Virtual Magazine of Morocco on the Web
Morocco Week in Review 
February 12 , 2006

Economic Support Fund to allocate USD 18 million to Morocco.
Morocco committed to protecting environment.
AFD grants USD 1.8Mn loan to two Moroccan NGOs.
'Rights reform cuts polygamy in Morocco'.
Health : First forum on digestive system cancers to be held in Skhirat.
Psychological state, social integration in the limelight.
Survey: Over 85% of young Moroccan Muslims practise their religion.
"Dakka Marrakchia", a fixed and unchanging musical tradition of the Red City.
Unemployment rate in Morocco estimated at 11.5%.
2nd Annual Friendship Fest to be Held in Morocco.

Economic Support Fund to allocate USD 18 million to Morocco.

The American administration has included in its 2007 budget bill a sum of USD 8 million to be allocated to Morocco as part the Economic Support Fund (ESF), reported MAP news agency. The bill, which was presented to the Congress on Monday, allocates the sum to fund micro-credit programmes and creating job opportunities. Habitation, education, health care, and rural development will also benefit from the fund.

In addition to the ESF, the 2007 budget bill plans to support other development institutions and agencies, including the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Millennium Account Challenge, and the Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI). The 2007 budget bill, which envisages a total expenditure of USD 2,770 billion, will earmark some $ 439.3 billion for the Defense Department
http://www.moroccotimes.com/News/article.asp?id=12664 
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Morocco committed to protecting environment.

Morocco completely adheres to the efforts of the international community, to establish the foundations of solidarity-based international environmental governance, said Wednesday the Minister of Territory Development, Water and Environment, Mohamed El Yazghi. On the sidelines of the ninth special session of the Governing Council of the United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP), held in Dubai, UAE, on Feb. 6-9, El Yazghi held talks with the European Commissioner in charge of environment and Spanish Minister of Environment, Cristina Narbona, and the French Minister of Ecology and Sustainable Development, Nelly Olin, reported MAP news agency.

During these talks, the Moroccan minister exchanged views on a number of environmental issues, mainly the question of renewable energy as a mechanism for clean development. The minister stressed Morocco's commitment to respect its obligations in terms of environment, mainly those stated in the charters approved by the Kingdom in this domain. He also pointed out that Morocco co-presides over the Johannesburg Renewable Energy Coalition (JREC), which has seen the adherence of eight new countries in the Dubai session.

Set up in 2002 on the occasion the 2002 World Summit for Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, the JREC aims at encouraging member states to use renewable energies as a fundamental mechanism for the application of the Kyoto Protocol.

EL Yazghi also met with the Executive Director of UNEP, Klaus Toepfer, who hailed the Moroccan experience concerning the protection of the environment.

The participants in this special session of the UNEP, some 140 minister of environment, discussed the regional and international policies as to the environment and sustainable development, the application of Johannesburg action plan, the realisation of the Millennium Development Goals and the ecological development in the world. Other themes included international environmental management, environment-friendly tourism and the UNPE contribution to the coming summit on sustainable development.

"There is every sign that we are seeing a renaissance in the commitment to global environmental issues. This is being driven partly by the soaring demand and price for fossil fuels," said Toepfer. The special session was preceded by an international conference on management of chemical products. It started on Saturday and ended on Monday.

UNEP was established by the general assembly after the Stockholm Conference on Human Environment in 1972, to be a platform for global environmental cooperation and treaty making.
http://www.moroccotimes.com/paper/article.asp?idr=2&id=12725 
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AFD grants USD 1.8Mn loan to two Moroccan NGOs.
Rabat, Feb. 6

The French Development Agency (AFD) has granted two Moroccan micro-credit associations two loans worth USD 1.8Mn to fund revenue-generating activities. The loans will contribute to fighting poverty, notably in rural areas, through helping populations benefit from financial services adapted to their needs to fund their revenue-generating activities. The loans also aim to consolidate the financial situation of the two associations "l'Association marocaine de solidarité sans frontière de micro-crédit" (AMSSF-MC) and "Al-Amana", which are serving some 263,000 customers.

Morocco, which numbers twelve micro-finance associations, okayed 2 million loans estimated at over 500 million euros in 2004.
These associations served some 575,000 beneficiaries, including which 75 pc of women, and helped create 2000 jobs, which is a 75 pc increase compared to 2003. The Moroccan program on micro-financing aims at upping the number of beneficiaries to one million families in the coming years.
http://www.map.ma/eng/sections/social/afd_grants_usd_1.8mn/view 
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'Rights reform cuts polygamy in Morocco'.
(Reuters) 10 February 2006 RABAT

A Moroccan law to improve women's rights, which initially put secularists at odds with powerful Islamists, has reduced polygamy and encouraged social reform, the justice minister said. But feminists and other rights activists said that despite the law of women rights known as the Moudawana was enacted two years ago, husbands still find ways to circumvent the law and abuse wives.

