Morocco Rescuers Slow to Reach Hardest Hit Areas After Quake

THE NEW YORK TIMES: It remained unclear how quickly emergency teams would be able to reach the victims and prevent more deaths. Many of the areas affected by the quake are remote mountain villages that are not easily accessible.

A rescuer searches for survivors under the rubble of a house destroyed in Moulay Brahim, Morocco, on Saturday. | Fadel Senna/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images
Search and rescue efforts intensified on Saturday in Morocco after a powerful earthquake killed at least 1,000 people and injured hundreds more overnight, with national authorities deploying the military to hard-hit areas and foreign partners promising aid.

But it remained unclear how quickly emergency teams would be able to reach the victims and prevent more deaths. Many of the areas affected by the quake are remote mountain villages that are not easily accessible, and a statement on Saturday evening from the office of King Mohammed VI did not clarify whether the country would formally request foreign assistance to allow outside rescue teams to intervene.

The king ordered the country’s armed forces to deploy aircraft, helicopters and troops to help with the rescue efforts, according to a statement from the government. Local television showed images of trucks crammed with soldiers driving toward the devastated areas, in the High Atlas Mountains, in the southwest of the country.

Authorities said that about half of the victims were in the Haouz region, a rural area with many mud-brick houses and little earthquake-resistant infrastructure. » | Constant Méheut | Saturday, September 9, 2023

News Wrap: Rescuers Search for Survivors after Deadly Morocco Earthquake

Sep 9, 2023 | In our news wrap Saturday, the strongest earthquake in Morocco in over 120 years caused widespread damage and killed more than 1,300 people, the G20 summit of the world’s top economies took place in India, and a federal appeals court ruled against the Biden administration in a lawsuit involving social media companies.

«Pour les sismologues, le tremblement de terre au Maroc de la nuit dernière n'est pas une surprise» : ENTRETIEN - Le Maroc est un pays où le risque sismique existe, notamment du fait de la tectonique de la chaîne de montagnes du Haut Atlas, explique Robin Lacassin, directeur de recherche à l'Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris. »

Morocco Earthquake Death Toll Exceeds 1,000

Sep 9, 2023 | The death toll of the 6.8-magnitude earthquake that struck Morocco has exceeded 1,000 as emergency personnel begin search and rescue missions to find survivors among the rubble. NBC News' Matt Bradley reports on how personnel will deal with remote communities and combing through centuries-old infrastructure.

Powerful Earthquake Rocks Morocco

NEW YORK TIMES LIVE UPDATES HERE.

LIVE EN COURS : Séisme au Maroc en direct : après le tremblement de terre qui a fait plus de 630 morts : « C’est comme si on avait été frappé par une bombe » : A Marrakech, une des villes touchées dans le centre du pays, les petites ruelles du quartier juif de la médina sont jonchées de débris, et de vieilles bâtisses se sont affaissées. Beaucoup d’habitants ont passé la nuit à dormir à même le sol, parfois sans couvertures. »

AUF DEUTSCH: Mehr als 600 Tote bei starkem Erdbeben in Marokko: Ein schweres Erdbeben hat den Südwesten Marokkos erschüttert. Das Innenministerium spricht von mindestens 632 Toten und vielen Verletzten. Bilder und Videos aus sozialen Netzwerken zeigen zerstörte Gebäude. »

Morocco Earthquake: Hundreds Dead as Buildings Fall and People Flee Homes

THE GUARDIAN: Old city in Marrakech among areas hit in quake measuring at least 6.8 and centred in High Atlas mountains

A powerful earthquake in Morocco’s High Atlas mountains has killed hundreds of people after buildings collapsed and people fled their shuddering homes in several cities and towns.

Residents of Marrakech, the nearest major city to the epicentre, said some buildings had collapsed in the old city, a Unesco world heritage site. Initial reports said part of a minaret that towered over Jemaa el-Fnaa, a market square and hub for visitors, had collapsed, injuring two people, before local residents fled to the open area of the square to seek shelter.

