Welcome to the MoroccanCulture Blog

Morocco is a very fascinating place of travel and vacation. It is a perfect place for nature lovers as well as architecture and history enthusiasts. The landscapes, monuments, historical sites, architecture, ruins, desert, beaches, and even its markets are welcome attractions to be explored that would appeal to any tourist. Rabat is the administrative capital of Morocco and is also known as the ‘Garden City’. Rabat is a mixture of the old and new, a traditional city but also a modern one. Rabat is known for its bedecked alleys, beautiful white houses, and beaches. Chellah Rabat is said to be the first place to be settled along Bou Regreg river around the third century BC. Rabat is also home to many impressive monuments and other attractions and one of these attractions is the beautiful Citadel of Chellah Gardens. It is beautifully landscaped with various flowers that bloom during springtime and fills the place with its wonderful scent. Its sanctuary was used as royal burial place and its entrance door is magnificently decorated and inscribed with Arabesque calligraphy. Chellah Rabat experienced a very strong earthquake during the 18^th century which destroyed many of its structures from ancient Morocco. What used to be a thriving city and port, Chellah is now a major tourist attraction and is converted to a lush and beautiful garden.

"Travel and Vacation Abodes: Citadel of Chellah Gardens in Rabat, Morocco." 2 Nov. 2008 .

Marrakech: and Zara Home tribulations

The Marrakech medina: and buying babouches at the slipper souk

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The Moroccan Secret Service's attempts to recruit spies in the Netherlands has angered the Dutch government. And in Morocco, the espionage affair has provoked heated discussion. It seems that Morocco feels threatened by the Berber population living abroad and wants to monitor the life of its second-class citizens in foreign countries. Most of the Moroccans living in the Netherlands are Berbers from the Rif region.

The furore erupted after the dismissal of the Rotterdam police officer, Re Lemhaouli, following allegations that the policeman had been passing information to the Moroccan Secret Service via the embassy in The Hague. The Dutch government protested to the Moroccan Embassy. This week, the Dutch current affairs TV programme NOVA revealed that Rabat had recalled two its diplomats two months ago, after receiving the complaints about the alleged espionage. Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen has made it very clear that he does not appreciate Morocco's interference in internal Dutch affairs. The Dutch parliament is to hold an emergency debate on the affair next week.

Dutch FM Maxime Verhagen condemns "vile practices"

Activity well-known
It has since transpired that the Rotterdam police officer is not the only person to have been approached. Fouad el Haji, a Labour local councillor, claims that he was also contacted, "just like a former Dutch MP of Moroccan origin." Mr el Haji was apparently referring to former Socialist Party MP Ali Lazrak, who denies having been approached himself, adding that "it was well known that the Moroccan Secret Service was active in the Netherlands" and that other prominent politicians of Moroccan origin were asked to lend their co-operation.

A colleague at Radio Netherlands Worldwide confirms that certain Dutch citizens of Moroccan origin are routinely approached by the secret service. "The Moroccan government approached me years ago, when I first came to live in the Netherlands," says the journalist and describes the way Rabat works as: "Scary. First, I got a call on behalf of the Moroccan ambassador asking if I wanted to help improve the image of Morocco here." The journalist declined, but was "accosted by the press attaché at a conference", though he was able to brush the embassy staff member aside. Afterwards the journalist was rung again, once at work and once at home.

Monitoring the Berbers
Two articles from the Arabic department of Radio Netherlands Worldwide, which were published word for word on Morocco's largest website Hespress, have received reactions from dozens of Moroccans living in various European cities and Morocco. Rabat wants to monitor the Berbers living in the Netherlands, is basically the gist of the commentaries. "What frightens Morocco is the fact that half a million Berbers are living in the Netherlands. Amsterdam is the third largest Berber town after Nador and Huceima," says one reaction. Another, written by someone who calls himself "the star of the Rif" says "The liberation of the Rif is taking place in Europe." An emigrant Berber writes: "First, this regime drove us out of our country, then they followed us here."

Language and culture
No less than three quarters of Moroccans in the Netherlands are of Berber origin. Ethnically, there is no difference between the Berbers and the Arab Moroccans; only language and culture divide the two groups. In the past, Berbers were treated as second-class citizens, but nowadays their language and culture are more recognised by Moroccan authorities. Arabic is still the official language of the country.

