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Johnny Garces posted an articleweek in review for March 14, 2020 see more
Fearing the Spread of COVID-19, Morocco Cancels Religious Gatherings
The Moroccan government recently banned all gatherings of more than 1,000 people in confined spaces.
By Safaa Kasraoui - Safaa Kasraoui is a journalist at Morocco World News. Mar 11, 2020 Rabat
The Ministry of Islamic Affairs banned all religious moussems, a type of public event. The ministry confirmed the events are canceled regardless of the size of the gatherings. The move does not affect Friday sermons at mosques, however. The ministry’s decision is in response to the mounting fears of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. Morocco has confirmed five cases of the virus so far. “This decision was taken in accordance with the guidelines of Sharia [Islamid] law relating to the protection of souls and bodies against ruin and any damage, taking into account the epidemic which appeared in a number of countries,” the ministry affirmed.
https://world.einnews.com/article_detail/511745686/3KOcviyt5cNO-zbT?n=2&code=I5p3xRh7196OtpCd&utm_source=NewsletterNews&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Morocco+Or+%28+Peace+Corps+Morocco+%29+Or+%28+Peace+Corps+%29+Search+Results&utm_content=article
Celebrating March 8 in Morocco: A New Generation of Feminists is Making History
Moroccan women are often depicted in Western media outlets and public for a as powerless and passive victims of patriarchy.
By Fatima Sadiqi - Fatima Sadiqi is Professor of Linguistics and Gender Studies Woodrow Wilson Global Fellow. Mar 3, 2020 Rabat
Moroccan women are often depicted in Western media outlets and the public as powerless and passive victims of patriarchy.This depiction is increasingly nourished by a spectacular proliferation of Islamophobia in the Western world. The danger here is that such depictions disseminate a homogenizing discourse that sidelines the attested opportunities of empowerment and the tremendous potential of women in Morocco as genuine agents of change. A response to this is an emerging generation of young Moroccan feminists (females and males) that call for diversity, individual freedom, gender justice, and peace, in addition to equality which has constituted the backbone of the preceding generations of Moroccan feminists and that spanned almost half a century.
https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2020/03/295150/celebrating-march-8-in-morocco-a-new-generation-of-feminists-is-making-history/
Home Society Gender issues “Chnou Bghiti Nti:” A Campaign for Gender Equality in Morocco
Hshouma: The Comic Book Breaking Taboos About Moroccan Women
Since it was published in September 2019, the “Hshouma” comic book has raised many questions about gender taboos and gender equality in Moroccan society.
By Rachid Elouahsoussi - Mar 6, 2020 Rabat
Written by young Moroccan feminist Zainab Fasiki, the book has sold thousands of copies and is becoming an educational resource about society’s forbidden topics. The book describes sexuality and taboos surrounding women in Morocco’s conservative social norms. Having won several awards for promoting women’s rights Fasiki wants society to open up about its mental images regarding women’s bodies and freedom.
“Hshouma” displays a collection of drawings about gender and sexual taboos in Moroccan society.
https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2020/03/295461/hshouma-the-comic-book-breaking-taboos-about-moroccan-women/
“Chnou Bghiti Nti:” A Campaign for Gender Equality in Morocco
By Rachid Elouahsoussi - Mar 8, 2020 Marrakech
On International Women’s Day, the “Chnou Bghiti Nti” campaign aims to raise awareness among Moroccans about gender inequalities and the needs of women in Morocco at the professional and personal levels. Global Shapers, a network of youth leaders driving dialogue, action, and change, launched the campaign today in partnership with We for She. The network is born out of the World Economic Forum initiative to facilitate social and economic change in 160 countries, including Morocco. “Chnou Bghiti Nti,” meaning “what do you want,” asks Moroccan women about their needs and civil rights in an effort to draw attention to women’s issues on the occasion of International Women’s Day. “We Moroccans, men and women, do not want International Women’s Day to be only an occasion of exchanging gifts,” writes Global Shapers on its official social media. “We want to think and engage in a dialogue about solutions to achieving more rights for women.”
Women in Morocco and around the world still face problems at the social and economic levels. 35% of women in Morocco are subject to violence, according to UN Women, while the pay gap stands at 23%. In 2004, reforms to Morocco’s Family Code (Moudawana) secured important rights for Moroccan women, including the right to self-guardianship, the right to divorce, and the right to child custody. Despite the reforms, civil society organizations in Morocco still report disparities between the family code’s legislation and practice, and gender inequality prevails in many areas of society. In particular, women in rural areas are often not aware of the rights they are guaranteed under the Moudawana and remain subjected to patriarchal values.
https://world.einnews.com/article_detail/511473738/GJC2UzN0pvODZXAk?n=2&code=I5p3xRh7196OtpCd&utm_source=NewsletterNews&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Morocco+Or+%28+Peace+Corps+Morocco+%29+Or+%28+Peace+Corps+%29+Search+Results&utm_content=article
Morocco Launches Violence Against Women Awareness Campaign
El Othmani emphasized, "Repressive measures alone can not solve the problem."
By Susanna Spurgeon - Susanna is an editor at Morocco World News. Nov 29, 2019 Rabat
Morocco’s Head of Government Saad Eddine El Othmani officially launched Morocco’s campaign against the “scourge” of violence against women on Friday, November 29, in Rabat. In his speech, El Othmani noted that the issue “is not only a women’s affair, but [the problem] of all actors in society.” El Othmani welcomed the participation of NGOs and called for dialogue and preventive measures to tackle gender-based violence.
In 2018, Morocco passed Law 103.13 on the elimination of violence against women. The law greatly increased the penalties for those caught harassing or assaulting women. However, El Othmani emphasized, “Repressive measures alone can not solve the problem.”
https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2019/11/287856/morocco-launches-violence-against-women-awareness-campaign/
Moroccan Courts Handle 17,000 Cases of Violence Against Women Annually
Right groups and feminists are more vocal than ever against gender-based violence, encouraging women to speak up and denounce any form of violence.
