The first Moroccan woman to reach Antarctica is Dr. Meryem Chadid, reports Elaph. Astronomer Chadid went to the South Pole to install a telescope that will allow her to measure the brightness of stars (if I understand correctly! I am not a scientist.) Mabrouk!
Thanks to Latif for the link.
Migrants are now coming to Morocco from as far away as India, hoping to try their luck at crossing over to Europe.
In the latest incident, nine Indian migrants have been arrested in Ouled Settout near the northern Moroccan city of Nador, police said Tuesday.
The Indians were attempting to reach the nearby Spanish enclave of Melilla in order to cross over to mainland Spain.
Police recently held 70 people on charges of belonging to a criminal ring that brought Indians and Pakistanis through western African and Gulf countries to Morocco, which they were using as a gateway to the West.
This has only been reported in the Moroccan and Israeli press, but could potentially be significant: Labor party chairman Amir Peretz visited King Mohammed in Fez this week, to present a “diplomatic initiative.” (Peretz was born in Bejad, Morocco, and he conversed in Arabic with the monarch.)
Last week, the annual Salon du Livre opened at the Foire Internationale in Casablanca. The theme was “Maghreb: Fifty Years Later.” As many as 560 vendors from 53 countries are present, with, of course, readings, talks, and workshops on the schedule for the week. The fair began with the announcement of the Prix du Maroc, which this year went to Mohamed Sebbagh for Enfance Sexagenaire. In non-fiction, the winners were Mohamed Moatassim (La vision apocalyptique dans le roman arabe à la fin du 20e siecle), Zakya Daoud (Marocains de l’autre rive), and Abdelilah Belmlih (L’esclavage au Maghreb et en Andalousie). More details as they become available.
This is the democracy the U.S. wants to export:
The United States is helping Morocco to build a new interrogation and detention facility for Al-Qaeda suspects near its capital, Rabat, according to western intelligence sources.
The sources confirmed last week that building was under way at Ain Aouda, above a wooded gorge south of Rabat’s diplomatic district. Locals said they had often seen American vehicles with diplomatic plates in the area.
The construction of the new compound, run by the Direction de la Securité du Territoire (DST), the Moroccan secret police, adds to a substantial body of evidence that Morocco is one of America’s principal partners in the secret “rendition” programme in which the CIA flies prisoners to third countries for interrogation.
I’m speechless.
From this Sunday’s Washington Post about freedom of speech in Morocco:
The monarchy in this North African country dates back 1,200 years and has survived foreign invaders, civil wars and communist plots. Now it is confronted by a new threat: a grandmother who preaches nonviolence and democracy.
The grandmother bit sounds absolutely charming until you find out that they’re actually talking about Nadia Yassine, the opportunistic public figure of the Islamist group Justice and Charity. Yassine claims she wants democracy, but she has, in fact, campaigned against legal reforms to grant women equal rights under the law. The reforms went ahead without her. Now she faces trial in Morocco for an interview she gave in which she criticized the king, knowing full well that it would get her the attention of the government and raise her profile internationally. The case has won her the support of people on the other side of the spectrum–the secular democrats, including Abdelaziz Koukas, the journalist who interviewed her. As distateful as I find her, I think she should be allowed to say whatever the hell she wants. That is the real test of a democracy. Besides, silencing her only makes her sound more interesting than she really is, i.e. someone who has absolutely no viable program for the future.
Link via The Periscope.