Mahjoub Benmoussa of Platform Foreigners Rijnmond, an association which assists integration into Dutch society, thinks the reason Rabat wants to keep tabs on Moroccans in the Netherlands is because they "can move freely in political, trade union and cultural circles here without being monitored. Their influence affects Morocco." Former chairman of the Dutch Cooperative of Morccans and Tunisians, Said Boudouft, believes that economic factors also play a role - a lot of money generated by Moroccans in Europe passes back into the Moroccan economy. Fear of "Islamic cells operating from Europe who have proven that they can strike within Morocco" is another factor.

Dutch Foreign Minister Verhagen has condemned the actions of the Moroccan Secret Service and says the Netherlands is "ill served by the vile practices". Next week's debate in parliament will no doubt lead to heated debate. Reacting to Moroccans who allow themselves to be influenced by Rabat, Conservative VVD MP Fred Teeven said: "They have two passports. If they think their future lies in Morocco, then they must clear off there as quickly as possible." And with incidents of Moroccan attempts at espionage also reported in France, Spain and Belgium, the heat from next week's debate in the Dutch parliament could be felt across Europe's political plains.

*RNW translation (jn)

"Morocco drives out its Berbers, then follows them here - Radio Netherlands Worldwide - English." 19 Sep. 2008 .

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By James Copnall BBC News, Rabat

A Moroccan blogger who was sent to jail for criticising the king has been cleared on appeal.

Mohamed Erraji had written an article for an online newspaper suggesting that some royal practices did not help the development of the country.

The appeals court in the southern city of Agadir overturned the conviction and dropped all charges against Mr Erraji.

Morocco has allowed greater freedom of expression in recent years, but there are still limits on what can be said.

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Published: Tuesday 09 September 2008 18:38 UTC
Last updated: Wednesday 10 September 2008 15:59 UTC

A Moroccan blogger has been sentenced to a fine and two years imprisonment for criticising the king. On his web-site Hespress, Mohamed Erraji wrote that the Moroccan population has little self-respect because the regime has created a culture of dependency, whereby loyalty is rewarded with favours.

Mr Erraji was arrested on Friday and tried on Monday. His family says no lawyer was present at the trial. Journalists organisation Reporters Without Borders is demanding his release. The blogger comes from a poor family and has bad health. He has been writing about political and social issues under his own name since March 2007.

"Latest News - Radio Netherlands Worldwide - English." 12 Sep. 2008 .

Image via Wikipedia The court of appeals of Agadir on Thursday ordered the provisional release of Moroccan blogger Mohamed Erajji, the official Maghreb Arabe Presse agency (MAP) reports.

Erraji had been sentenced to two years in prison on Monday for "lacking the respect due to the King" and the Royal family. He had been arrested last Friday after posting an article on the popular e-journal Hespress, in which he claimed that the King's charitable habits were "encouraging a culture of dependency" and the Moroccan people to be "lazy."

According to one of Erraji's relatives who was present at the trial in Agadir, Erraji was denied access to a defense lawyer and was convicted after a ten-minute trial.

The court of appeals ruled on Thursday that the lower court had failed to respect certain legal procedures under the Press and Publication Law. The public prosecutor's office did not object to Erajji's release.

Mohamed Erajji was the first blogger in Morocco to be given a prison sentence.


From MENASSAT:

Two years for criticizing the King
Posted on 10/09/2008 - 15:04
Moroccan blogger Mohamed Erraji has been sentenced to two years in prison for posting an article in which he criticized the policies of the King.

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Aug 24, 2008

CASABLANCA, Morocco — This is an overwhelmingly Muslim country, but you wouldn't know it from the music festivals.

The Casablanca festival turns the commercial capital into an urban Woodstock, with masses of young people clogging the mosque-filled streets and partying to the pulse of hip-hop, rock, pop and Arab music. An estimated two million people attend free concerts at a dozen venues, many snapping up the action on their cellphones.

And Casablanca is only one of about 400 yearly festivals sponsored by authorities across the country, not to mention the sports, dancing and singing contests organized on popular beaches every summer.