Safaa Kasraoui Safaa Kasraoui is a journalist at Morocco World News. Mar 9, 2020 Rabat
Gender-based violence remains a prevalent issue in Morocco, where courts handle 17,000 cases of violence against women annually. The director of criminal affairs at the Ministry of Justice, Hicham Melati, said that a small portion of the complaints are made against the parents of victims while a third of the cases are committed by third parties. Melati spoke about gender-based violence during a conference last weekend in Guelmim, southern Morocco. He warned that the issue remains “worrying and raises several questions about the phenomenon of violence against women.”
https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2020/03/295690/moroccan-courts-handle-17000-cases-of-violence-against-women-annually/
Morocco Records Alarming Increase in Cases of Violence Against Women
Physical violence against Moroccan women represented 5.7% last year, while psychological violence reached 48.95%, according to a recent gender-based violence report.
Safaa Kasraoui - Safaa Kasraoui is a journalist at Morocco World News. Nov 24, 2019 Rabat
A 2018 report on gender-based violence records nearly 12,233 cases of violence against women in 2018 against 10,959 in 2017.“Injad” or rescue and “Femmes solidaires” (Women in solidarity or female solidarity), two networks drop-in centers, recorded a notable increase in reported cases of gendered violence, according to a recent report on gender-based violence. The report was done in collaboration with the Federation of Women’s Rights League (FLDF). The two networks presented the outcomes of the report at a recent conference held on November 22 in Rabat. The findings show that 48.95 % of the reported cases of violence were psychological, while 24.42% were socio-economic violence.https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2019/11/287516/morocco-alarming-increase-violence-women/
Morocco’s DGSN Establishes Support Units for Women Victims of Violence
The care units are in line with the provisions of Law 103-13 against gender discrimination, which went into effect on September 12, 2018.
By- Safaa Kasraoui is a journalist at Morocco World News. Sep 27, 2019 Rabat
Morocco’s General Directorate of National Security (DGSN) has introduced support units for women and girls who are victims of gender-based violence. The units, which will be within DGSN administrations, seek to provide psychological support and guidance for the victims of violence.
DGSN announced the measure on Thursday, September 26, at the Royal Police Institute in Kenitra, a city north of Rabat.
https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2019/09/283500/morocco-dgsn-support-units-women-victims-violence/
Participation of Women in Morocco’s Labor Market Still Low
Analysis of the situation of women in the labor market shows their low participation in economic activity, according to the High Commission for Planning (HCP).
By Morocco World News - Mar 7, 2020 Rabat
Analysis of the situation of women in the labor market shows their low participation in economic activity, according to the High Commission for Planning (HCP). The activity rate for women is only 21.5%, well below that for men (71%). This rate is 27.1% in rural areas against 18.5% in urban areas, said the HCP in a note on the situation of women in the labor market, issued on the occasion of International Women’s Day.
In 2019, Morocco included 17.9 million women (50.3%) of which 13.4 million are of working age (15 years and over), said this note.
https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2020/03/295569/participation-of-women-in-moroccos-labor-market-still-low/
Eight Phenomenal Moroccan Women That Were Ahead of Their Time
These eight Moroccan women overcame obstacles in their respective times and paved the way for future generations of strong independent women.
By Josef Abdessalam Zerbaoui - Mar 8, 2020
The UN International Women’s Day is celebrated globally on March 8 every year. This important day is dedicated to celebrating women’s social, economic, cultural, and political achievements throughout history. The event also aims to call for greater gender equality. While significant progress has been made in the last 100 years, much is still left to do as no country in the world has yet achieved full gender equality, according to the United Nations. Moreover, the World Economic Forum estimates that it will take another 100 years to erase the global gender gap. The theme for this year’s International Women’s Day is “I am Generation Equality: Realizing Women’s Rights”. The Generation Equality campaign is aimed at mobilizing global action to achieve gender equality and to bring together people of every gender, ethnicity, race, age, religion, and nationality.
https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2020/03/295467/8-phenomenal-moroccan-women-that-were-ahead-of-their-time/
Marrakesh: Presentation of 'Lexicon of Famous Women of Morocco' by Zahra Najia Zahraoui
09 March 2020 Printable Version
Marrakesh - The author Zahra Najia Zahraoui presented, last weekend in Marrakesh, her latest book entitled: "Lexicon of famous women of Morocco", during an organized meeting on the occasion of the celebration of International Women's Day.
This book provides the reader with the biography of 375 women who have left their mark on the history of Morocco since the 2nd century of Hegira until 2008, explained Zahraoui during this meeting initiated by the Center of Development of the Tensift Region (CDRT). This book clearly illustrates the Moroccan cultural specificity in its female version in general, as well as that of each region of the Kingdom, she said, indicating that the women cited in this opus belong to different social classes and regions of Morocco. These women have excelled in different fields, such as Sufism, science, resistance, literature and art, noted Zahraoui, stressing that in this book, the biographies are classified according to an alphabetical order.
https://www.mapnews.ma/en/actualites/culture/marrakesh-presentation-lexicon-famous-women-morocco-zahra-najia-zahraoui
Nawal Benaissa: “In The End, Women Push the Wheels of Change”
“What you have to realize is that protesting in Morocco can be difficult for anyone, but raising your voice as a woman is far more difficult.”
