The Plight of Moroccan TV

This past Ramadan Moroccan viewers inside the kingdom and abroad were fuming over the mediocre Moroccan drama series and comedies that crowded their TV screens around Iftar time, the time of breaking the fast. Iftar time is equivalent to American Super Bowl spread out over thirty days in terms of peaking TV viewership and ad revenues. Moroccan Facebookers created several groups to protest against 2M TV and Al-Oula TV, both state-run TV channels. Moroccan press, too, lashed out at the two channels, and Rachid Jadir, a young underground cartoon artist, came up with a short, but quite funny, video clip --which made the rounds on Facebook-- mocking the Moroccan TV mockery. Al-Jazeera TV also chipped in and discussed the issue on its daily Maghreb special edition for about 30 minutes.

Experts claimed several factors that contribute to the poor quality of TV programming:

1. Political: Few months ago, the Audio-visual watchdog in Morocco, HACA, canceled a invitation for proposal to the private sector for 2 TV projects and 3 radio stations permits. It was canceled at the last minute, citing the difficult market conditions caused by the global financial meltdown, which might, they argued, depress an already suffering TV ads market. But some observers said it highlighted the authorities reluctance to allow privately-owned networks to operate. This kind of TV channels will need to attract viewers to survive, which might lead them to discuss taboo topics in Morocco, particularly in a country with high illiteracy rate, and where citizens hardly read to know what is going on in the country. That is more headaches for the authorities, which have been butting heads with the Moroccan printed press lately. This, observers argue, creates, or rather, maintains an audiovisual environment monopolized by two state-owned TV networks.
2. Advertisers: Advertisers are rumored to have a major say on what shows the two channels should air. From the dozens of proposals for shows and series, the advertisers prefer to conservatively pick the familiar faces in the Moroccan comedy scene as a safe bet. The underfunded SNRTs two outlets have no choice but to say yes to advertisers so that they can balance their budgets with high premiums they charge for the much prized Iftar peak time. Projects proposed by young and unfamiliar artists get the boot and the Moroccan audience never gets to discover new talents, leading to very uncompetitive and incompetent products by the same old faces.
3. Nepotism and corruption: Those same old faces have now accumulated fortunes thanks to their exclusive contracts obtained through shady and murky contacts. Actors and producers like Said Naciri, for example, appear every year on 2M TV and fail miserably to put not even a smile on the viewers' faces, let alone laughter. Inflated contracts charges end up in the pockets of the "artists" and TV artistic evaluation teams. Of course, the two networks, run by bureaucrats, will never reform themselves as feedback, instructions, and orders go one-way street, from top to bottom.
   

Backfire:
Things have changed this year. With tools like Facebook, the Moroccan blogosphere and Twitter, feedback to Ramadan programming was immediate, and negative. The press and the advertisers themselves, for the first time in the history of Moroccan media enviornment, were able to measure the viewers' temperature. Newspapers bombarded the two networks with a daily barrage of criticism. And the advertisers, 10 days into Ramadan, pulled most of their advertising. Viewers of course had no shortage of alternative shows and networks to follow, as they zapped to Egyptian, Saudi, and Lebanese networks for Syrian and Egyptian drama. Quite anecdotal was the fact that many disappointed viewers turned to Hizballah's Al-Manar TV to watch a of a drama series that was said to be of higher quality than what the Moroccan networks aired. Too much for a regime that declared war on Shiism in Morocco few months ago.

Modern Ramadan

I was approached by an English Pakistani medical student in our Library and asked if I were to join her and some Muslim Fellows for Friday prayers. I quickly agreed and without any hesitation. Prayers are keeping the vibrations of my sanity alive this Ramadan, and are a source of relief for my daily over accumulating stress. Not to mention the self-purification we are blessed to experience during this holy month.

Once we were done with Jumuah prayers, I realized that the majority of people in our little mosque were not fasting!! Their excuse was that is so difficult for them to fast in the heat during a long day that requires a lot of attention and fast pace learning. I was simply stunned by their reasoning and shocked to an unbelievable point. I couldn’t help it but ask myself: Isn’t Ramadan one of the pillars of Islam? Is there some justified non-fasting during Ramadan other than sickness? May God forgive me; I allowed myself to google the subject online, naively thinking, that there might be some justified excuses for not fasting besides Illness. Perhaps some unique mental hardship these medical students are using?!

