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January 11th, 2007

Freedom of the press and Saddam Hussein in the Moroccan blogosphere

Farah Kinani · 08:18 · Middle East & North Africa

Last week was mostly about Nichane and since the trial of the two journalists started on Monday, this week will probably also be about this issue in the Moroccan Blogosphere (Blogoma).

Saddam Hussein's hanging was also a hot topic in the Blogoma, and based on the emotion that “dominates” some posts, the former president of Iraq seems to have been “canonized” in Morocco. . . or at least by some Moroccan bloggers.

Grim Laugh

Eatbees calls the trial of Sanaa Elaji and Driss Ksikes a black eye for Moroccan freedom. He believes the situation looks grim for the magazine and its two journalists. (more…)

2 comments · »»

December 28th, 2006

The Blogoma backs Nichane while the major Moroccan Media ignore it

Farah Kinani · 06:44 · Middle East & North Africa

Morocco is celebrating Eid ul Adha next Sunday, so Merry Eid from the Moroccan Blogosphere(Blogoma).

Let's joke about…Baby!

The controversy over Nichane continues its escalation. Actually, and according to Farid it's virtually escalating since only the Moroccan blogs are concerned whith no major Media support(Fr).

The view from Fez writes about the “disturbing” silence off the major Moroccan media.

A very well coordinated campaign by conservative forces has been pushing for the baning of the satirical journal Nichane. Disturbingly a number of journalist “fellow-travellers” decided to abandon ethics and principals and join the campaign. Freedom of the press should be a non-negotiable, but for some it appears that at the first sniff of trouble they opted for self-interest. Thus they fueled the traditionalist camp and gave no support to the government who found itself in a difficult position caught between the highly popular reforms on one hand and the rising tide of political Islam on the other.

Eatbees posts the petition to defend Nichane which he considers “not just a statement of support for Nichane, but a call to change the laws governing the press in Morocco.”
(more…)

4 comments · »»

December 20th, 2006

Freedom of speech and music celebrations in the Moroccan Blogosphere

Farah Kinani · 13:53 · Middle East & North Africa

lingua → zhs · zht

Many different subjects were in the spotlight last week, in the Moroccan blogosphere.

I'll start with Farid and his interesting numbers (Fr) about blogging in Morocco. Then comes Reda who found out, thanks to Shimon Peres, that there is a connection between laziness and Islam(Fr).

The European Union is a great success and a great failure. Why? Because the Europeans have become lazy – they don’t have children […] There is more old age, less youngsters. In Europe there is work, but no workers. In Africa it's the opposite. That is why they brought the Muslims, and Islam made its way into Europe.

Amine, a big fan of Tom and Jerry, like most of us, posts about the legendary cartoon-maker(Fr) Joseph Barbera who died Monday at 95.

A sour laugh?

the cover story that divided the Moroccan opinion Nichane is under attack. The reason? A cover story published by the satirical magazine about the most popular jokes in Morocco. Well, it turned out that Moroccans like to laugh about Power, Sex, and Religion. Nothing really specific to Morocco since that's mostly what jokes are about all over the world. Some jokes were about God and the prophets (Ar), and for Khorafa's(Ar) visitors, that was worse than the Danish cartoons(Ar).
(more…)

8 comments · »»

December 6th, 2006

The week that was in The Moroccan Blogosphere

Farah Kinani · 15:32 · Middle East & North Africa

Marrakech celebrates the stars

The red city of Morocco looks more beautiful with all the glamorous actors taking part in its sixth edition of the International Film Festival.
The very good Laila Lalami posts about the event and points a very interesting statement said by Mohammed Majd a Moroccan actor honored by the festival.

the interesting bit is that Mohammed Majd was quoted in the 22 November issue of the newspaper Assahifa as saying, “It would be a mess if the organizers of the Marrakech film festival were Moroccans.” The quote was reprinted by a couple of magazines, but without anyone really disagreeing or taking offense.

Maryam can’t stop from stuffing herself. She needs her daily dose of films, and she's more than served with the festival taking place in her city.

Is this the kind of thing that sounds appealing to you? If so, start planning for a little trip because next year there will be the seventh International Film Festival of Marrakech (Aren't you impressed with my ability to count sequentially?)….And I already can't wait. Will I see you there?

Bluesman would love to enjoy the festival, but he would not buy the official dress(Ar) required to take part of the event. He is asking his readers to find him one to borrow for one week. Practical!
(more…)

3 comments · »»

November 29th, 2006

The Blogoma retaliates while Blaise LLorca calms the angry e-crowd

Farah Kinani · 15:08 · Middle East & North Africa

Moroccan bloggers under fire!

The Moroccan blogosphere (Blogoma) is very angry. Why? Well a Moroccan blogger qualified the Moroccan blogging as being still in the “teen aging period”(Fr). Mohamed Lachyab, a Moroccan journalist who's decorating his blog with …his own pictures, gave an interview(Ar) to the Moroccan newspaper Almasae, and expressed his opinion about the Moroccan blogging.

The reactions were interesting and most of the time disapproving of whatever Lachyab had to say.

It turned out that the journalist meant “some”(Ar) Moroccan blogs. He also used “some” excerpts from Hjiouj's blog(Ar) without mentioning his source(Fr)!

“It’s an insult to the Moroccan bloggers”(Fr), writes Farid referring not only to Lachyab's interview but also to a column written by another journalist who stated in the Moroccan Arabophone newspaper Al Ittihad Alichtiraqui(Ar) that The Moroccan blogs are mostly futile(ar).