Local television showed piles of rubble and broken pipes crushing parked cars and blocking streets across Marrakech, as residents rushed into the street after the quake struck at 11.11pm on Friday. State TV showed people wrapped in blankets sleeping in the street, fearing further aftershocks. (With video) » | Ruth Michaelson | Saturday, September 9, 2023

GUARDIAN LIVE UPDATES HERE.

Morocco Invites Netanyahu to Visit, in a Possible Opening to Deeper Ties

THE NEW YORK TIMES: The invitation came in a letter from King Mohammed VI to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel thanking him for recognizing Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel during a Knesset meeting in Jerusalem earlier this month. | Menahem Kahana/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel on Wednesday received an invitation from King Mohammed VI to visit Morocco, Mr. Netanyahu’s office said, laying the ground for the first such high-level visit since the two countries normalized relations in late 2020 and heralding a possible deepening of diplomatic and security ties.

No date has yet been set for the visit, but Israel’s national security adviser and Morocco’s foreign minister have agreed to coordinate on a date for the visit “in the near future,” according to Mr. Netanyahu’s office.

The news was likely to give Mr. Netanyahu a boost even as the policies of his right-wing government — including increased settlement construction in the occupied West Bank and a more aggressive stance toward the Palestinians — have caused tension in the region. » | Isabel Kershner, Reporting from Jerusalem | Wednesday, July 19, 2023

Morocco: A Country of Captivating Colors and Cultures | Somewhere On Earth

May 9, 2023 | The country of Morocco has been influenced by Arab, European, and African cultures throughout many centuries. See how three people live their lives in among the unique culture and warm scenery, starting with Abdullah, who lives in Taliouine, and shows us the secrets of saffron, a spice worth more than gold. We then meet French nurse Julie, living in the valley of the high atlas, working in one of the most remote environments in the country to care for its communities. And finally Ali and Lahof, the guides of the Sahara, who travel as the merchants used to hundreds of years ago.

Cooking with Alia: Spiced Lamb Kefta

Jan 31, 2023

For a full list of the ingredients and the cooking method, click here and then click on ‘Show more’.

Mohamed VI - the Limits of Power | DW Documentary

Mar 30, 202 | In 2019, King Mohammed VI of Morocco celebrated 20 years since his ascension to the throne. This film assesses the impact of his two decades of absolute power, while drawing a portrait of a man who has been nicknamed both "the king of the poor" and "the king of cash".

Morocco: A country of 36 million people with one of the oldest dynasties in the world and a king who holds enormous power. Mohammed VI, or "M6" as he is known in Morocco, is something of a progressive: His country is plagued by poverty, illiteracy and unrest, yet he has made social reforms, modernized the constitution and worked to transform the economy.

This documentary is a portrait of a man who was prepared all his life to become king of Morocco.

After the death of his father, Hassan II, Crown Prince Mohammed succeeded him in 1999. He was seen by many Moroccans as a beacon of hope. In the first years of his reign, he introduced a more liberal family law that gave women more rights and launched numerous infrastructure projects. When the Arab Spring reached Morocco in 2011, Mohammed VI even modernized the constitution. However, these reforms were never profoundly democratic.

This documentary provides answers to important questions about his more than 20-year reign. How does Mohammed VI see the future of his country? What progress has the kingdom made under his rule? Is he really a progressive king? Or does relinquishing some of his powers only serve to maintain his own ability to rule?

Morocco: The Kings of Rif I ARTE.tv Documentary

Dec 9, 2022 | Morocco has long been one of the world's largest producers of cannabis resin, but it's a trade that was illicit and unregulated. For decades, authorities cracked down on the hashish trade, one of the few industries open to the impoverished people of the Rif. But now, restrictions around cannabis have been relaxed for medicinal, cosmetic, and industrial uses – opening the way for a whole new growth industry. | Available until the 18/09/2025

Mohammed VI, The King with Two Faces I ARTE.tv Documentary

Nov 26, 2022 | In 2019, Morocco celebrated 20 years of King Muhammad VI's reign. He's managed to impose his own style through gradual reforms. But the country is also deeply divided and unequal. Though the King wishes to reform, he must face opposing forces of tradition and common law. The challenges are numerous and the threats are significant. He must constantly walk a political tightrope to keep revolution at bay.