The promotion of culture and leisure by Morocco's moderate government has a political undertone. The country's increasingly powerful Islamist groups view it as a deliberate attempt to deviate youth from traditional Islamic values. Even some government officials admit the aim of the merrymaking is to promote the liberal values they'd like to see society embrace rather than radical Islam.

Most youth don't see it that way. They just enjoy the free music and the opportunity to party in this country of 34 million where unemployment is particularly high among young adults and where parents usually keep a tight grip on their children.

"I like these concerts ... the artists are role models for young people," said 19-year-old Fadoua Hakki at a hip-hop event in Casablanca. Oumaima, 17, praised the "big strides" made by the new generation of homegrown Moroccan rap singers. "They're very good, and they voice our concerns," she said.

The streets full of trendy teenagers dancing to the Tecktonik craze that has swept Europe stand in striking contrast to the near-medieval living conditions in Morocco's countryside or the sprawling slums around Casablanca, which have become a hotbed of Islamism.

Such festivals would be unheard of in more rigorous Muslim states, where the mixing of boys and girls, free sale of alcohol or even dancing in public can be forbidden. But Morocco, a strong U.S. ally and a major tourism destination, prides itself on a cultural diversity that allows scantily clad girls to attend a concert side by side with women wearing Islamic headscarves.

Artists in Casablanca this year included international reggae and hip-hop stars. The yearly Gnaoua mystical music festival in the resort town of Essaouira attracts top jazz and rock players, and in Rabat, Morocco's capital, this year's edition of the Mawazine world music fest included Whitney Houston for her return to the stage, jazzman George Benson and French electro DJ David Vendetta.

Mawazine takes place a stone's throw from King Mohammed VI's palace and under his direct patronage.

Organizers say bringing in big names to festivals reflects Morocco's traditions of mixing cultures and people from Europe and Africa.

"That openness can only continue if there is an exposure to cultures from the rest of the world," said Ahmed Ammor, the head of the Casablanca festival organizing committee. "It's part of the king's project for society, that's why you see a festival in nearly every town."

With a budget of about $3.18 million, Ammor's festival remains the largest. Like many official events in Morocco, it is half funded by public money and half by large companies close to the government. Ammor himself works for free, presiding the rest of the time over a subsidiary of the national carrier Royal Air Maroc.

Massive police presence can been seen around most festivals, as at any other public event in Morocco. Organizers say unruliness is rare, noting that parents often attend with their children and then take them home.

But many have qualms with all this revelry. Some critics say funding the stars' contracts costs the state a fortune. Others deplore the import of western music such as rap, which they accuse of corrupting Moroccan youth. Others still say the large spring festivals are badly timed because they interfere with exam periods.

"There are too many festivals in Morocco... as soon as one finishes, another starts: No wonder young people don't read anymore," said Zine Eddine Bekkal, a Casablanca shopkeeper.

The most vocal critics are usually affiliated with the Islamists, who hold growing sway in Morocco. The gap between the educated, wealthy and westernized elite and the vast majority of the impoverished population has been widening.

"We stand against the debauchery observed during these festivals," the leader of Morocco's biggest authorized Islamist group, the Justice and Development Party, Abdelilah Benkirane, said on a state TV talk show. "Have you seen the type of groups they invite? The suggestive, scantily clad women?" he was quoted as saying by the liberal-leaning TelQuel weekly magazine.

More hardline Islamist groups, like the semi-legal Justice and Charity movement - viewed as the largest in Morocco - see more than bad morality to the partying.

"It's not only dissolute, it's cynical," said Nadia Yassine, spokeswoman for the movement and the daughter of its founder, Sheik Yassine.

"It's like ancient Rome: bread and circus to keep the masses happy," she said, accusing the government of trying to divert public attention from Morocco's lasting problems, such as unemployment, poverty and corruption.

Moroccan government officials say the drive for culture comes within a wider plan to improve public education and build new infrastructure throughout the destitute hinterland.

But they also gingerly admit they are waging a struggle for the hearts and minds of the country's youth.

One high-ranking Interior Ministry official, who spoke anonymously because this is not a publicly avowed government policy, recalled how some Islamists began speaking out against public beaches. Groups walked the seafront to preach for better morals and fewer bikinis, or set up segregated areas.