My only Moroccan American colleague was praising me one day for my strength to hold on my fasting while working with cadavers and undergoing a long hectic day of attending lectures and studying without fainting. At first, I seriously thought it was an innocent compliment made to accentuate the strong belief of a Muslim holding on her religious beliefs in a non-Muslim country by majority, but to my surprise, and while we were having that conversation she reached to her cup of coffee and started drinking it. Then and only then I realized and understood the reasoning behind her compliment about my fasting: she wasn’t fasting either!

I froze for a second and started contemplating my surrounding. There were so many Muslims in my group who were proud to be part of the Muslim Ummah yet chose to abstain from fasting and for the very same reasons I mentioned earlier. It didn’t take me too long to realize that I was considered a minority Muslim, within the big majority Muslim Community. But what seems a little bizarre though is that the minority, in this case, whole heartily abides by the pillars of Islam unlike the big community.

Although I moved to the US at a young age, Ramadan was and still holds a special love in my heart. It’s very refreshing to close my eyes, and recall my memories of Ramadan in Morocco. The spirit of people and the warmth welcome of a special month many of us await impatiently, and how it brings most of our family members, friends and neighbors together. The constant recitations of Quran, the Taraweeh prayers, the closeness we get to Allah are simply priceless. There are no perfect words that can express those feelings I have once felt and moments I have enjoyed living in a country, where majority of its citizens practice the same religion.

Upon my migration to the states, I didn’t feel much difference in our Ramadanic Atmosphere. My family carried same traditions and values we were entrenched with in Morocco. Perhaps, the only change I was faced with is having to explain what Ramadan and Islam are all about to classmates and teachers. Years went by, and I found myself away from home for college. Distance and change in environment didn’t alter my faith in Islam. In fact, I believe it made it stronger than ever before. It made me appreciate and value my religion and the union of my family during the beautiful holy month of Ramadan. Moreover, it was during Ramadan that I expanded the network of my friendship with Muslims from all over the world in and out school, with whom I had Iftars, and prayers on a regular basis.

So after a deep pondering, I came to the conclusion that Ramadan is still special in my heart regardless of my location and surrounding. Close or far away from my family, I strive hard to carry the same values and practice of religion I grew up practicing. I feel so sad for those who excuse themselves from fasting it and missing on the unique experience of feeling the holiness of Ramadan.

I can’t help it but ask myself, where is our Muslim, young, educated professional generation is heading to with their Islamic arbitrary excuses they make as they go in their lives? How can we, Muslims, pick and choose from the most important 5 pillars of Islam what better suits our lifestyle, and completely disregard what some of us might consider as a hardship?

Lamiaa

Seeking Faith and Jasmine

It was one pleasant summer afternoon at a café by the beach in Casablanca, Morocco. I was sitting with a girl who has committed her life, heart, and soul to loving me but I did not reciprocate those same feelings at the time. I will call her Faith. Faith is someone many dream of but I was content appreciating and respecting her. I recall how she looked at me; a sad look that said “I am madly in love with you, why don’t you love me back?” Aware of that, and not willing to send Faith any wrong signal, I was very careful not to behave in any way that may give her the wrong impression. As we talked and chatted, I could see that sadness in her eyes that for some reason pierced through my heart and remains engraved in my memory until today.

A little girl, 12 years old of age or so, walked by. She was selling roses that she carried in a basket. I will call her Jasmine. Jasmine walked by couples offering the man to buy a flower for the object of his affection, bringing them closer together in return for a mere 25 cents that she could use to help her family. Ah! The power of the simple things in life.

Usually, I would buy one and pay much more than the asking price for it. Jasmine made her way through the tables proposing roses without persistence. As soon as she was told no, she quietly moved on to the next. It was our turn; she walked up to me and said: “Buy her a rose”.

I replied “We are ok; thank you.”

Until today, I am very surprise at my reaction whenever I think about it; Very unlike me. Even if I did not want to buy a rose, I know I would normally give some money but I was too consumed with not sending the wrong message to Faith.

