Lydia Beyoud

Lydia is a telecommunications journalist in Washington, D.C. She received her B.A. in International Studies at Portland State University and a Master's in Broadcast and Multimedia Journalism from American University.

Email Lydia Beyoud

Latest posts by Lydia Beyoud

Morocco: Rage and sadness at this weekend's Casablanca factory fires

This weekend saw two deadly fires, one in a mattress and another in a textile factory, break out in Morocco's economic capital, Casablanca. Dozens of people died from asphyxia after being locked into their workplace by employers. The Moroccan blogosphere responds with questions and expressions of anger and sadness.

2 May 2008

Morocco: Hands off my Muezzin!

Robin des Blogs received over a dozen comments on his post about a minister in the Moroccan government who has asked muezzins in mosques adjoining tourist areas not to do...

15 April 2008

Prison Break, Moroccan Style

On Tuesday morning, 9 inmates and suspected terrorists escaped from a Moroccan jail. Moroccan bloggers used every pun and reference from the American television show, Prison Break, to describe their shock and disbelief.

11 April 2008

Moroccan Blogosphere on Fouad Mourtada: Finally Free

Young Moroccan engineer Fouad Mourtada was released from prison by presidential pardon days before Eid el Mawlid, the Prophet Muhammad's birthday. Fouad was imprisoned for more than forty days for creating a Facebook profile of the king's brother, Moulay Rachid. Bloggers reflect on the grassroots effort to free Fouad and celebrate his liberation as a step forward for personal freedoms in the Kingdom.

21 March 2008

Morocco: Bloggers Rally Behind Fouad Mourtada

In Morocco, francophone bloggers rally behind Fouad Mourtada, jailed for posting a Facebook profile that spoofed a member of the Moroccan royal family. Mourtada's arrest reveals the tensions between modern Morocco and Morocco of the Middle Ages, they write, while still holding out hope for an acquittal.

19 February 2008

Moroccan bloggers call for education reform

When the World Bank recently announced that Middle Eastern and North African nations need to improve their education systems in order to reach their development goals and be competitive in a globalized market, it sent ripples through Morocco's Francophone blogosphere, prompting calls to improve the nation's ailing education system.

11 February 2008

Francophone Morocco on Eid Mubarak Said

Last week, Morocco celebrated Aid el-Kebir (“Big Eid”), a festival commemorating Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son, Isaac, and God's mercy in sparing him. Family members visit each other over...

28 December 2007

Morocco: Seeing stars in Marrakesh

It's been a star-struck week in the French-speaking Moroccan bloggosphere, famous international figures being a primary focus of discussion. Several bloggers wrote about the happenings at the seventh edition of the International Marrakesh Film Festival, most notably on the reception there of American director Martin Scorcese and some famous Egyptian film stars.

23 December 2007