"No one wants to be bothered on the beach, so people began shying away," the official said.

He said the government's reaction was to promote sports and leisure activities as well as song and dance contests on beaches during the summer.

"Sure, this bothers the 'bearded ones,"' grinned the official, using a slightly derogatory slang to refer to Islamists because of the long beards they often grow.

Ammor, the festival organizer, said the government is on a mission to make Morocco a place where Arab and western cultures can interplay, rather than dwell on the growing tensions of the last decade.

"People call it a clash of civilizations," he said. "I think it's a clash of ignorance."

Associated Press writer Hassan Alaoui contributed to this report.

"The Canadian Press: Muslim Morocco's music festivals promote liberties; youth enjoy chance to party." 7 Sep. 2008 .

The Moroccan authorities say they have broken up a militant cell operating in several towns in the kingdom.

The group allegedly had links with al- Qaeda and police described the 15 people arrested as "dangerous".

They had electronic and chemical materials used to make explosives, reports the state press agency, MAP.

It is the fourth such network Morocco says it has broken up this year. An al-Qaeda-inspired group has said it was behind recent attacks in Algeria.

Ann Herbert is living on the eastern coast of Africa, volunteering in Morocco with the Peace Corps.

The Peace Corps, an independent federal agency of the United States, works in more than 70 countries around the world. The volunteers work with governments, schools, nonprofit organizations, nongovernment organizations and entrepreneurs in the areas of education, health, business, informration technology, agriculture and the environment to help those people meet the need for trained workers and gain a better understanding of Americans.

Herbert graduated from Mitchell High School in 2002 and Butler University in 2006 with a major in religious studies and minors in Spanish and business. She is the daughter of Christy and Hank Wintczak of Mitchell and Rod and Bridgett Herbert of Fort Wayne.

The past 16 months have been filled with new experiences for Ann, but also for her family.

The following is an account of some of them from the perspective of her mother, Christy Wintczak of Mitchell, and includes a description of her biggest project so far. The project has been planned for and with women in the community.

“For the past 16 months, our family has had the experience of having our second-oldest daughter, Ann, living and working in Morocco as a Peace Corps volunteer. I, myself, couldn’t imagine what was driving her to live in such a far away, foreign place, but this is what she wanted so we supported that decision not knowing what was in store for her or us.

“The first thing that became apparent to us was the dress code that was required of her in order of be respected and acceptable in Morocco’s Islamic society. She called home telling us about the women covered from head to toe and was worried the clothes she had taken weren’t conservative enough. I rushed her a package of lightweight, yet very conservative, shirts that would be bearable in the scorching hot summers. The shirts were cut so that the bottom went to mid thigh, the top went up to her neck and the sleeves went at least to her forearm.

“The relationship between men and women and their roles in society is very different from what we are used to. Ann’s work for the most part has been with girls and women, partly because as a woman, men are less accessible to her, but mostly because her work as a health volunteer is best accomplished when women are reached. Women are the ones taking care of the household and are therefore in charge of their family’s overall cleanliness and diet, both of which are crucial in preventing the utmost culprit of infant deaths in Morocco — diarrhea.

“Diet has been one of the most difficult things for Ann while abroad. In the states, she was spoiled with all the products we have available to us. She enjoyed living a healthy lifestyle by eating lots of whole grains, vegetables and fruits. All of these are available in Morocco, the difference being only convenience. Because she is an avid cereal addict, I have sent many boxes of pumpkin flax seed crunch or some other fiber rich cereal which gives her a break from cooking and a refreshing reminder of home. While there, she has learned to cook because things aren’t available in the ready-made form that we are used to. She has learned how to make her own goat cheese, peanut butter, bread, hummus, soy milk, tortillas and other things we just go to the store and buy. Besides ‘American food,’ she is also learning Moroccan cuisine, which consists mostly tagines and couscous. Tagine is a mix of meat and vegetables cooked in a special clay volcano shaped cooking contraption. t meal time, the tagine is set in the middle of the table where all can reach it. The volcano shaped top is removed and everyone tears off a piece of the bread sitting in front of them and uses it to scoop up some of the well cooked food inside. I hope that she will cook it for us when she comes home. Although all of this cooking can be an inconvenience, I get the idea she thoroughly enjoys this aspect of her life there.