The interesting part in this entire “Imbroglio” is that it shows how fast the Moroccan bloggers react and how active is the Moroccan blogosphere.
(more…)

8 comments · »»

November 15th, 2006

The Moroccan beauty shines in France while more Moroccan bloggers “call it quit”!

Farah Kinani · 07:37 · Middle East & North Africa

It's alarming. More and more Moroccan bloggers are taking vacation from blogging! And while A Moroccan haute couture stylist displays proudly his identity by transforming a Caftan into an elegant Moroccan flag, other Moroccans questioned their belonging to a country they say is harassing their religious belief.

The patriotic Caftan

Label Ash posted(Fr) about Albert Ouaknine(Fr), The Moroccan Haute Couture stylist who made sensation in the mystical Caroussel du louvre by presenting a Moroccan collection of caftans representing the multicultural Moroccan identity.

Mohamed El Kortbi was touched by the lesson of tolerance(Fr) in Oiknine's show.

Thou shall not fast or pray or wear the veil!

Many bloggers opt for sensationalist titles, omitting to consider that some of their blog’s visitors would not be up to reading any further than the title. The result is that they end up having a wrong idea about a critical situation. That is what happened to many bloggers when they have run into this title “After the veil, Ramadan and the prayers are under fire in Morocco” (Ar).
(more…)

2 comments · »»

November 8th, 2006

The Moroccan blogosphere barely acknowledges Saddam Hussein's sentence

Farah Kinani · 09:32 · Middle East & North Africa

Two major events marked the beginning of the week, for the Moroccan bloggers: The Green March and Saddam Hussein's death penalty. But only one event got the most attention. It's the first blog meeting held in Agadir last week end.

The Green March

Moroccan bloggers(Fr) discussed the Green March, and remembered the euphoria that went along with the spectacular event, 31 years ago.

Samir explains why is November the 6th a holiday in Morocco. (more…)

Agadir Blog Meeting : Download

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November 5th, 2006

Moroccan bloggers gain in popularity and reduce the predominance of French blogs

Farah Kinani · 12:49 · Middle East & North Africa

I went to Morocco for a long vacation. Once back to my home sweet home, I had to deal with my son's adenoids which caused me to stay away of my weekly roundup. Thank God, everything is just fine now. So here I am, back to my favorite hobby of spotting the most original Moroccan blogs and bringing them to you so you can see, by yourself, how wonderful is the Moroccan blogosphere (Blogoma) and how interesting is to be part of it.

It's even more interesting to meet the bloggers(Fr) in person, and I had the privilege(Fr) to talk(Fr) to some(Fr) of the stars(Fr) of the blogoma. I discussed with them and I was amazed by their way of thinking and their emancipation especially that most of them were women.

I have interviews I'll be sharing with you every week, but for now let's have an updated look on the Moroccan blogosphere.

Blogo ergo sum

It's now evidence that Morocco is taking seriously his bloggers. After the Jankari scandal, the Moroccan Media is stressing(Fr) the growing number of the blogs in the country. And while some of them tend to not give credit to what they call “a perishable phenomenon,” most of the Moroccan journalists applaud(Fr) the emerging of the blogs as another form of journalism in a country avid of more forms of expression.

A growing number of Moroccan Internet surfers have become bloggers this year due to cheaper Internet access, the general availability of ADSL and the launch of a number of local blog platforms. (more…)

5 comments · »»

May 10th, 2006

The week that was, in the Moroccan blogosphere

Farah Kinani · 12:17 · Middle East & North Africa

Once again, an Egyptian blogger is detained. I'll start today by urging the Egyptian Government to release Alaa and the other activists detained for having expressed their political opinion.

I don't know yet why no one can access M.S Hjiouj's blog(Ar) since last week, and I sincerely hope it has nothing to do with censure.
I already feel that the Moroccan blogosphere is missing one of its very interesting members. Hjiouj is asking for help to explain and solve “error 400″.

The Muslim Democrat of the Year

Soumiaz is asking what does the Moroccan Government want? And she refers in her post to the Moroccan independent newspaper Le Journal hebdomadaire(Fr) accused of defamation, and condemned(Fr) to pay $340.000.
(more…)

4 comments · »»

May 3rd, 2006

Chernobyl remembered and the Amazigh poetry enjoyed in the Moroccan blogosphere

Farah Kinani · 11:29 · Middle East & North Africa

Two very interesting Moroccan blogs are celebrating the first year of their existence. So I'll start by wishing a happy birthday to M.S Hjiouj(Ar) and BLOGS MULTIPLES(Ar).
Atmani(Ar) I would like you to know that I have nothing against your political posts, and that it's always a joy for me to visit your blog.

Jewish vs Muslim..again!

Slix writes about Matisyahu, the popular Hasidic Jewish reggae artist and asks if a Muslim singer with beard and turban would have had the success(Fr) Matisyahu is enjoying. Except for Mchicha(Fr) who answered yes to the question, all the comments agreed that the Muslim singer won't stand a chance because of his displaying of his faith.

I couldn't help reading Slix's post again and again and going through the comments again and again. And I simply think it's scary to realize that young graduate intellectual Moroccans are starting to consider what USA think as the one and only reality in the world. I mean, why would a Muslim beard turbaned singer reach the approval of an American audience with a Christian-Judaic religious background instead of performing in the huge Islamic world?
We have many examples of religious singers with big audience, isn't enough?
What about the Muslim observant singer Sami Youssef whose albums have taken the Islamic world by storm!! (more…)

6 comments · »»