By Wouter Ijzerman With a background in History, Wouter IJzerman works as a contributing writer at Morocco World News, focusing on history, migration, and religion. Mar 11, 2020 Amsterdam
Leaving the lonely confinements of the Dutch asylum center, Nawal Benaissa visited Amsterdam last weekend to talk about her experience as one of the most prominent faces of the Hirak-movement, which mobilized after the tragic death of fishmonger Mouhcine Fikri in 2016. Benaissa and her youngest son fled the Rif aboard a ferry to Spain and were allowed asylum by the Dutch government last month. At ‘De Balie’, a well-known Amsterdam-based center where people are provided with a platform to raise their voice, Benaissa opened the evening. “Thank you all for coming! Before we begin I would like to express my solidarity with our brothers and sisters in the Rif who have been imprisoned and continue with their hunger strike as we speak. We have not forgotten you.” “It is a very strange feeling having to flee your home and hearth. On the one hand, there is a sense of relief and gratitude, since I and my youngest son are right now living in safety. On the other hand, I had to leave my friends and family behind who are still in Morocco. Life in the asylum center can be tough. There is very little privacy and other asylum seekers do not understand why I left Morocco on account of my provisionary sentencing of ten months.”
https://world.einnews.com/article_detail/511745686/3KOcviyt5cNO-zbT?n=2&code=I5p3xRh7196OtpCd&utm_source=NewsletterNews&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Morocco+Or+%28+Peace+Corps+Morocco+%29+Or+%28+Peace+Corps+%29+Search+Results&utm_content=article
ANRT: More Than 25 Million Moroccans Have Internet Subscriptions
2019 witnessed an 11.43% increase in the number of internet subscriptions in Morocco.
By Taha Mebtoul Mar 11, 2020 Rabat
Morocco’s National Telecommunications Regulatory Agency (ANRT) announced that the number of internet subscribers in Morocco amounted to 25.38 million in 2019. ANRT released the figures on its official website on March 6, with the report illustrating a significant jump in the number of users of different services. The agency recorded an 11.43% increase in internet subscriptions in 2019, representing a 2.6% growth from 2018.
https://world.einnews.com/article_detail/511745686/3KOcviyt5cNO-zbT?n=2&code=I5p3xRh7196OtpCd&utm_source=NewsletterNews&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Morocco+Or+%28+Peace+Corps+Morocco+%29+Or+%28+Peace+Corps+%29+Search+Results&utm_content=article
Reading Project at Ibn Sina High school
Watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=3s&v=g1cGVmO-aDI&app=desktop
Varied riches of Morocco a delight for tour group
Visitors sample desert nation's food, landscape and history
By Azra Haqqie Thursday, March 5, 2020
The Colors of Morocco was the name of the recent trip that immersed our tour group for 10 days in the northwest African country's deep history, varied geography, exotic sights and welcoming people. I signed up for the trip with Plaza Travel in Latham and joined 18 other local people in early December as we visited Casablanca, Fez, the Sahara Desert and Marrakesh. We visited the oldest university in the world, drove through the mighty Atlas Mountains, spent two nights in luxury tents in the Sahara Desert, visited a UNESCO World Heritage site, had fun at the bazaars in Marrakesh, marveled at the gorgeous tilework everywhere and enjoyed the delicious local foods.
https://world.einnews.com/article_detail/511306385/segXCNKIJeXjys5G?n=2&code=I5p3xRh7196OtpCd&utm_source=NewsletterNews&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Morocco+Or+%28+Peace+Corps+Morocco+%29+Or+%28+Peace+Corps+%29+Search+Results&utm_content=article
Morocco to Lose 100,000 Tourists in March Amid Coronavirus Outbreak
6 March 2020 Rabat
As the numbers of confirmed novel coronavirus, or COVID-19, cases grow in Africa, the Moroccan Ministry of Tourism and the national airline Royal Air Maroc (RAM) predict mass cancellations in March.The crisis cell at the north African country’s tourism ministry predicts the loss of at least 100,000 tourists in March alone, Media24 reported quoting a source within the ministry.Based on flight and hotel cancellations since Morocco confirmed its first case of the coronavirus on Monday, March 2, both the crisis cell and RAM predict a severe downturn for the tourism sector. A source at RAM told Media24: “We were on an upward trend with very strong double-digit growth in bookings compared to 2019 and today, our activity is, unfortunately, almost falling back to stability compared to the previous year.”Although they could not give definitive statistics, the source was clear that, if the situation continues, it will have a detrimental effect on the company’s turnover.
http://world.einnews.com/article/511355224/iEPAgt-oJfDS9255
Morocco Sets Up New Committee to Mitigate Economic Damage of COVID-19
The new committee, chaired by the Ministry of Economy, is the latest installment in Morocco’s preventive measures against the COVID-19 outbreak.
By Yahia Hatim - Mar 11, 2020 Rabat
The Moroccan government has launched a new economic monitoring committee to follow the developments of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak and mitigate its impact on the national economy. The Ministry of Economy made the announcement on Wednesday, March 11, as Morocco recorded its fifth confirmed COVID-19 case. The new committee will develop measures and mechanisms to closely follow up on the developments of the epidemic and find ways to support the economic sectors directly affected by the global health threat, notably tourism and transport.
https://world.einnews.com/article_detail/511745686/3KOcviyt5cNO-zbT?n=2&code=I5p3xRh7196OtpCd&utm_source=NewsletterNews&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Morocco+Or+%28+Peace+Corps+Morocco+%29+Or+%28+Peace+Corps+%29+Search+Results&utm_content=article
Participation of Women in Morocco’s Labor Market Still Low
Analysis of the situation of women in the labor market shows their low participation in economic activity, according to the High Commission for Planning (HCP).