“In working with these women she has developed many close relationships, especially with her host family. Ann suggested I send presents for her to share with those people close to her. Simple things like shampoo, lotion, toothbrushes, chocolates, Betty Crocker cakes with a container of icing are special and exotic to those she lives with. In an attempt to share her culture and nurture the most meaningful relationships to her she hosted a Thanksgiving dinner at her house (one of the days when the electricity and water were suddenly turned off in the entire village ) gave her host sisters Christmas presents, and celebrated their birthdays — none of which they had ever done before. I’ve also sent simple work supplies such as tape, transparent laminating paper, pens and pencils because these everyday work essentials are mostly out of reach for people in her town. She has used these to hold health classes for girls and women at their local health clinic and schools as well as holding trainings on association development and grant-writing for the local women’s association.

“From my understanding, she has multiple projects going. The first is a Tashlhate video project. She has worked with another nearby volunteer to develop a series of educational health videos in the local language, Tashlhate, that will be used by Morocco’s ministry of health as well as future Peace Corps volunteers. Although she is proud of the final videos, she mostly boasts about the process in which they were made. She held class for girls and women in the community on various topics such as tooth-brushing, diarrhea, purifying water, etc. After the class, they filmed educational skits featuring Moroccan girls that pertained to that day’s topic. Then the health clinic staff added a professional, detailed run-down of each topic. Some of the pictures were drawn by another volunteer who had studied art and then they put all those components together to produce the video. They now have 12 videos.

“... Currently her time is occupied working with her local women’s association to develop their baking project. Last year, with her help, they held their first Ramadan Bake Sale. Ramadan is a time of year in the Muslim calendar when all Muslims fast from sun up to sundown for an entire month. When breaking the fast as sundown, Moroccans eat various traditional delicacies. The women’s association saw this as an income-generating opportunity and therefore made and sold the customary baked goods. Last year’s project was a success, especially considering all equipment was thrown together by women temporarily donating their various cooking supplies. The money that they made went toward paying for sewing classes, Arabic classes for the illiterate women and to help start up their community-wide trash disposal program. Because of this project, women are taking a leading role in their personal and communal development. However, the project needs improvements. They don’t have good, or enough equipment to sustain the project and therefore have worked with Ann for months on planning a bigger, better version for this year and years to come.

“Although I miss Ann, I have come to see why she has chosen to pursue this adventure. She is getting to do, learn and see things she never would have otherwise. She has developed close relationships and adapted to a different way of living. I sometimes still find her experience hard to relate to seeing that it is so different from anything I have experienced. Ann’s family supports her in any way we can: through sending letters, pictures, packages, calling and donating to the causes she is working hard for. By doing this, I have learned a little about Morocco, about Islam, about my daughter and even a little about myself and the country in which I live. I know most of all, that we have so much to be thankful for.”

Times-Mail Staff Writer Krystal Slaten welcomes comments and suggestions at 277-7264 or by e-mail at krystal@tmnews.com.

