Moroccan News Briefs

Authorities provide aid to people in mountainous areas

On Sunday authorities began an operation to provided food aid to some 2,600 people affected by the heavy snowfalls in the remote rural area of Imilchil (south east Morocco). During this operation, 500 packages were distributed, each one containing more than 30 kg of foodstuff.

During the last few days, Moroccan authorities have also organised several operations to provide aid to several zones in the High Atlas with the aim to mitigate the effects of cold weather.

Light earth tremor strikes northern Morocco

The series of earthquakes experienced recently in Morocco continues. The Moroccan Geophysics Institute reported a magnitude 3.6 quake on Sunday morning in the northern province of Chefchaouen.

The quake's epicentre was located in the commune of Ait Beida.

Missionary caught "in flagrante delicto."

On Thursday, in Amezmiz on the outskirts of Marrakech, Morocco's security services arrested a foreign missionary carrying out Christian proselytizing activities "in flagrante delicto," Interior Ministry said.

According to various sources, the missionary had targeted a group of fourteen Moroccans, composed mainly of children and women, with the aim of spreading an evangelist creed in the Kingdom and locate new Moroccan nationals for recruitment.

The operation of the security services took place following information supplied by the public on the organization of a secret meeting to initiate people into Christianity. The Interior Ministry statement added that such actions were aimed at shaking Muslims' faith and undermining the Kingdom's religious values.

The operation resulted in the seizure of teaching material as well as important proselytizing documents, including laptops, video projectors, CD-ROMs and evangelization brochures

Twelve million foreigners enter Morocco's airports in 2009

According to the Tourism Department figures, about 12 million foreign passengers passed through Morocco's airports in 2009. This number is up 5% compared to 2008.

Around 46% of these passengers passed through the Casablanca Mohammed V airport, 23% for Marrakech-Menara airport and 9% for Agadir-Massira.

According to the ministry, the number of tourists visiting Morocco in 2009 reached 8.34 million, up 6% compared to the previous year. The French topped the list with 3.1 million (+4%), followed by the Spaniards with 1.8 million (+10%), the Belgians (469,000, + 12%), the Dutch (443,000, +12%), the Britons (362,000, -7%) and the Italians (318,000, + 11%).

Fez hotel wins travel award

Travelers' Choice 2010 Best Service Award has gone to Riad Laaroussa in Fez. The hotel has a reputation for being one of the top boutique hotels in Africa and this award should further enhance its reputation

Proprietor Fred Sola was very happy with the result and took advantage of the award "to thank everyone who has given us such great support to improve the quality of our service. Your comments are critical to us. We are fully aware that in the service industry, quality is a permanent learning curve and it is never won… but such event gives us the confidence and the strength to carry on with the ambition to serve you better."

Congratulations to Fred Sola and the team at Riad Laaroussa.

Visit Fez and get dumped?

With Valentine's Day fast approaching we thought it worthwhile to pass on a tip for those who are feeling less than romantic. The tip comes from the current Ryanair magazine. The mag lists Fez as one of the best places to come for Valentine's - to dump your lover! They say that the Medina, being such a maze, makes it one of the easiest places in the world to get lost or 'accidentally' separated, should you need some time apart after that difficult discussion. The adventurous should bear in mind most Moroccan buildings have a flat roof - providing you with the opportunity for a James Bond-style chase, during which you can shout 'it's not you, it's me!' while leaping from roof to roof.

The UK Independant recently touched on the same subject: The alleyways of the medina are so sinuous, straitened and overbuilt that there is, quite literally, no view. You never know what is around the next corner as it tilts down towards the river. You barely know where the next corner is. There is no angle that can lead the eye upwards more than 30ft. The rooflines are a mystery. The medina from the air reveals nothing about the medina on the ground. The eye is made useless.

Instead, you navigate by sound and smell. The clangour of hammers on metal leads you into a narrow defile, where brass-beaters and tinsmiths bang their trade. Here a vegetable steam announces the dyers, the streets robed in scarlet cloth hung to dry. A haunting, literally faecal, fleshy, fatty, ammoniacal smell declares that the great and terrifying Chouara Tannery is nearby – but where? Through what doorway, along which grease-skittered cobbles, up which narrow stairs?

We wish you good luck and... er... happy Valentine's Day on the 14th.

