Yet another excellent article, from the Lebanese Daily Star, opines on Morocco's seeming regression in freedom(s). Journalist Anna Mahjar-Barducci highlights this year's and last's major events - the Nichane case, Aboubakr Jamai's resignation - and then goes on to discuss a recent meeting she had with Andre Azoulay, who is a (Jewish) advisor to the king.
Mahjar-Barducci quotes Azoulay as saying, "Nowadays our religions are falling into the trap of fundamentalists."
She then goes on to say, "The Moroccan government, by condemning Nichane and other publications, is merely doing a favor to Islamists, who cannot seem to laugh at jokes and who would not accept a Jew as an adviser. By condemning journalists, the government only deepens the gap between Morocco and modernity."
Harsh words, but true - as much as one may disagree, Morocco's only path to development is to leave the fundamentalists/-ism behind.
Comments: 2
Morocco has made enormous steps forwards for freedom of the press.When Mohamed 6th succeeded to his father,things have changed.Now , newpapers,magazines talk"freely" about the king life,the "blomb days" and the royal family; they re even making "rumours" about the new king baby. Morocco opened its welcome gates to the controvertial channel of Aljazeera, It shows everything about Morocco, Small to big things on the 10 pm news: the Conflict of the sahara, the kids who died in Khnifra..
A while back, let's say 8 years ago talking about such things would involve one in serious problem ;Some years before one as punishment would spend his life reading probably Victor's Hugo " Le dernier jour d'un condamné" or writing one in a jail.
All in all, Morocco is one of few arabic countries that re moving towards modernaztion despite the few problems.
Unfornatelly, I had not a chance to read Nichan's article.Do you have it Alifbaa? or have you read it?
I will let my self making some hypotesis: -If ksikis is saying serious bad things about the Islam it would not only provoke the the fundamentalists but also most Moroccans.See the demonstrations resulting after " the prophet craicatures" in the world.In this case, that would considered to be a perturbation as the Moroccan constitution says in its first sentence: " Morocco is an arabic Islamic country". After all , the constitution is not sacred.However,Even some great powers and democraties in the world, which are statisfied of having more press , media freedoms,would act violently when the press is opposed to "the government" principales. Look back to U.S troops bombing Al Jazeera and Abudabi offices in Iraq.
But how much of freedom the news papers is allowed of having ? Do not our freedom finish when others one start.When Fox news was in Hotbird( no need for smart card) , I used to watch it , and i remember in one politic show about the Katrina Huricans and how a poor, black man was left unfinishing his harsh words towards G.Bush.(I Know its a republican channel).But then there is a problematic: How much one is allowed to say? (I know , Alifbaa you re a vermonter , I did not mean to offend you at all , but those are the examples that came to my mind now).
Second hypotheses is if Driss is saying inovative jokes about moroccan life, politics and sex: People are not much open to new ideas, He has enjoyed reporting for free in "Ashark Al Awsat" about innovative ideas, which will not be much accepted unfornatelly here.
That is a good news paper article thanks for sharing it with us. Sadly,Some Moroccan journalists lack professionalism, How can one write well and never had a book in hand!
I will share with all of you a segment of Exit(urban guide) with Ksikis.Believing all of you understand french here it is:
"L'essentiel est d'etre libre, peu importe le contenant, si je puis dire.Depuis l'affaire 'nichane', je prends conscience que nous sommes rentrés dans une phase historique ou la manipulation des idées par les adeptes d'une idéologie intégriste et réetrogarde prend une telle ampleur que l'on se retrouve pris en otage.L'interprétation faite par les défenseurs du référentiel religieux comme déterminant de tout a désormais un poids.Des réseaux et des lobbies se sont installés, et relient tout cela.Et j'ose espérer, dans ce contexte, que la press arabophone ira davantage vers la libeté, mais cela demandera beacoup de doigté......"Driss Ksikis, Exit urban guide N44, Fevrier2007