By Morocco World News - Mar 7, 2020 Rabat
Analysis of the situation of women in the labor market shows their low participation in economic activity, according to the High Commission for Planning (HCP). The activity rate for women is only 21.5%, well below that for men (71%). This rate is 27.1% in rural areas against 18.5% in urban areas, said the HCP in a note on the situation of women in the labor market, issued on the occasion of International Women’s Day. In 2019, Morocco included 17.9 million women (50.3%) of which 13.4 million are of working age (15 years and over), said this note.
https://world.einnews.com/article_detail/511430344/RZxBvtay3tiG0Vhl?n=2&code=I5p3xRh7196OtpCd&utm_source=NewsletterNews&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Morocco+Or+%28+Peace+Corps+Morocco+%29+Or+%28+Peace+Corps+%29+Search+Results&utm_content=article
Boy Genius Idder Moutia to Represent Morocco at US Robotics Competition
Moutia's team ranked 1st in the Vex IQ robotics qualifying competition.
By Rachid Elouahsoussi - Mar 8, 2020 Marrakech
Young programming prodigy Idder Moutia will represent Morocco at the Vex Robotics World Championship from April 22 to 28 in the US state of Kentucky. Moutia and his three classmates from London Academy Casablanca, Ahmed Ait Ounjar, Illias El Ouahmani, Mounsif Slimani, and Mounsif Slimani, qualified for the competition in the elementary school category. The competition allows students to use their technical and cognitive skills in the domain of educational robotics.
https://world.einnews.com/article_detail/511470262/kvODoBSfQ5qy2li0?n=2&code=I5p3xRh7196OtpCd&utm_source=NewsletterNews&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Morocco+Or+%28+Peace+Corps+Morocco+%29+Or+%28+Peace+Corps+%29+Search+Results&utm_content=article
Morocco’s Human Rights Council Publishes Report on Hirak Rif Movement.
The Hirak Rif is an event that marked the contemporary political scene in Morocco.
By Yahia Hatim - Mar 9, 2020 Rabat
Morocco’s National Council for Human Rights (CNDH) has issued its report on the Al Hoceima demonstrations, known as the Hirak Rif Movement.
The Hirak Rif was a protest movement in the Rif region, northern Morocco, between October 2016 and October 2017. The protests erupted after Mohcine Fikri, a fishmonger in Al Hoceima, was crushed to death in a garbage truck while attempting to retrieve his confiscated merchandise. https://world.einnews.com/article_detail/511541008/APhKY8N81LbIAQlf?n=2&code=I5p3xRh7196OtpCd&utm_source=NewsletterNews&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Morocco+Or+%28+Peace+Corps+Morocco+%29+Or+%28+Peace+Corps+%29+Search+Results&utm_content=article
Drought in Morocco Worries Farmers in Casablanca-Settat Region
The 2019/2020 season in the Casablanca-Settat region has experienced a rainfall deficit of 78% compared to the previous season.
Rabat
Seasonal precipitation records show a sudden stop of rainfall in Morocco that is likely to worry farmers, especially in the Casablanca-Settat region.
The head of the Regional Direction of Agriculture of Casablanca Settat (DRA-CS), Abderrahman Naili, told Maghreb Arab Press (MAP) that the body has noticed a decrease in the level of cumulative rainfall and an increase in temperatures, especially in the ‘bours’ lands, which depend only on rainwater. Naili added that the harsh weather conditions in the ‘bours’ lands affect mostly cereals and vegetables. https://world.einnews.com/article_detail/511541028/PPiPmOAOGY9rD8pT?n=2&code=I5p3xRh7196OtpCd&utm_source=NewsletterNews&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Morocco+Or+%28+Peace+Corps+Morocco+%29+Or+%28+Peace+Corps+%29+Search+Results&utm_content=article
Moroccan Minister Meets US Officials to Discuss American Investment in Morocco.
The meetings revolved around increased American investment in Morocco and preparations for the upcoming US-Africa Business Summit.
By Josef Abdessalam Zerbaoui - Mar 10, 2020 Moscow
Morocco’s Minister Delegate to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mohcine Jazouli, held several meetings with senior US officials on Monday, March 9, in Washington. Jazouli met with notable officials including Adam Boehler, the first CEO of the US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), and Florizelle Liser, the CEO of the Corporate Council on Africa (CCA). During the meeting with Boehler, the minister delegate showcased the achievements that have made Morocco a regional key player and one of the most attractive countries for investment in Africa.
https://world.einnews.com/article_detail/511646439/sv0uQKg3PonOp-ZD?n=2&code=I5p3xRh7196OtpCd&utm_source=NewsletterNews&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Morocco+Or+%28+Peace+Corps+Morocco+%29+Or+%28+Peace+Corps+%29+Search+Results&utm_content=article
Morocco’s Tanneries, A Trade Steeped In Tradition
RABAT
Moroccan leather tanneries are steeped in tradition and have so far resisted change. Reforms, however, are on the horizon. In the ancient city of Fez, 23,000 artisans continue to keep production techniques that are now thousands of years old alive. Walking through the tanneries is like time travelling. Tools and materials and the vast infrastructure where the leather is washed, dried and dyed has been in use since the 8th century.
Some 500 people work in the Chuara tannery, a large open-air courtyard that was built in the 11th century. Round stone vessels pack the space filled with softening liquids and pigments. One of the first things to greet curious tourists is the stench of fermented water, not for the fainthearted, where cows, sheep and goat skins are steeped until supple and soft. Workers move around the vessels, some even getting in to soak the skins, while others can be seen plucking them of their last strands of animal hair. Only those in charge of polishing the fabrics work in small rooms sheltered from the scorching sun.
http://world.einnews.com/article/511681678/DwtevTOLrPkLmSwT
Erasmus MENA Forum Discusses Means to Foster Global Citizenship Education
The forum aims to foster global citizenship education among the region’s youth.