New centre for studying Arabic in Fez

The International Institute for Languages and Cultures (INLAC) opens its doors in September, in a beautiful traditional medina house.Founded by Fatima Sadiqi and her husband, Moha Ennaji, the centre is a private institute accredited by the Moroccan Ministry of Education. It welcomes students from top American and European universities and offers a combination of courses, think tanks and homestays in a unique environment.

The Institute combines quality of courses with the essence of Fez, home to the oldest university in the world. It brings together academics, theologians, policians and social activists to discuss urgent issues of our time. These range from interfaith and inter-cultural topics to conflict resolution, youth concerns, gender, development and human rights, and social justice.

Fatima describes INLAC as a beacon of cross-cultural understanding that fits well with what Fez, an ancestral Islamic city, stands for. By harnessing the insights and wisdom of the great 14th century scholars like Maimonides, Ibn Khaldoun and Aurillac who lived and worked together in Fez, taboos and preconceptions will be broken.

Moha Ennaji

For more information, see the website www.inlac.net.

New direct flight from London to Fez

Ryanair has announced a rash of new destinations for the summer months, including a direct flight from Stansted to Fez.


This news will come as a great relief to visitors, guesthouse and hotel owners and local expats. The low-cost airlines such as Jet4You and EasyJet have been flying into Fez for some time and the city sees a lot of visitors from Spain, Italy, Germany, France and the Netherlands.

But visits from British tourists have fallen markedly since Atlas Blue stopped their direct flight, so it makes a great deal of sense for this route to be restored. Certainly it will be a boon for people wanting to come to Fez for the Fes Festival of World Sacred Music at the beginning of June.

Ryanair isn't everyone's favourite airline, with their plans for pay-toilets and standing room tickets. As one blogger put it recently, Ryanair is the airline you love to hate, but secretly book at home.

Flights from Stansted will start on 4 May and cost from £31.99.

Australians in Morocco

The most recent statistics show that over 20,000 Australians are entering Morocco every year. While the vast majority only stay a few weeks on holiday, many are staying on as temporary residents or are dual nationals. With that in mind, here is a some important information for any readers who might have an Australian Passport in their pockets.

Although there is no Australian Embassy in Morocco itself, the Australian Embassy in Paris, France is available to assist any Australian citizen who might be in need of help or consular advice, and the first point of contact is their web site: http://www.france.embassy.gov.au

The first thing that any Australian passing through Morocco should do is to let the Embassy know where and when you are planning to visit. You can take just five minutes to “register on line” via the above web site. That way the Embassy is able to contact you with information such as upcoming elections, travel warnings or other information relating to your general security and wellbeing.

The Embassy can also let you know when an Australian Consular Officer may be in Morocco. On such occasions, if you wish to meet with an Embassy staff member, you are invited to contact the Embassy by e-mail to make an appointment

A Consular Officer will be in Morocco on Monday 22nd February in Casablanca and Tuesday 23rd February in Rabat. If you wish to make an appointment to meet with him please send a short e-mail to: consular.paris@dfat.gov.au

In addition to offering on-line registering services, there is also a wealth of information available on the web site relating to passport applications, marriage, visa, immigration information and general consular information.

The Australian government also has a “consular sharing” agreement with our Canadian Embassy counterparts and any Australian citizen seeking consular assistance may contact or present directly (during office hours) to the Canadian Embassy in Rabat.

Embassy of Canada in Morocco
13, bis rue Jaâfa-as-Sadik, Agdal
Rabat, Morocco

Postal Address
Embassy of Canada in Morocco
C.P. 709 Rabat-Agdal
Morocco
Telephone: ( 212) 537 68 74 00
Email: rabat@international.gc.ca

The Canadian Embassy cannot issue Australian passports but in certain cases they can provide emergency travel documentation to allow you to travel to the nearest Australian Embassy. They may also be able to provide assistance with certain notarial acts.

Inclusive Journalism course in Tangier

Young journalists in Morocco can register for an inclusive journalism workshop in Tangier, which will discuss the importance of giving voice to all segments of society, and how to achieve diversity in reporting. The workshop will take place February 18 to 20.

Topics to be covered include: the importance of alternative sources; basic principles of reporting diversity; managing prejudice, avoiding stereotypes and the use of language; and the importance of building bridges with civil society.

The workshop will be taught by Richard Cookson, a journalist working for UK TV Channel 4, and Dr Abdelauahab Errami, a Moroccan journalism expert and professor at ISIC.

The workshop forms part of the Young Reporters' Diversity Network segment of the Media Diversity Institute's two year training program, designed to promote inclusive journalism in Morocco. The workshop is supported by the UK Embassy in Rabat.