I shiver now when I think of what was going on Faith’s mind. How desperately did she want a rose? Could I ever realize that? I realize now that she sure deserves more than a rose; she deserves the Garden of Eden.

Expecting Jasmine to walk away as she did with every couple she approached, she proceeded by telling me: “If you love her, you would buy her a rose; love is not just talk!”

Caught completely by surprise, not expecting that, and feeling put on the spot, I replied by raising my voice ever so slightly:

“Are you trying to start an argument or something? I said no thanks!”

Jasmine walked away and how I wish I had not let her!! As for Faith, she just watched quietly and how I wish she had said something. I pondered why Jasmine did not walk away just like she did with every other table. Was there something different about us?

Some time has gone by now. Whenever this scene plays back in my head, my heart skips a beat and I sweat. How could I have broken two innocent hearts who had offered me nothing but love especially Faith’s? A simple and effortless gesture from my part would have made both there days!

What lessons can be drawn from this?! What I dream of and long for is to marry Faith and we adopt Jasmine.

If you ever come across Jasmine, please let me know! As for Faith, it is up to faith!

Jamal Laoudi Copyright (c)2009

President Obama Tests King Mohamed VI

American President Barack Obama sent a letter to King of Morocco Mohamed VI urging him to be the “leader” in establishing Arab-Israeli peace and to “bridge gaps between Israel and the Arab world.” While this sounds constructive and positive, a scrutiny of the details reveals holes. The “bridge gaps” request is for Morocco to take steps for more normalized relations with Israel in hope that other Arab nations follow suit, or as the President put it “convince the parties to engage constructively.” In return, Israel would order a temporary freeze of all settlement-construction in the West Bank. Many in the Arab world are arguing that Israel can and must do better than just freezing settlement-construction as it is simply not enough.

Israel is looking to enhance its bilateral relations with many Arab nations. Face value, this proposition appears quite encouraging but the sticking point is that the Arab world dismisses Israel’s offer as not serious. The enhancements Israel is seeking include “opening of trade offices, direct economic links, public cultural and educational ties, and overfly rights for Israeli airlines;” Furthermore, the Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported that “the United States is seeking to encourage Morocco and the Persian Gulf states to allow Israel to open diplomatic offices in their territory, and to send their own diplomatic delegations to Israel.

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What is Israel bringing to the table? A three-month freeze of settlements in the West Bank. Arab countries have long been offering Israel full relations, diplomatic and otherwise, if it withdraws from territories it occupies, and if the two parties come to an agreement about the refugee question.

The Palestinian camp is already crying foul. The Palestinian authority said that "Israel is trying to open up to the Arab world 'at the expense' of the Palestinians by using hollow initiatives." It went further and argued that Israel is looking to run away from its obligations vis-à-vis stopping settlement construction.

Morocco has much to offer as an honest broker to resolve Arab-Israeli conflict.If it heeds President Obama’s call unilaterally, it would come under much criticism, some heavy justifiably. Arab countries would be best served addressing this issue as a united front as opposed to fragmented pieces. Peace is desperately needed and the usual ways and means of addressing this conflict have bore very little fruit if any. It is high time a permanent peaceful solution was found.

Jamal Laoudi Copyright© 2009

It's Article 19, Stupid!

A big controversy followed the Moroccan Interior Ministry’s decision to ban the last issues of French magazine, TelQuel, and its Arabic sister, Nichane, after they published an opinion poll about King Mohammed 6’s performance during his rule of 10 years. Critics in Morocco and abroad expressed outrage over the ban and considered it another stifling blow to the freedom of press in the kingdom, while others expressed surprise at the authorities’ reaction to a poll that showed 91% of polled Moroccans are satisfied with the king’s job, and considered the worst PR stunt ever. I say that probably these critics came a bit too hard on the Moroccan Interior Minister, as he did nothing wrong and his decision is quite legitimate in light of the constitution’s Article 19.

According to the Moroccan constitution, three things are sacred: God, the homeland, and the king. Article 19 states the king’s person is sacred. That means that God and the King, according to the constitution, are at equal footing. You cannot survey Moroccans on how happy they are with God’s performance, and so it goes for the king. Therefore, the Interior has been consistent in that regard, and we cannot really blame it for banning the two “insolent” magazines.

