Stories from Quick Reads and Morocco
Morocco: Theater Group Adapts The Vagina Monologues
The association Théâtre Aquarium has begun the representation of the Moroccan adaptation of the play The Vagina Monologues called Le Spectacle Dialy [fr] in Rabat. Ali Amar opines that the Moroccan version of the play is a breath of fresh air in the current era of religious conservatism.
Morocco: Kissing the King's Hands
Moroccan Jamal Elabiad shares his views on the custom of kissing the King's hands.
Greece: Athens, 1st African Film Festival Week
The first African Film Festival will take place in Athens, Greece, from February 23 to 29, 2012, with the collaboration of various African countries’ embassies and consulates. Twenty one films from Angola, South Africa, Morocco, Tunisia, Nigeria, Egypt and Ethiopia will be screened. The event is hosted by the Greek Film...
Morocco: “Stop French Made TGV Rail Project”
StopTGV.com is a web campaign launched by a number of Moroccan NGOs. It calls for the cancellation of the controversial French-made Tangier-Casablanca TGV rail link due to start operating by December 2015 and which is worth an estimated 20 billion dirhams (US$2.4 billion). The campaign calls on the authorities to...
Morocco: Historic Telecom Operator Blocks Skype
“What a dreadful news today!” laments the blog Moroccan Geeks [fr], which reports that the Moroccan historic operator Maroc Telecom is now officially blocking all VoIP services, including Skype. The news sparked a heated debate on social media. Many netizens speculate the move is meant to bolster Maroc Telecom‘s paying...
Morocco: New Video Calls on Moroccans to “Wake Up”
As we approach the first anniversary of the start of the youth-based pro-democracy movement “February 20“, activists are calling for a nationwide demonstration. Anartiviste posted this video on YouTube to convey the movement's message.
Arab World: Best of Arab Blogs
OpenDemocracy shares its list of the Best of Arab blogs here. Check out their list, which includes blogs from Egypt, Syria, Tunisia and Morocco, by clicking the link above.
Morocco: Call to Free Rapper Haked
In Morocco, a call has gone out for netizens to join in a campaign to free jailed rapper Haked. Mamfakinch tweets: “Help free Moroccan democracy activist & rapper Mouad Haked. Take pic of yourself w/ sign reading #FreeHaked. Send it to FREEMOUAD@GMAIL.COM.” Mamfakinch posts more details on his case here.
Tunisia: A Message to Morocco's February 20 Movement
Moroccan blogger Hisham Almiraat shares a video with a message to the February 20 Movement. Watch how bloggers from around the world tell them – Mamfakinch, which means don't give up the fight, in the Moroccan dialect. The video was shot during the Third Arab Bloggers meeting, which ended in...
Morocco: Blogger Arrested in Northern City of Fnidaq
According to activists, Moroccan blogger and web programmer Mohamed Douas was arrested on Monday morning in the city of Fnidaq. His supporters say the arrest is related to Wikileaks Fnidaq, a website Mohamed helped create and in which documents intended to expose corruption within the local administration were published.
France : Two Moroccan Actresses Turned Away
Two Moroccan actresses, invited to the Cannes Film Festival for Leila Kilani's movie “Sur la planche” [On a Plank]” were turned away at Nice airport on Thursday, May 19. They were authorized to return afterwards. In Morocco, blogger kechmania commented [fr] : “In a perfect world, official apologies would have...
Morocco: Tracking Protests
Moroccan blog Mamfakinch has prepared an interactive map which tracks protests happening in Morocco this weekend.
North Africa: Manifesto for a Maghreb of Cinema
The Arab revolution has also impacted the cinema world. Filmmakers from Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia have just launched on their blog Maghreb du cinéma [fr], a suggestion box to reinvigorate the creation, production and distribution of their work. Their manifesto can be signed here [fr].
Morocco: Brave Young Woman Stands at the Forefront of Change
The blog Moroccans for Change interviews Selma Maarouf, a leading figure in the Moroccan youth movement for change. Selma explains what motivates her to stand at the forefront of every major pro-democracy protest in her country.
Africa: African Champions League Results
In a post published on May 9 on Afrik.com, Ali Makha analyses [fr] the results of the African Champions League: ” The semi-quarter finals in the African Cup gave their verdict this week-end. In Champions League, TP Mazembe saved the day against WAC, while in the CAF Cup, FUS Rabat had...
Morocco: Atlas Mountaineering
The View from Fez shares tips on mountaineering in the High Atlas.
Africa: Panafrican Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou
Boukari Ouédraogo wrote [Fr] on his blog: ” The 22nd edition of the Panafrican Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou will take place in Ouagadougou from February 26th to March 5th. This year's theme is “African Cinema and Markets.”
Morocco: The King's Very Private Visit to France
According to a Moroccan opposition journalist interviewed by French news website Rue89 [fr] King Mohamed VI of Morocco arrived Thursday in France for a private visit, and is staying in the castle the royal family owns near Paris. A holiday abroad at this time of general unrest in North Africa...
Morocco: Social Protests Continue
Moroccan blog Alwandida (Ar) zooms in on ‘social’ protests in Morocco. Here, he posts a video showing a woman speaking out against housing problems.
Morocco: Fassi Cheese
The View From Fez reports that, although historically not a cheese-producing nation, Morocco is now catching up to its European brethren in the cheese-making department.
Morocco: What Legal Protection for Religions Other Than Maliki Islam?
Blogger and lawyer Ibn Kafka gives an insight into the legal dispositions provided by the Moroccan law [Fr] to protect cults and religions, other than Sunni Islam, the Maliki rite of which is officially adopted as State religion.