For more information and to apply contact mona.elhamdani@media-diversity.org

Casting Call in Morocco

Leopard Films in New York is about to leap into Africa with a show called "House Hunters International". The show plays on HGTV - the Home and Garden Network in the USA - and focuses on people who have bought a house and relocated outside of North America. Kristen Lombardo is a casting assistant and recently she contacted The View from Fez with a view to tracking down suitable talent for the show.

Leopard Films is casting people for this show right now and Kristen was wondering if any or our readers would be interested in participating.

House Hunters International consists of a family or couple who has relocated in the past few years and the property they live in. The purpose of the show is to demystify the process of moving and living abroad. You can learn more about the show and watch episodes here: House Hunters International

According to Kristen, "Putting together an episode is a real treat for our audience and it's a lot of fun for you too. Contributors to the show get a nice keepsake shot in HD video and also receive compensation for your time and efforts."

If you or anyone you know is interested in learning more, please contact Kristen directly:


KRISTEN LOMBARDO
CASTING ASSISTANT LEOPARD FILMS USA
127 East 26th Street, New York, NY 10010. +1 212 843 2821
kristen.lombardo@leopardfilms.com
www.leopardfilms.com

A setback for Moroccan press freedom.

Le Journal Hebdomadaire was known throughout Morocco for its strong stand against corruption and for its defence of freedom of the press. Now it is gone and on Saturday a court sealed its offices for failing to honour its financial commitments. Insiders say that the magazine owed over 5 million dirhams in social security contributions, taxes and bank loans.



Le Journal was first published in 1997 and soon made a name for itself with brave attacks on the dubious behaviour of some public officials. When the magazine began to expose the interior minister at the time, Driss Basri, who for 20 years controlled Morocco through a web of informants and ruthless security forces, commentators thought the magazine would be forced to close. However, in what was seen as a very positive sign, the new king dismissed him.

Issandr El Amrani, writing in The Guardian says, "Most of all, Le Journal tried to keep officials honest about the democratisation that they promised in speeches. It relentlessly campaigned for constitutional reform that would shift political power from the palace to parliament. For many of my generation of Moroccans, it provided a political education and an inspiring example of outspokenness".

Supporters and staff say that they had fallen victim to "finanical asphyxiation" and that the "authorities had spent years discouraging companies from advertising in Le Journal".

According to some sources a plan for a wealthy Moroccan businessman to buy the magazine then fell through at the last minute.

The government has defended its actions saying that a series of legal actions and fines against Morocco's press in recent years have nothing to do with freedom of expression but are simply a natural response to bad, poorly-sourced journalism and slander.

However, a statement press freedom group Reporters Without Borders said, "This judicial liquidation heralds the end of the first independent title in Morocco."

Calling all travellers

The View from Fez has heard that Lonely Planet is on the lookout for travellers to join their Travelers’ Pulse Panel - here are the details.

Our panel is a discussion forum where we engage travelers and listen to what you have to say about travel – where to go, how to plan, and other creative travel ideas. We’ve always got interesting topics up for you to comment on, like our current survey on what you’re looking for when you take a trip to a theme park.

Joining the panel is free and if you’re accepted to be a panelist, we’ll send you a free Lonely Planet 2010 calendar as a gift to welcome you on board! Not only will you get to talk about travel, but we regularly run promotions exclusively for panelists where you can win prizes like Lonely Planet products and Amazon gift cards.

If you’d like to join this panel (numbers are limited) all you need to do is click the link below and take a short survey to register. We’ll look at your responses and depending on your age, travel experience and country of residence you might be one of the people we’re looking for! The type of people we need on the panel changes from time to time, so if you aren’t suitable for our panel this time we may contact you to participate in future.

https://www.travellerspulse.com/R.aspx?a=56&Source=BLOG

International Women's Day in Fez

International Women's Day will be celebrated in Fez in a three-day event being organised by Jess Stephens of Culture Vultures on 6, 7 and 8 March.

Jess reports that a dynamic group of women of various nationalities will be coming together to heighten awareness of women's achievements, past, present and future. The programme under construction consists of dinner, performances, readings, debates and more.

For more information, there's a meeting at 16h00 on Sunday 31 January. Call Jess on +212 (0) 6 45 22 32 03 or see Culture Vultures.

New airport for Fez

A new terminal with an annual capacity of 2.5 million additional passengers will be built at Fes-Sais airport, reports the director general of the National Airports Office (ONDA), Mr. Abdelhanine Benallou.