By Rachid Elouahsoussi - Mar 2, 2020 Rabat
Morocco is hosting the Erasmus MENA Forum from February 29 to March 2 in Rabat. Erasmus Global Partnerships (EGP) organized the event. EGP is a youth organisation committed to advancing UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The three-day forum focuses on “Fostering Global Citizenship Education to Move Beyond SDGs.” Erasmus Global Partnerships (EGP) is aiming to deepen knowledge of youth about global citizenship education.
Education is a major objective in the UN’s 2030 sustainable development objectives. Quality education plays a prominent role in fostering global citizenship, according to the organization. Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) are set by the UN to be achieved by 2030.
https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2020/03/295019/erasmus-mena-forum-discusses-means-to-foster-global-citizenship-education/
Making Sense of Female Sub-Saharan Migrants’ ‘Vulnerability’ in Morocco
Agencies fuel gender inequality by representing the women as vulnerable, subordinate, and sometimes threatened.
By Nabil Ferdaoussi - Nabil Ferdaoussi is a graduate student of cultural studies at the University of Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah (Fez, Morocco). Mar 6, 2020 Fez
A growing flux of female migrants from West and Central African countries find themselves stuck in Morocco due to stringent border controls and, to a lesser extent, global economic realities. By default, Morocco became their destination. During their journeys and upon their arrival in Morocco, sub-Saharan African girls and women are vulnerable to all forms of violence and abuse by different actors and institutions. Amid efforts to expose such vulnerability, a sizable portion of literature by humanitarian agencies and public authorities on migration and gender frames such vulnerability within androcentric, racist, and neo-colonial paradigms. Seen from a post-modernist feminist perspective, the concept of vulnerability is less reducible to a political position of powerlessness.
https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2020/03/295491/making-sense-of-female-sub-saharan-migrants-vulnerability-in-morocco/
Moroccan Cyclist Travels the World With Bike to Promote Peace
Yahia started his journey on December 22.
By Safaa Kasraoui - Safaa Kasraoui is a journalist at Morocco World News. Mar 10, 2020 Rabat
Moroccan cyclist Yahia Elbrigui is touring the world on his bike to promote peace. The 26-year-old started his journey from Sidi Slimane, his hometown in Morocco, on December 22. So far, the cyclist has traversed Mauritania, Senegal, Gambia, Guinea Bissau, Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Liberia.
https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2020/03/295729/moroccan-cyclist-travels-the-world-with-bike-to-promote-peace/
International Designer Pays Tribute to Amazigh Queen Dihya in New Collection
The Maghreb desert scapes inspired the Paris based brand.
By Rachid Elouahsoussi - Mar 6, 2020 Rabat
Designer Honayda Serafi has chosen Amazigh (Berber) Queen Dihya as an inspiration for her 2020 winter collection. The Saudi designer has taken a creative trip back in time to the 7th century to bring Dihya’s courage to life during Paris Fashion Week. Honayda paid tribute to the Amazigh Queen Dihya, a symbol of resistance and courage in the Maghreb against foreign invasions. The brand, helmed by Honayda, took inspiration from the Moroccan and Tunisian desert-scapes, according to The National.ae. Honayda lived in Saudi Arabia before moving to Paris to study fashion. She celebrates feminine courage in her collections. The Saudi designer launched her namesake label in 2017.
https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2020/03/295431/international-designer-pays-tribute-to-amazigh-queen-dihya-in-new-collection/
Brussels Book Fair Celebrates Morocco as Guest of Honor
More than 9% of the population in Brussels communicates in Moroccan dialects.
By Rachid Elouahsoussi - Mar 8, 2020 Marrakech
Morocco was the guest of honor at the 2020 Brussels Book Fair in Belgium from March 5 to 7.
The festival invited more than 30 notable Moroccan writers to celebrate the country’s literature during the 50-year-old cultural event in the Belgian capital. “The organizing committee wanted for years to pay tribute to a dynamic culture rooted in our society,” the Brussels Book Fair shared on its official website.
https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2020/03/295610/brussels-book-fair-celebrates-morocco-as-guest-of-honor/
Chef Richard Bertinet Shares His Valuable Lesson in Moroccan Hospitality
Chef Richard Bertinet reflects on his visit to Morocco and the lessons he learned from breaking bread in the High Atlas Mountains.
By Morgan Hekking - Mar 1, 2020
Chef Richard Bertinet, like many others before him, fell in love with Morocco the first time he experienced what he describes as magic while exploring the city of Marrakech. “I remember I followed some kids near the train who were carrying a tray of dough in the early morning to the local bakery,” he recalled in an interview with Morocco World News on the sidelines of a gathering at the residence of the British Ambassador to Morocco, Thomas Reilly. “They gave the tray of dough to the baker, who just put the tray away and told them to come back later.”
https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2020/03/294930/chef-richard-bertinet-shares-his-valuable-lesson-in-moroccan-hospitality/
Fouad Laroui: How a Moroccan Engineer Became a Literary Lion in French
Undertaking real-world reforms is the only real solution, and as a member of the CSMD, Laroui now has a chance to serve Morocco by promoting reforms.
By Bouzeki Chakroune Bouzekri Chakroune is a regular contributor to weekly and monthly international magazines and leading newspapers, writing op-eds, biographical articles, and pieces on cultural, political, social and international relations since 2000. Mar 1, 2020 Beni Mellal
Although Fouad Laroui holds degrees in engineering and economics from prestigious European universities, he has become a prolific writer in the Moroccan diaspora. He has produced a fabulous miscellany of novels, short stories, poems, and especially chronicles in the French weekly Jeune Afrique and other media outlets. Born in Morocco’s eastern city of Oujda on August 12, 1958, Fouad Laroui was lucky he could study at the Lycee Lyautey French school in Casablanca. After passing the French Baccalaureate, he went to Paris to study engineering at Ecole Nationale des Ponts et Chaussees. Because of his degree, Laroui had access to the position of engineer at Morocco’s Office Cherifien des Phosphates (OCP), the phosphate company in Khouribga. But he did not settle in Morocco.
https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2020/03/294897/fouad-laroui-how-a-moroccan-engineer-became-a-literary-lion-in-french/
EU, Morocco Discuss Means to Promote Education, Scientific Research
Morocco is the first African country and the second in the south of the Mediterranean to benefit from the Erasmus program, which encourages student mobility.