The big elephant in the room is not the opinion poll or the Interior’s ban, but it is article 19. So if anyone is not happy about what happened should question article 19, not the Interior’s decision. It is really hard for the Moroccan regime to claim modernity and openness with such a law. And if we complain about the low vote turnout in the legislative and municipal elections, we know why. The parliament is toothless and the political parties are impotent, corrupt, and selfish. Imagine the authorities decide to hold a referendum about article 19 by voting YES to keep it, or No to eliminate it! I think the polls will witness the highest turnout ever because it will tackle a pivotal issue.

On a light note, It is interesting that this whole issue revolves around two digits: Article 19, 91%, and 9%.

العالم يتحد والمغرب العربي يزداد تفككا

تلقي يومية القدس نظرة على ما أمتها ظاهرة فشل عربية بامتياز في منطقة المغرب العربي، حيث فشلت أو فضلت هذه الدول الفشل في إحداث تكتل اقتصادي يعود بالنفع على شعوب المنطقة. المقال:
الأحد مايو 31 2009

تونس - خاص بـ من رشيد خشانة - أحرج رجال أعمال في بلدان الإتحاد المغاربي (الجزائر والمغرب وموريتانيا وتونس وليبيا) حكومات المنطقة في قمة اقتصادية للقطاع الخاص استضافتها الجزائر أخيرا، إذ سخر المتحدثون فيها من الذرائع التي تختفي خلفها السلطات لتبرير إرجاء التكامل الإقتصادي بين البلدان الخمسة الأعضاء في الإتحاد. وتساءل رجل أعمال تونسي في اليوم الأول من القمة منتقدا الحكومات "كيف تقولون إنكم تمهدون للتكامل بينما اضطررت لشراء بطاقة سفر للمجيء إلى الجزائر بسعر يعادل ضعف البطاقة إلى باريس ودفعت 250 يورو لليلة الواحدة في الفندق؟" وتجاوبت القاعة مع المتحدث بتصفيق حار.

انطلقت الألسنة من عقالها طيلة جلسات القمة الإقتصادية الأولى في نوعها موجهة سهاما كثيفة إلى الأجهزة المغاربية المترهلة التي لم تستطع إعطاء دفعة لقطار التكامل على رغم مرور عشرين سنة على إنشاء الإتحاد في مدينة مراكش المغربية في 17 شباط (فبراير) 1989.

منطقة اقتصادية مندمجة

ويرمي الإتحاد لإقامة منطقة اقتصادية مندمجة بعد إزالة الحدود الجمركية بين البلدان الخمسة، وهي خطوة قررها مجلس الرئاسة في سنة 1991 ولم تجد طريقها للتنفيذ حتى اليوم. وتُؤلف البلدان سوقا قوامها 100 ألف مستهلك ويُقدر دخلها الخام الإجمالي بـ224 بليون دولار، ما يعني أنها يمكن أن تشكل قوة اقليمية لو اتحدت. وطبقا لتقديرات خبراء اقتصاديين سيتيح إنشاء منطقة اقتصادية مغاربية موحدة زيادة نسبة النمو في البلدان الخمسة بنقطة أو نقطتين سنويا، وهو أمر كاف لحل معضلة البطالة التي تؤرقها وتُسبب لها مشاكل اجتماعية متنوعة ليست الهجرة غير المشروعة أخطرها.

ولا يملك المراقب إلا أن يؤيد استغراب رجال الأعمال في قمتهم من تدني نسبة التجارة البينية داخل بلدان الإتحاد والتي لا تتجاوز 3 في المائة فيما تستأثر البلدان الأوروبية بأكثر من 70 في المائة من تلك المبادلات. وعلى سبيل المقارنة تصل نسبة التجارة البينية في منظمة "أسيان" ASEAN إلى قرابة 22 في المائة وفي منظمة "مركوسور" (أميركا الجنوبية) إلى 19 في المائة. ويمكن القول إن تأخير إقامة تجمع اقتصادي اقليمي في المغرب العربي يتسبب بإهدار فرص كبيرة لاستقطاب الإستثمارات الخارجية، فعلى رغم التفكك الراهن، ارتفع حجم الإستثمارات التي استقطبتها البلدان الخمسة من 6.6 بلايين دولار في سنة 2004 إلى أكثر من 23 بليون دولار في سنة 2006، وهو ما يدل على الإمكانات الكبيرة التي ستتيحها إقامة سوق مغاربية موحدة.