"If the figures are to reflect the far-reaching change we intended with the Moudawana, preliminary figures give us hope and optimism," Justice Minister Mohamed Bouzoubaa told Reuters in an interview on Wednesday. He said the number of marriages in Morocco, where reforms on women's rights are among the most progressive in the Arab world, did not fall sharply as many people initially warned and divorces slumped 40 per cent.
"This is very important because divorce is no longer a right for the man to exercise whenever he likes. Divorce is permitted only under the supervision of judges," he said.

The law entitles women to rights including custody of children and alimony. "Before the Moudawana, it was easy for men to repudiate wives. If the man felt upset by his wife, he could easily divorce her," Bouzoubaa said. The number of newly-married couples rose to 259,612 in 2005, up 7.0 per cent from the previous year, according to government figures. But 263,553 couples married in 2003, the year before the Moudawana became effective, underscoring what sociologists said were conservative fears about the Moudawana's impact.

Islamists and their secularist foes wrangled for years over women rights but reform-minded King Mohammed helped forged a consensus before parliament approved the law. Polygamy declined 10 per cent, Bouzoubaa said. But feminists and other activists said women still struggle with the contradictions of their county's transition towards a more open society. They said while the law allows adult women to marry without the approval of parents or relatives, only 18 per cent were taking advantage of that, official figures showed.

Latifa Ourzkane, a moderate Islamist and rights activist, said mainly poor women were seeking parental approval for their marriages as social protection against marriage failures. "Two years after the family Moudawana was enacted, the law is still not known by a majority of a society overwhelmed by illiteracy," he said. The illiteracy rate is about 40 per cent. Khadija Al Riadhi, from the secular Progressive Women's group, said women were complaining of a lack of enthusiasm among men to implement the Moudawana. Women's rights activists cite cases of married men falsifying certificates in order to acquire new wives. "Some wives knew about the falsification, but they do not complain to the authorities to protect their husbands from prosecution and their family from trouble," said Ourzkane.
http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle.asp?xfile=data/middleeast/2006/February/middleeast_February330.xml&section=middleeast&col= 
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Health : First forum on digestive system cancers to be held in Skhirat.

The Moroccan Group for the Study and Research on Cancers of the Digestive System (GERCAD) will hold the first forum on cancers of the digestive system in Skhirat (near Rabat) on Feb 18, reported MAP news agency. The meeting will be an occasion to examine the therapeutic place of conventional classic surgery (a long and heavy operation followed by a tiring post-operational management), said a communiqué from the GERCAD.

The Forum, the first of its kind organised by the GERCAD, will also tackle coelioscopic surgery, more aesthetic and less traumatizing, and endoscopic surgery, added the communiqué. According to Rabat's Ibn Sina Hospital Centre (CHIS), cancer of the stomach occurs earlier (at the age of 50) in Morocco than in Europe (at 60), while 90% of the first liver cancers result from a cirrhosis of the liver, whether its origin is viral (B and C) or from alcohol.

The GERCAD, which has just been founded with the aim of having reliable and verifiable data concerning this illness, brings together specialized medical competences "from the university, liberal, military and public sector". The Study Group has as objective the diagnosis and treatment of cancers of the digestive system thanks to "the experience of the Moroccan teams based on international standards".
http://www.moroccotimes.com/Paper/article.asp?idr=11&id=12739 
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Psychological state, social integration in the limelight.
By Oumnia Guedda

"The social reintegration of prisoners cannot be effective unless prisoners enjoy a sane mental health," said the director of Arrazi Hospital, Jalal Taoufiq, in a seminar organised by the Mohammed VI Foundation's section for the reintegration of detainees on Feb.2-3 in Rabat, reported MAP news agency. The seminar, which took place in the Higher Institute of the Magistracy in Rabat, was initiated in partnership with the Ministry of Justice and Arrazi hospital.

Taoufiq expressed his willingness to boost partnership with the Mohammed VI Foundation's section for the reintegration of prisoners and the Ministry of Justice to take into consideration the mental health of detainees. He also called for the launching of an establishment within the penitentiary institution so as to assist prisoners who suffer from psychological and psychiatric disorders.

During the seminar, participants discussed many topics, including the psychological reactions to imprisonment, pathological personalities in prison, the handling of an agitation crisis, acts of violence, auto-mutilation and depressive disorders and suicide attempts by detainees. The seminar also dealt with severe psychotic cases, the use of drugs in prison and other psychological disorders of prisoners "who should be humanly treated to reduce their sufferings," underlined Mohammed Lididi, a member of the Administration Council of the Mohammed VI foundation's section for the reintegration of detainees. "Prison has its specificities and negatively affects prisoners. Thus, it is necessary to create a partnership between many actors, who are able to go beyond the constraints, especially the material ones, and to bring the necessary support to sick inmates," added Ldidi.