By Safaa Kasraoui - Safaa Kasraoui is a journalist at Morocco World News. Mar 5, 2020 Rabat
The minister delegate in charge of higher education and scientific research, Driss Ouaouicha, held talks with European Commissioner for Education and Culture Maria Gabriel on Wednesday. During the meeting, the Moroccan official and the EU representative discussed means to strengthen cooperation in higher education and scientific research. The talks also focused on the mobility of students, researchers, and administrative staff, as well as on “the means to develop tripartite cooperation with Africa.” Ouaouicha said that both Morocco and the EU have a “lot of points of convergence on these topics of common interest.”
https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2020/03/295384/eu-morocco-discuss-means-to-promote-education-scientific-research/
Marrakech-Agadir Railroad Construction on Track to Completion by 2025
By Hamza Guessous - Mar 11, 2020 Rabat
The feasibility and pilot studies of extending Morocco’s railway line from Marrakech to Agadir are almost completed, with the line’s completion scheduled for 2025. According to a Technical Data Sheet obtained and examined by Moroccan news outlet Medias24, the National Railway Office (ONCF) launched the railway feasibility studies years ago, which enabled the office to determine the project’s profitability as well as the passenger base of the two cities. The document showed that ONCF has chosen the optimal route to extend the line to Agadir, which is 260 kilometers away from Marrakech by car. The railroad will pass between mountains.
https://world.einnews.com/article_detail/511745686/3KOcviyt5cNO-zbT?n=2&code=I5p3xRh7196OtpCd&utm_source=NewsletterNews&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Morocco+Or+%28+Peace+Corps+Morocco+%29+Or+%28+Peace+Corps+%29+Search+Results&utm_content=article
40,000 Foreign Students Study In Morocco
March 5, 2020 Mohammed Methqual
As part of moves to promote unity and peace through education, the government of Morocco has opened its doors to many foreign students to access higher quality education. It is estimated that over 40,000 foreign students had, over the last three decades, benefited from higher education, technical and vocational training in Morocco. Mohammed Methqual, Ambassador Director General of the Morocco International Cooperation Agency (AMCI), said the students were drawn from 117 countries. Currently, 14,000 foreign students are studying in the Morocco through AMCI, and 85 per cent of them are on scholarship.
https://www.ghanamma.com/2020/03/05/40000-foreign-students-study-in-morocco/
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ArticleWeek in Review see moreMorocco Week in Review
February 8, 2020Virtual Magazine of Morocco on the Web
Women and youth awareness video: Moroccan women’s association (in Darija)
On Wednesday January 29th, 2020; The Association: National Union of Moroccan Women (UFM), which Princess Lalla Meryem presides, has launched a new listening and support platform "We are all with you", كلنا معكfor women victims of harassment or family violence; and youth living in difficult conditions. The phone hotline 8350 is operational 24/7, and a free-downloadable software on personal phones for GPS location is available on AppStore/Play Store. The platform is also supposed to offer technical guidance and support for youth entrepreneurs, and job hunters.
Check the association promotional campaign video here in Arabic:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWIf4UrHeZk&feature=youtu.be
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBeqWQXBzyA&feature=youtu.be
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GyQQKt9qYN4
======================================Nearly 13 Million Tourists Visited Morocco in 2019
While the number sets a new record for Moroccan tourism, there is still room for improvement to further boost Morocco’s position as a top tourist destination.
By Yahia Hatim - Feb 3, 2020 Rabat
Moroccan tourism reached a growth rate of 5.2% between 2018 and 2019, recording nearly 13 million tourists, revealed the President of the National Tourism Confederation (CNT), Abdellatif Kabbaj. Kabbaj revealed the numbers on Saturday, February 1, at a press conference in Marrakech about CNT’s road map to promoting the Moroccan tourism industry. French tourists remain the largest group of visitors to Morocco, with around 1.99 million French nationals visiting the country in 2019………….
More here: https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2020/02/292688/nearly-13-million-tourists-visited-morocco-in-2019/
======================================An Argument for ‘Rural Tourism’ in Essaouira-Agadir Atlantic Strip
Currently, the Atlantic strip between Essaouira and Agadir is in a strong position on the cultural and seaside tourist chessboard, mostly through its popularity for surfers, but the region is gaining new impetus with the advent of the seaside resort Mogador, and Taghazout, both planned for completion in 2020.
By Jamal Guilloul - Feb 1, 2020 Essaouira
Currently, the Atlantic strip between Essaouira and Agadir is in a strong position on the cultural and seaside tourist chessboard, mostly through its popularity for surfers, but the region is gaining new impetus with the advent of the seaside resort Mogador, and Taghazout, both planned for completion in 2020. So, alongside cultural and seaside tourism, the coastal strip will be able to offer a new kind of tourism: “rural tourism,” making the region a full-fledged strategic destination. I would like to point out that the descriptions relating to each component on the tourism menu aim to demonstrate the richness and uniqueness of the region’s potential, and to justify investment in such sectors to better welcome international, and intranational, tourists to the region.