Available until the 28/12/2022

Morocco: Sights Set on Progress - Mediterranean Journey | DW Documentary

Oct 30, 2022 | At the end of their Mediterranean journey, Sineb El Masrar shows Jaafar Abdul Karim her parents’ country. In Morocco, the two visit Tangier’s souk and its old city, with its view across the strait of Gibraltar to Europe.

Sineb then travels on alone. She meets an animal rights activist, helps out in a women's cooperative and hears the famous female "Hadra" singers in Chefchaouen, known as "The Blue City". After securing the right to sing in public, they have made female Sufi chanting famous far beyond Morocco’s borders.

Again and again, Sineb finds evidence that Morocco has its sights set on progress. The kingdom is undertaking an energy revolution, aiming to generate more than 50 percent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030. For now, the Moroccan-made electric car is still a test project. But engineer Kawtar Benabdelaziz sees e-mobility as the future -- and not just in her own country. Back in Tangier, Sineb and Jaafar look back on their travels around the Mediterranean. One thing is clear: its coastline contains multitudes. With its distinctive mix of European, Arabic and African communities, the Mediterranean’s richness lies in its diversity.

British Man Jailed in Morocco Just for Being Gay | 2014

Oct 6, 2014 His family say he's been locked in a filthy, crowded prison along with with murderers and paedophiles.

Gay Moroccan Author Abdellah Taïa

Abdellah Taïa talks about his split-second decision to be the first openly gay author in Morocco, the promise of the Arab Spring and his book, An Arab Melancholia. Taïa, who presently lives in Paris, was in Toronto for the International Festival of Authors. He has also directed his first movie, Salvation Army, which is based on a previous novel.

AswatMag.com.

Abdellah Taia - African, Muslim, and Gay

Jul 1, 2015 • Abdellah Taia's speech at the 2015 Oslo Freedom Forum. See more talks like this at oslofreedomforum.com and follow @OsloFF for updates.

Gay, Closeted, and Heartbroken in Morocco

While living in Morocco, where it's illegal to be gay, Anthony is dumped by his boyfriend back home. He has to find a way to communicate his feelings to his Moroccan host family while staying closeted.

Morocco Bans UK Flights due to Covid Cases Rising

BBC: Morocco has banned flights to and from the UK due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Several UK airlines and holiday companies have been told by the Moroccan government that flights will be suspended from 23:59 BST on Wednesday until further notice.

Flights between Morocco and Germany and the Netherlands have also been suspended.

The BBC has contacted the Moroccan embassy and tourism office, as well as the UK Foreign Office for comment.

Latest figures from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control said that Morocco's weekly rate of reported coronavirus cases on 14 October stood at 10.4 per 100,000 people, compared with 445.5 per 100,000 people in the UK. » | Caroline Davies, Transport correspondent, BBC News | Wednesday, October 20, 2021

Morocco’s King Appoints Billionaire Akhannouch to Head Government after Election Win

THE GUARDIAN: King Mohammed VI asks businessman to form government after his RNI* party trounced the long-ruling Islamists

Businessman Aziz Akhannouch’s RNI party won 102 of parliament’s 395 seats. He is is worth $2bn, according to Forbes magazine. Photograph: Fadel Senna/AFP/Getty Images
Morocco’s King Mohammed VI has named businessman Aziz Akhannouch to lead a new government after his liberal RNI party thrashed the long-ruling Islamists in parliamentary elections.

The king appointed Akhannouch “head of the government and tasked him with forming a new government”,following Wednesday’s polls, a statement from the palace said on Friday.