The meeting is part of the upgrading programme of human resources which aims to accompany the social and professional reintegration of detainees. "Taking care of prisoners suffering from psychological and psychiatric disorders is part of the approach of human development," said Ldidi. He hailed the voluntary action and mobilization of Arrazi Hospital doctors, which will guarantee success to the Mohammed VI Foundation's action for the reintegration of prisoners. "Taking care of detainees is an attempt to avoid their committing a second offence," affirmed the director of the Penitentiary and Reintegration Administration, Mohamed Abdennabaoui. "We work to improve the treatment of detainees. Our action is based on the humanisation and moralisation of penitentiary institutions as well as the preservation and respect of prisoners' dignity," added the director. During this two-day-meeting, participants will also deal with anxiety troubles (cases of high-pitched stress and post traumatic stress) and other psychological disorders.
http://www.moroccotimes.com/paper/article.asp?idr=11&id=12586 
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Survey: Over 85% of young Moroccan Muslims practise their religion.
By Karima Rhanem

A recent survey by the Moroccan daily, L'Economiste has revealed that over 85% of young Moroccans aged between 16 and 29 practise their religion regardless of where they live or their social background. The survey, which questioned a sample of 776 young people, said that 99% of young men and women fast in Ramadan, and 90% of them perform their prayers regularly or occasionally. Only 9% of them declared they had never prayed.

The survey stated that age is not a factor that contributes to the change in religious habits. However, the social background may be a reason why some young people don't perform their religious rituals. The survey said there are more 'non-performers' among the rich and middle class: 16% of them belonging to rich families said they don't pray or have never prayed; 8% from Middle class and 9% from poor families. Asked about marriage, 67% of them said they could marry a non-Moroccan, but 73% said they won't marry a non-Muslim. The survey also revealed that 49% of young men prefer their wives to wear the veil.

These results explain, according to the paper, that the majority of Moroccans feel themselves Muslims before being Moroccans. "And this gives us an idea about the identity of the adults of tomorrow," stated the paper. Regarding young people's view of al-Qaida organisation, 44% of them said al-Qaida is not a terrorist organisation, 31% said they had no idea whether al-Qaida is a terrorist organisation or not. The paper questioned whether these people are really ignorant about al-Qaida or whether it was a way of not stating an opinion.

Claiming that al-Qaida is not a terrorist organisation is mainly due, according to L'Economiste, to the US-led war in Iraq. For 76%, the US war in Iraq is unjustified and negative. The paper said there is a real condemnation by the Moroccan youth of the US foreign policy. "For them the al-Qaida represents an opposition to the US power. That could explain why many young Moroccan say al-Qaida is not a terrorist organisation," explained the paper. It also stated that those who asserted al-Qaida is not a terrorist organisation belong to poor families. Only 30% of rich people said it is not. "The poorer we are, the more we love al-Qaida," said the daily.

The daily also questioned the young Moroccans about different other themes including sexuality, men-women relationships, superstitions, polygamy, friendship, money, marriage, etc. The survey was conducted by Sunergia for L'Economiste in the autumn of 2005. It questioned a sample of 776 young people, of which 390 are men and 386 are women. The survey has taken into consideration the geographical location, age, sex, social background, and the zone (rural-urban).
http://www.moroccotimes.com/paper/article.asp?idr=11&id=12424 
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"Dakka Marrakchia", a fixed and unchanging musical tradition of the Red City. Organisers of the first Dakka Marrakchia Festival in Marrakech wanted to demonstrate and exhibit a spirit of continuity of the musical tradition of the city.
By Hassan Benmehdi

A part of cultural heritage going back to the Saadian Dynasty, Dakka Marrakchia (drumming) is considered a musical genre for male groups and is produced by polyrhythmic percussion and choral chants which have been performed once a year for centuries during the Achoura Festival.
The rhythms pay tribute to the Sabaatou Rijal, the city's seven spiritual patrons of Sidi Youssef Ben Ali, Qadi Ayad, Abou El Abbas Essebti, Imam El Jazouli, Sidi Abdelaziz Tabbaa, Sidi Abdellah El Ghazouani (called Moul Laksour), and Imam Souhayli. Dakka has flourished in neighbourhoods and places frequented by craftsmen, especially artists who formed D'Kaykiya troupes. Such troupes demonstrate their ability to become a single, solid and united body with the traditional "one for all and all for one" as their sacred motto.