The new terminal (26,000 m2), which required an investment of Dh 620 million, and will bring the total annual capacity of Fez Sais airport to three million passengers, said the CEO of the ONDA, at a meeting this week in Fez. Construction will start in September and aims to support economic development in the region Fez-Boulemane , said M Benallou.

Attention to infrastructure development in the city is part of a proactive approach to structural development, based on an innovative marketing approach. The ONDA is in the midst of an aggressive growth period to attract international airlines, through the establishment of an attractive pricing policy.

"As a direct result of this stimulation at the Fes-Sais Airport, passenger traffic has seen an average annual growth average of 23 percent during the period 2004-2009," said M Benallou.

The Governor of Fez-Boulemane region, Mr. Mohamed Rherrabi, said that this project will allow regions of Fez , Taza-Al Hoceima-Taounate and Meknes Tafilalet to strengthen their competitiveness and economic development, especially when taking into consideration other projects already launched like the Fes-Oujda highway.

Attarine Medersa opens after renovation

Perhaps the most beautiful of the ancient medersas of Fez, the Attarine is now open to the public after almost four years of renovation.

main doors, of cedarwood mashrabbiyya, into the courtyard

More intimate than the Bouanania Medersa, the Attarine is next to the Qawariyine Mosque at the bottom of Tala'a Kebira in the heart of the medina. It was built by the Merenid Sultan Abou Said around 1325, and was a favourite amongst scholars. It contains some of most superb mosaic work and some unusual, slim marble columns whose capitals have finely carved calligraphy. The central fountain is fed by a stream.

The carved plaster is mesmerising, and the cedarwood exquisitely worked.

square columns, marble columns

The columns supporting the first floor galleries around the courtyard are square; another unusual feature.

The mihrab in the prayer hall is delicately carved and flanked by black onyx columns. The hall also holds a massive brass chandelier that hangs from the domed ceiling of carved cedarwood. Just beneath the ceiling are a number of windows with green and gold Iraqi glass.

carved stucco above mosaics on a column

The restoration has been sensitively carried out by the Habous (Ministry of Religious Affairs). Replaced mashrabbiyya (carved wooden trellis work) has been stained almost to the colour of the original wood that's nearly 700 years old; renewed sculpted plaster is a little whiter than the original as can be seen in the photograph above, but will soon blend in well, with a little weathering.

On our visit, which cost a paltry Dh10 (less than 1 Euro), we were alone. It seems the guides have yet to discover that the Medersa is now open. Don't miss it.

photographs: Helen Ranger

The circus comes to Fez

The circus schools Zepetra and Le Poing de Singe from Montpellier will be in Fez from the end of March to run courses for children and give shows for the public.



The companies will be based at Bab Riafa school in the medina for a week at the end of March, and then at La Fontaine French school for another two weeks.

The Circus Festival is being run by the MRG Organisation, which is a French/Moroccan venture for cultural activities, mostly aimed at children. Founder Marie Roland-Gosselin explains that circus is an international language enjoyed by people of all ages. Fez is twinned with the French city of Montpellier, and the Festival is supported by the Mayoralties of Montpellier and Fez, as well as the Chambers of Commerce in both cities. Ten children from the Zepetra Circus School will be coming along to work with local children.

The culmination of the circus lessons will be free shows on 16 and 17 April in Place Boujloud.

For more information, contact Marie at rg.marie@laposte.fr.

Fez Festival Theme: Journey of Initiation

This year's Fes Festival of World Sacred Music has the theme Journey of Initiation: from mystery to revelation.


Mohamed Kabbaj, Director General of the Festival, explains the theme as follows:

'The journey of initiation is concerned with learning about the world, discovery of the other, knowledge of the self, the quest for spirituality.

We all know of the great mystical figures, those emblems of each religion, such as Ghazali, the poet of the Revelation; Maimonides, exiled to Fez; Charles de Faoucalut in the solitude of the desert; the Buddha and his enlightenment. Knowing about such world figures has nourished civilisations.

'Man knows here what he doesn't know there', wrote Ibn Arabi, whose entire work encompassed a journey of initiation. This great mystical poet cconsidered every journey as being towards God: 'from Him, in Him, towards Him'.

The 16th annual Fes Festival lies within this realm of the journey towards initiation.'


Please note that there are some slight changes to the programme of events at the Festival.
For the programme in English, see here, and in French, see here.