The RNI won 102 of parliament’s 395 seats, trouncing the moderate PJD Islamists, which had headed the governing coalition for a decade but took just 13 seats, according to results released by the interior ministry.

Akhannouch hailed the results as “a victory for democracy”.

The billionaire businessman – worth $2bn according to Forbes – has led the RNI since 2016. » | Agence France-Presse | Saturday, September 11, 2021

*RNI stands for Rassemblement National des Indépendants. In English known as 'The National Rally of Independents'. (التجمع الوطني للأحرار)

Élections au Maroc: les islamistes du PJD laminés

Le parti s'effondre, passant de 125 sièges dans l'assemblée sortante à 12, a indiqué le ministre de l'Intérieur Abdelouafi Laftit. FADEL SENNA / AFP
LE FIGARO : Le Parti de la justice et du développement, qui avait gagné et 2011 et 2016, a été lourdement battu aux législatives.

À Rabat
On les savait en difficulté, mais ils ont été laminés. Les islamistes du PJD ont perdu la majorité de la Chambre des représentants, pour être relégués en 8e position. Sur 395 députés, ils en avaient 125 et n'en auront plus que 12, selon les résultats préliminaires. Un désastre dont le Rassemblement national des indépendants (RNI) a su profiter. Quatrième force politique à l'issue des législatives de 2016, le RNI a réussi à prendre la tête de la Chambre avec 97 députés, suivi par une autre formation libérale, le Parti Authenticité et Modernité (PAM), et par le parti de centre droit l'Istiqlal (78 députés). » | Par Julie Chaudier | jeudi 9 septembre 2021

Parlamentswahlen in Marokko: Krachende Niederlage für die Islamisten: Nach einem Jahrzehnt an der Macht haben die Islamisten in Marokko bei den Parlamentswahlen ersten Ergebnissen zufolge eine Schlappe erlitten. Stand jetzt würden sie nur noch 12 Sitze erhalten. »

Morocco elections: Islamists suffer losses as liberal parties gain ground »

Journalist’s Monthslong Hunger Strike Points to Perils of Reporting in Morocco

THE NEW YORK TIMES: Soulaimane Raissouni, who has been held without trial for over a year, is more than 80 days into a hunger strike.

For years, Soulaimane Raissouni, a Moroccan newspaper editor, didn’t shy away from reporting on some of the most sensitive issues in the North African kingdom, including antigovernment protests that erupted in 2011 and 2016. But his criticism of how the authorities have handled the pandemic appeared to go too far.

A little over a year ago, he was arrested at his home in Casablanca after accusations of a sexual assault — allegations that he says are false and trumped up to intimidate him. Imprisoned ever since, he launched a hunger strike almost three months ago in protest.

On June 10, he appeared in court, emaciated and unable to walk without assistance. “Please take me back to prison to die,” he told the judge.

Mr. Raissouni is one of at least 10 Moroccan journalists who have been jailed in recent years, most of them accused of sex crimes and other acts deemed illegal in Morocco, including certain forms of abortion. Rights groups say the cases are being pursued by authorities whose true aim is to silence the country’s small cadre of independent journalists with false and politically motivated accusations.

All of the journalists detained had published articles about corruption or abuse of power within the kingdom, many of them targeting businesses or security officials with ties to King Mohammed VI.

Morocco, a constitutional monarchy in which the elected Parliament has little sway over the royal palace, has close ties to the United States and is a reliable ally in counterterrorism cooperation. But rights groups have long criticized the kingdom over its limits on freedom of expression and violations of human rights. » | Nicholas Casey and Aida Alami | Saturday, July 2, 2021

Maroc : le journaliste Soulaimane Raissouni condamné à cinq ans de prison »

Au Maroc, le combat désespéré du journaliste Soulaimane Raissouni contre l’« injustice » de son emprisonnement »

Soulaimane Raissouni »

“Goodbye! Where? I don’t know” »