First, I will present the natural heritage of the region, focused mainly on the rural and urban aspects of Essaouira and its surrounding area, as well as the high demand fromtourists for visits to the region. Thus, the description of the city of Essaouira is intended to demonstrate that the uniqueness of the region has been successful in attracting high numbers of tourists and, so, will be equally successful in attracting tourists to the rural communes and areas surrounding the small city.
https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2020/02/292526/an-argument-for-rural-tourism-in-essaouira-agadir-atlantic-strip/
======================================Why Moroccan Scholar Ibn Battuta is the Greatest Explorer of all Time
In the 14th century, the Moroccan wanderer Ibn Battuta spent nearly 30 years traveling some 75,000 miles across Africa, the Middle East, India and Southeast Asia.
Author: Evan Andrews Aug 22, 2019
The title of “history’s most famous traveler” usually goes to Marco Polo, the great Venetian wayfarer who visited China in the 13th century. For sheer distance covered, however, Polo trails far behind the Muslim scholar Ibn Battuta. Though little known outside the Islamic world, Battuta spent half his life tramping across vast swaths of the Eastern Hemisphere. Moving by sea, by camel caravan and on foot, he ventured into over 40 modern day nations, often putting himself in extreme danger just to satisfy his wanderlust. When he finally returned home after 29 years, he recorded his escapades in a hulking travelogue known as the Rihla.
Born in Tangier, Morocco, Ibn Battuta came of age in a family of Islamic judges. In 1325, at age 21, he left his homeland for the Middle East. He intended to complete his hajj—the Muslim pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca—but he also wished to study Islamic law along the way. “I set out alone,” he later remembered, “having neither fellow-traveler in whose companionship I might find cheer, nor caravan whose party I might join, but swayed by an overmastering impulse within me and a desire long-cherished in my bosom to visit these illustrious sanctuaries.”
Battuta began his journey riding solo on a donkey, but soon linked up with a pilgrim caravan as it snaked its way east across North Africa. The route was rugged and bandit infested, and the young traveler soon developed a fever so severe that he was forced to tie himself to his saddle to avoid collapsing. Nevertheless, he still found time during one stopover to wed a young woman—the first of some 10 wives he would eventually marry and then divorce during his travels.
In Egypt, Battuta studied Islamic law and toured Alexandria and the metropolis of Cairo, which he called “peerless in beauty and splendor.” He then continued on to Mecca, where he took part in the hajj. His travels might have ended there, but having completed his pilgrimage, he decided to continue wandering the Muslim world, or “Dar al-Islam.” Battuta claimed to be driven by a dream in which a large bird took him on its wing and “made a long flight towards the east…and left me there.” A holy man had interpreted the dream to mean that Battuta would roam across the earth, and the young Moroccan intended to fulfill the prophecy. Battuta’s next few years were a whirlwind of travel. He joined a caravan and toured Persia and Iraq, and later ventured north to what is now Azerbaijan. Following a sojourn in Mecca, he trekked across Yemen and made a sea voyage to the Horn of Africa. From there, he visited the Somali city of Mogadishu before dipping below the equator and exploring the coasts of Kenya and Tanzania…………..
Follow it here: https://www.history.com/news/why-arab-scholar-ibn-battuta-is-the-greatest-explorer-of-all-time
======================================The 17th ‘International Nomads Festival’: A Celebration of Culture
The cultural festival returns for its 17th year in March to celebrate and preserve Moroccan nomadic heritage.
By Steven Goodwin - Feb 1, 2020 Rabat
Musicians from around the world will descend on the Moroccan oasis town of M’hamid El Ghizlane, in the Zagora province, for the annual International Nomads Festival from March 19-21. The festival celebrates cultural diversity as many nations come together to celebrate with music, poetry, storytelling, and cultural dances. The event also welcomes foreign musicians to participate in the activities and perform. Musicians from India, Senegal, Niger, Somalia, Algeria, Mali, Poland, and Italy will be performing local music and dance alongside local Moroccan artists. Festival-goers can expect to hear traditional Moroccan musical sounds of the oud, taarija, qanun, drums, and harps, as well as traditional music from other cultures. The festival aims to preserve the rich history, heritage, and identity of the nomadic tribes in the region. Nomadic tribes value tribalism and community; their ancestry and mobile way of life are a significant part of their culture. Nomadic tribes in Morocco live completely independently, making their own medicine, herding cattle, collecting water from wells, and collecting their own firewood.
https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2020/02/292502/the-17th-international-nomads-festival-a-celebration-of-culture/
======================================Everything to Know About Surfing in Rabat
Surfing in Morocco attracts tourists each year to cites such as Taghazout and Agadir, but the capital, Rabat, provides a unique experience for those in the quest to find the perfect wave.
BY Henry Hylbert - Feb 2, 2020 RabatEach winter, swells form Morocco’s biggest waves of the year as international travelers and locals alike seek the best spots to catch a wave. For many, tried and true gems such as Agadir, Dar Bouazza, Oued Cherrat, are priorities, but the country’s capital, Rabat, makes a solid case for recognition. With its northern location, Rabat offers a great stop on a surf tour with waves for all skill levels, an easy rental experience, and a unique surrounding culture. Surf starts picking up in October and hits full stride in the January and February months with the arrival of the winter swell. In the spring, the surfing can be quality, but the waves are not as consistent.
https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2020/02/292560/everything-to-know-about-surfing-in-rabat/
======================================Casablanca to Host its First International Gastronomy Festival
“More than a feast for the taste buds,'' the festival will offer experiences of Morocco’s rich heritage through culinary art.
By Steven Goodwin - Jan 31, 2020 Rabat
Food lovers and connoisseurs from around the world will gather in Casablanca to taste innovative, edible creations at the city’s debut international gastronomy festival from March 6-8. Themed “gastronomy as a lever for development in Africa,” the event aims to uplift Morocco and other African nations by promoting tourism, local restaurants, and cultural food practices. The event will display a variety of cultures’ food practices and gastronomy, the art and science behind good eating. The festival will especially focus on the beliefs and practices surrounding cooking and eating in Africa.
https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2020/01/292481/casablanca-to-host-its-first-international-gastronomy-festival/
======================================Is Digitization the Future for Morocco’s Business Sector?
