

Marisa Larson, writing for National Geographic, says that "though Berbers are the original inhabitants of North Africa, no one really knows where they came from. Genetic evidence seems to indicate that the Berbers are descended from several waves of immigration into the area, some dating as far back as 50,000 years. These immigrants came from diverse areas such as the Caucusus and the African coast of the Red Sea. Since Berbers are a mixture of different ethnic groups, the term "Berber" refers more to the language spoken and not necessarily to a specific race.

Berbers are first mentioned in writing by the ancient Egyptians who fought against the Lebu (Libyans) on their western borders. In 945 B.C. the Lebu conquered Egypt and founded the 26th dynasty. Berbers also led the Islamic conquest of Spain in A.D. 711. Famous Berbers include the Roman emperor Septimus Severus; Ibn Battuta, the Moroccan traveler and explorer; and French soccer star Zinedine Zidane."

Over the years Berber culture has struggled for recognition in Morocco but now comes a breakthrough that will hopefully raise the Berber profile considerably. Moroccan Communication Minister, Spokesman of the Government, Nabil Benabdallah announced yesterday that within one year he would be launching a television channel in the Amazigh language.

According to a report carried by the Maghreb Arabe Presse, At the end of a periodical meeting with the institute of the Amazigh culture (IRCAM), the minister told the press a commission of experts will be set up to consider questions related to the funding, programming and broadcast of the channel.

Besides the ministry and the IRCAM, the commission will include members from the two national TV channels, SNRT and 2M. The meeting also discussed the implementation of the commitments of the two channels to broadcast 30% of their programs in the Amazigh language. This will certainly come as good news to the large number of Moroccan Amazigh speakers in the regions of the Atlas and the Rif mountains.

See our earlier stories:
Being Berber - a question of cultural identity in Morocco
Morocco's Other Languages


Tags: Morocco Fes, Maghreb news