Wednesday, August 13, 2008 Hakima's Moroccan Cooking School By Kristen Harrington Wednesday, August 13, 2008 Port Townsend resident Carolyn Watts opened a cooking school in Marrakech, Morocco, named after Hakima Saih (pictured). The proceeds from the school provide literacy training and job skills for Saih and other young Moroccan women. - Photo courtesy of Carolyn Watts Moroccan tomato & pepper salad Here is a recipe for traditional Moroccan tomato and pepper salad. Moroccan salads are often cooked and then cooled before serving. Serve with bread for dipping. 3 whole green peppers 6 to 8 whole tomatoes, skins removed 2 cloves garlic, pressed 1 tsp. salt 2 tsp. oregano 1/2 tsp. ginger 1 tsp. cumin 1/2 tsp. pepper 1/2 tsp. sweet paprika pinch of saffron, for color 1/2 cup olive oil 1 Tbsp. chopped fresh cilantro Roast the peppers over an open flame or under the broiler until the skin is evenly charred. Place in paper sack to facilitate peeling. Cool and peel peppers, slice into long thin strips then dice into 3/8-inch pieces. Chop the peeled tomatoes into 1-inch chunks. Place in saucepan with all other ingredients except roasted peppers and cilantro. Stir and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes, crushing tomatoes with a spoon. Add peppers and cilantro, cooking for another 15 minutes until the mixture thickens. Serve with bread for dipping. Yield: 6 to 8 servings Approximate nutrition per serving, based on six: 172 calories, 18 grams fat (2.5 grams saturated, 92 percent fat calories), less than 1 gram protein, 3 grams carbohydrate, no cholesterol, 1 gram dietary fiber, 389 milligrams sodium. I first learned about Hakima's Moroccan Cooking School when my mom called and said "Guess what? I am going to cooking school in Marrakech!" It sounded so exciting, I invited myself along. On March 21, we arrived in Morocco, jet-lagged and disoriented. We were met at the airport by the school's director, Port Townsend resident Carolyn Watts. She took us to Dar Egbert, the home of Hakima's Moroccan Cooking School, where we would spend the next week while exploring Marrakech. A "dar" is a traditional house set around a garden courtyard; up to six people can stay at the dar for the school. We were instantly revived by the smell of orange blossoms in the exotic garden surroundings, and mint tea. When Carolyn first went to Morocco eight years ago, she was captivated by the sounds, scents, scenery and history that make Marrakech such a magical place. When she returned in March 2007 to paint a mural in the home of her friend Jim Egbert (owner of Seattle's Egbert's Furniture Store), she fell in love all over again, especially with the hospitality of the local people. Personal connection While she was working on her mural in Dar Egbert (Jim's house), Carolyn was particularly charmed by a young Moroccan woman named Hakima Saih, who held the ladder while Carolyn painted, cleaned up her messes, and prepared some of the most delicious food Carolyn had ever tasted. At the project's end, Carolyn wanted to thank Hakima for all of her help. What Hakima wanted most of all was to learn to read and write, so Watts agreed to pay for three months of Hakima's schooling. After further research, Carolyn learned that the illiteracy rate among young Moroccan women is 60 percent. Looking for a way to give back to those who had shown her such hospitality, Carolyn put her culinary passion into action to help others in Marrakech. With a lifelong background in cooking, she decided to open a nonprofit cooking school at Dar Egbert, with Hakima as the instructor. The proceeds from the school provide literacy training and job skills for Hakima and other young Moroccan women. School opened Hakima's Moroccan Cooking School opened in September 2007, with Port Townsend residents Dr. Jennifer Carl and Sarah Grossman as the school's first students. In spring 2008, Carolyn hosted 10 cooking school students and four other "non-cooking" guests who occasionally stirred things up in the kitchen. During my visit, our schedule for the week was flexible, with plenty of time for sightseeing. We shopped at the market with Hakima and Carolyn in the mornings and reconvened in the kitchen at Dar Egbert around 5:30 to prepare our evening meal. We spent several hours cooking and several hours enjoying our meal and conversation. We made several "tagines," or stews, in traditional clay pots. Hakima's recipes included tagines with chicken, preserved lemons and olives, as well as a tagine of lamb and apricots. We had a chance to venture to the foothills of the Atlas Mountains about an hour from Marrakech to tour a Berber home and sample a tagine cooked over charcoal in the traditional style. As all of our meals were included with our stay, we had lots of time to observe and help with meals, which included fresh pea soup, lamb meatballs and handmade chocolates for dessert. Breakfast included semolina pancakes with fig jam, fresh bread with local olive oil, and fresh-squeezed orange juice. Community ovens One of my favorite sights during the week was our visit to the "fournatchis," or community wood-fired ovens. Families in Morocco mark their bread with a name or seal, drop it off for baking, and return to pick it up before the midday meal. We followed the heavenly smell and were rewarded with hot, oven-fresh bread. In our final day of cooking class, we learned the fine art of preparing couscous, which is a time-consuming process of working the grains by hand as they steam over a fragrant broth of chicken and vegetables. It was delicious and worth the work. Carolyn has been graciously received by her "neighbors" in Marrakech, thanks in part to her outgoing, friendly nature. "Like people everywhere, they treat you as you treat them," she says. Carolyn respects the Muslim culture and asks that her guests to do the same by dressing modestly and not taking pictures without asking. Her feeble attempts at the Arabic language are usually well received. She has made friends with many of the local business owners, who know her by name. Shopkeepers wave and smile as she walks past, and parking attendants outside Dar Egbert watch over her and her guests. Carolyn sums it up when she says: "I know when I return in the fall, I will be welcomed like an old friend. I cannot wait to return and share this wonderful place with anyone wanting to eat good food, experience a new culture, an ancient history, stay in a Moroccan home and not a hotel, and have a great adventure." Learn more about Hakima's Moroccan Cooking School at www.moroccancookingschool.com. (Kirsten Harrington is a freelance writer living in Spokane, Wash. She can be reached at kharrington67@earthlink.net.) Related Links
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Madrid - Morocco has asked Spain to give it temporary custody of a Moroccan convicted in 2007 of involvement in the March 2004 Madrid train bombings so that it can try him for the 2003 Casablanca bombings, a court source said.