In an ever-changing digital world, Morocco is racing against the clock to achieve its transition, but will it succeed in becoming a leader in this newborn sector?
By Yahia Hatim - Jan 26, 2020
Morocco, like many developing countries, is currently in a transitional phase between the paper era and the digital age. Organizations are transitioning from relying on physical documents for their everyday functioning to using digital technology to solve their problems.
As Morocco’s digital transformation goes ahead at full speed, Morocco World News sat down with one of the transformation’s leading actors to discuss the future of digitalization and how it will affect Morocco’s economy. Yasmina Benchekroun, Managing Director at the Moroccan branch of Abergower, a British multinational specialized in digitization, shares her experience in this burgeoning economic field and her forecasts for the future.
https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2020/01/292042/digitization-future-morocco-business-sector/
======================================Agadir Reflects on Morocco’s Judeo-Amazigh Heritage
The Jewish presence in Morocco dates back to the time of the Phoenician Carthaginian state, more than 2,500 years ago
By Morgan Hekking - Feb 5, 2020 Rabat
Agadir is hosting Morocco’s first Judeo-Amazigh tolerance forum from February 3 to 7 to highlight the cultural and religious diversity of the country’s national heritage. The cultural event features a photo exhibition from the Museum of Moroccan Judaism, cultural activities, conferences, and visits to the synagogue of Agadir, the Rabbi David Ben Baroukh Mausoleum, and the Mellah of Inezgane. The curator of the Museum of Moroccan Judaism, Zhor Rehihil, is confident that the forum will enhance Jewish-Amazigh heritage as part of Moroccans’ common identity. The Jewish presence in Morocco dates back to the time of the Phoenician Carthaginian state, more than 2,500 years ago. North Africa experienced multiple waves of Jewish migration, notably in 587 BC after the siege of Jerusalem. The First Jewish-Roman War in Palestine in 66 AD resulted in a mass displacement of Jews, many of whom found refuge in Morocco. The Spanish Inquisition in the late 15th century also triggered a wave of Jewish migration to Morocco.
https://world.einnews.com/article_detail/508977870/7GUPfytAZwLBCzzB?n=2&code=I5p3xRh7196OtpCd&utm_source=NewsletterNews&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Morocco+Or+%28+Peace+Corps+Morocco+%29+Or+%28+Peace+Corps+%29+Search+Results&utm_content=article======================================Morocco’s New Program for Business Support ‘to Change Moroccan Economy’
The launch of Morocco’s plan for supporting entrepreneurship is expected to reshape Morocco’s business sector.
By Yahia Hatim - Feb 4, 2020 Rabat
The Integrated Program for Enterprise Support and Financing, launched on January 27, will reshape Morocco’s economy, opening up new and unique entrepreneurship opportunities, said the Chairman of Credit Agricole du Maroc bank, Tariq Sijilmassi. Thanks to the program, the small businesses of today have the potential to turn into medium-sized businesses in the coming years, and then into large businesses, said Sijilmassi. “In Morocco, there are not many large companies dating back hundreds of years,” the businessman noted. “All major Moroccan companies, or medium-sized ones, were born 20 to 50 years ago.”
https://world.einnews.com/article_detail/508879347/7A_HVwnokg4-M4qm?n=2&code=I5p3xRh7196OtpCd&utm_source=NewsletterNews&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Morocco+Or+%28+Peace+Corps+Morocco+%29+Or+%28+Peace+Corps+%29+Search+Results&utm_content=article======================================As anti-Semitism increases, let's remember how Morocco saved its Jews
By Menachem Genack, opinion contributor — 02/02/20
“There are no Jews in Morocco; there are only Moroccan citizens.” This was how King Mohammed V of Morocco responded to the Vichy government of France to the request to turn over Jewish citizens. “I do not approve of the new anti-Semitic laws, and I refuse to associate myself with a measure I disagree with,” he told the French government officials. “I reiterate as I did in the past that the Jews are under my protection, and I reject any distinction that should be made amongst my people.” While other rulers made common cause with the Nazis due to their shared anti-Semitism, Mohammed V was a strong supporter of the Allies, and he took seriously his role as “Commander of the Faithful,” which entailed protection not only of Muslims but of his Jewish and Christian subjects as well. During the Vichy rule, no Moroccan Jews were deported or killed.
My parents escaped from Belgium to Casablanca en route to the United States during the war and thus were saved. Recently, I met with Hillary Clinton, and she mentioned to me that she had just returned from a trip to Morocco. She asked me if I was aware of the country’s history of benevolence toward its Jewish community. I told her that my own family was a beneficiary of that history and that I was traveling to Morocco myself in a few days. ……
More here: https://thehill.com/opinion/civil-rights/480899-as-anti-semitism-increases-lets-remember-how-morocco-saved-its-jews
======================================King Mohammed VI Launches Agadir Urban Development Program
The program will promote the population’s living conditions through numerous socio-economic projects.
By Hamza Guessous - Feb 4, 2020 RabatKing Mohammed VI presided this evening over the launch of the Agadir Urban Development Program (2020-2024), a structuring project to promote the city’s role as an integrated economic hub and locomotive of the entire region. Worth MAD 6 billion (around $625 million), the urban development program aims to consolidate the city’s strategic position and strengthen its attractiveness as a national and international tourist destination.
The program is also set to improve human development indices and promote the living conditions f the population, particularly the inhabitants of under-equipped neighborhoods.
https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2020/02/292819/king-mohammed-vi-launches-agadir-urban-development-program/
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