For centuries, every neighbourhood has had its own troupe of men recognised as having a musical ear with a sense of rhythm and great stamina to be able to raise high the standard of their town's holy patron. The first Dakka Marrakchia festival will involve seven troupes representing seven districts of the town, which have for centuries jealously guarded this secular piece of heritage and pride of the city. The districts are Bab D'Bagh, Sabtiyyine, Bin Laarassi, Casbah, Ben Salah, Derb Dabachi, and El Moukkaf districts.

Initiated by the Moroccan Asdekaa Nakhil Association (Friends of the Marrakech Palm Tree), the cultural event will begin with the distribution of Dakka instruments, namely the taarija, tara, lakrakash and naffar. Asdekaa Nakhil President Abdellah Ait Baha said the goal "is to breathe new life into Dakka and attract the interest of young people in these districts to ensure the continuity and authenticity of this ancient art form". During the festival, a tribute will be paid to Feu Baba, the spiritual father of Dakka Marrakchia.
http://www.magharebia.com/cocoon/awi/print/en_GB/features/awi/articles/2006/02/07/feature-02
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Unemployment rate in Morocco estimated at 11.5%.
Rabat, Feb. 8

Unemployment rate in Morocco stood at 11.5% in the last quarter of 2005 against 10.4% in the same period in 2004. According to a release of the High Commissioner for Planning (HCP), the unemployed active population rose from 1.11 million to 1.28 million in the same period, i.e a 15% increase. About 60.7% of this rise was registered in rural areas, said the same source.

The release pointed out that unemployment rate went from 18% to 19.4% in urban zones and from 2.5% to 3.6% in the rural area. The rise concerned in particular urban women (23% to 25.8%), men in rural zones (2.9% to 4.6%), adults in urban areas aged from 35 to 44 years (9.6% to 13.8%) and the active population aged from 15 to 24 years in rural zones (3.9% to 5.7%). The document notes that unemployment increase touched both degree-holders (22.9% to 24.3%) and those without degrees (4.2% to 5%). The same source pointed out that the active population in Morocco, aged above 15 has reached over 11.21 million in the 4th quarter of 2005 against 10.78 million the previous year, that is a rise of 3.9%.
http://www.map.ma/eng/sections/social/unemployment_rate_in/view 
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2nd Annual Friendship Fest to be Held in Morocco.
Friday, February 10 , 2006,

Last May, American and Moroccan musicians shared the stage, drawing an estimate 85,000 people Following the success of the first Friendship Fest held in Marrakech, Morocco last year, event organisers scheduled a second festival for May 5-7, 2006. Music promoters Harry Thomas and Tim Landis (co-founders of Creation Festivals, Inc.) were once again invited by Marrakech Regional President Abdelali Doumou, with the full support of Wali (Governor).

Last May, artists promoted from America and musicians in Morocco shared the stage, drawing an estimate 85,000 people. Musicans who attended last year included Delirious?, newsboys, Out of Eden, and Joy Williams. "The only thing that was translated were the introductions of the performers", said Thomas. "The universal language of music translated itself."

Thomas and Landis have so far put together a diverse line-up of contemporary Christian music artists to appear at Friendship Fest 2006.

The festival will mainly be led by Grammy-winning Christian artists Audio Adrenaline and The Crabb Family. Four additional American artists George Huff, Jaci Velasquez, KJ-52 and downhere, will be joined onstage by a number of contemporary and traditional Moroccan music artists during the 18 hours of the music festival. Production costs of the event, which is free to all attendees, will be offset by private contributions in the United States and corporate sponsorships in Morocco.

Regional President Doumou hailed the 2005 festival, believed to be the first of its kind in the Arab world, as a resounding success: "We were delighted and honoured when my good friends Harry Thomas and Tim Landis accepted our invitation to come to Marrakech to join with us in celebration of our long-standing friendship with the people of the United States. Over the past three days, we have seen the universal language of music unite our people and cultures in a way that was both gratifying and encouraging for future cultural and economic exchanges."
Thomas agreed, stating: "We were simply overwhelmed by the warmth of the reception we received from the Moroccan people. Each of the artists performing at the event had stories of new relationships that were developed as a result of Friendship Fest. Those in attendance truly blessed us with their heartfelt encouragement and enthusiastic support.

According to festival organisers, the purpose of Friendship Fest is to "use the universal language of music to bridge cultures and make friends - to show that people of different cultures and faith traditions can be friends and live in harmony with one another."

When asked for his view regarding whether or not these goals were achieved in 2005, Regional President Doumou responded: "The goals of Friendship Fest were most definitely achieved. We strengthened our relations with our American brothers and sisters and set the stage for ongoing discussions and future cultural exchanges between our countries. We truly believe that this event represented an historic opportunity for Americans and Moroccans to celebrate together, through music, in friendship and peace."

For more information on the Friendship Festival, go to http://www.friendshipfest.com
http://www.christiantoday.com/news/america/2nd.annual.friendship.fest.to.be.held.in.morocco/501.htm 
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