The request was made to Spain's National Audience, the country's top anti-terrorism court, which in October 2007 sentenced Hassan Al Haski to 15 years in jail for belonging to a terrorist group that carried out the Madrid train bombings that killed 191 people, the source said.

Spain's Supreme Court in July reduced his sentence to 14 years.

Morocco considers Al Haski one of founders of the Moroccan Islamic Combat Group, which has links to al-Qaeda, that is blamed for the May 2003 Casablanca attacks that killed 45 people, including 12 suicide bombers.

In 2006 Spanish authorities agreed to extradite Al Haski to Morocco but that cannot happen while he is in jail in Spain.

Al Haski is still under investigation in Spain by top anti-terrorism judge, Baltasar Garzon, who is heading a separate inquiry into the Casablanca bombings which targeted Spanish interests in the city. - Sapa-AFP

Published on the Web by IOL on 2008-08-13 14:23:40

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© Independent Online 2005. All rights reserved. IOL publishes this article in good faith but is not liable for any loss or damage caused by reliance on the information it contains.

Originally from: http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=85&art_id=nw20080813142340641C870746

english: Articles

Music: Heavy Metal finds hearing in Islamic societies

Richard Cimino
8 Jul 2008

Heavy metal music and other forms of rock and rap have become increasingly popular in the Islamic world, often as a protest against corruption in government, according to a recent article in the "Chronicle of Higher Education" (July 4).

Heavy metal guitarist (© Andreas Gradin | Dreamstime.com).

Mark LeVine, the author of a recent book called Heavy Metal Islam: Rock, Resistance, and the Struggle for the Soul of Islam (Three Rivers Press, 2008), writes that just as the raw-sounding music with angry lyrics found a hearing among disaffected American and British youth in the 1970s and 80s, this form of rock serves as a similar means of escape and protest in countries from Morocco, Pakistan and Egypt to Indonesia.

LeVine, a professor of Middle Eastern studies at the University of California, adds that the music is different in Islamic societies because it is often mixed with Islamic themes and music. For instance, in Morocco, which has the most Muslim “metalheads,” the music weaves together Sufi- and Gnawa (Moroccan blues-style Sufi music)-inspired rhythms with the “hardest metal around.” Other heavy metal musicians and fans in Islamic countries consider themselves “secular Muslims,” or separate their religious beliefs from their music and politics.

Because Sufi practice and worship goes against the grain of the Saudi-inspired orthodox Islam in many countries, these musicians and their fans may face both religious and cultural restrictions. The Moroccan government has cracked down on its “homegrown metalheads.” At the same time, the Government has realized the popularity of the music and sponsored a metal festival organized by American evangelical Christians, according to LeVine.

But metalheads in some countries have been arrested, jailed and even tortured for being “Satan worshippers,” LeVine adds. In a much publicized trial in 2003, the government court convicted 14 heavy-metal musicians of Satanism and undermining morality. After followers held rallied and appealed for French support, the government overturned the sentences.

LeVine claims that despite fears of a crackdown, heavy metal and other forms of dissenting pop music and its performance in public is helping to create a new social space in Islamic societies where politics, religion and identity can be discussed.

Richard Cimino is the founder and editor of Religion Watch, a newsletter monitoring trends in contemporary religion. Since January 2008, Religion Watch is published by Religioscope Institute. Website: www.religionwatch.com.

URL: http://religion.info/english/articles/article_384.shtml