وتعطلت مؤسسات الإتحاد منذ العام 1994، تاريخ آخر قمة مغاربية بسبب تداعيات النزاع المغربي الجزائري على الصحراء الغربية. كذلك تأخر إنشاء "المصرف المغاربي للإستثمار والتجارة الخارجية" الذي اتفق زعماء البلدان الخمسة على إنشائه بسبب خلافات بين البلدان الأعضاء.

وفرضت الأزمة المالية العالمية تحصين الإقتصادات المغاربية من تبعاتها وتطوير المؤسسات الصغيرة والمتوسطة وإنعاش القطاع السياحي ووضع مشاريع مغاربية قابلة للإنجاز، إلا أن ضعف الطاقة التنافسية للمؤسسات المغاربية قياسا على مثيلاتها الأوروبية والآسيوية يُشكل العائق الأول أمام إقامة منطقة اقتصادية مندمجة بسبب ضيق السوق المحلية والحواجز التي تحول دون انتشارها مغاربيا، وهي في الأساس حواجز ذات طابع سياسي.

ضعف البنية الأساسية

ومن الواضح أن سماكة الحواجز الجمركية وثقل الإجراءات الإدارية، فضلا عن ضعف تجهيزات البنية الأساسية شكلت عناصر أثنت المستثمرين الغربيين عن التوجه إلى الضفة الجنوبية للمتوسط، التي لا تستقطب حاليا سوى 2 في المئة فقط من الإستثمارات الخاصة الأوروبية، فيما هي تتجه بكثافة إلى أميركا اللاتينية وآسيا وأوروبا الشرقية.

وتشكل الضفة العربية للمتوسط، التي يحتل المغرب العربي موقعا مركزيا فيها، الجانب الأقل اجتذابا للإستثمارات في المنطقة المتوسطية. وعلى رغم تعهد الأوروبيين في مناسبات عدة تأمين المساعدة لشركائهم في الضفة الجنوبية لتنشيط الإستثمار بُغية الحد من موجات الهجرة غير المشروعة التي تجتاح سواحل البلدان الأوروبية الجنوبية، وبخاصة إيطاليا وإسبانيا، فإن نسب النمو المُسجلة في البلدان العربية مازالت دون المستوى الذي يُحقق امتصاص البطالة والتقليل من الفقر. وعلى مدى السنوات الأربع عشر التي مضت على إطلاق مسار برشلونة لم تحصد البلدان الجنوبية الشريكة في المسار سوى نقطة واحدة من نسب النمو التي تُحققها سنويا. وتُراوح النسب الحالية بين 4 و5 في المئة، وستكون في حدود 3 في المائة فقط هذا العام بسبب تداعيات الأزمة الإقتصادية، بدل نسبة 7 في المئة الضرورية لتقليص البطالة. وأدى اتساع التفاوت واختلال التوازن بين الضفتين إلى ابتعاد أمل التكامل المتوسطي الذي غدا سرابا بعدما كان أحد الأهداف المُعلنة لمسار برشلونة الذي انطلق في 1995.

وأوجدت أوروبا "الآلية الأورومتوسطية لتيسير الإستثمار والشراكة" كي تكون رافعة للتكامل من خلال تمويل الإستثمار المُنتج ودفع عجلة النمو وتقليص نسب الفقر وتحسين مستوى عيش المواطنين في الضفة الجنوبية، وبخاصة من خلال تعزيز المؤسسات التي تمنح قروضا صغيرة الحجم، إلا أن العملية مازالت مُتعثرة. ويكمن السبب الأساسي في توجس البلدان المغاربية من بعضها البعض وضعف مؤسسات الرقابة السياسية التي كانت ستفرض على الحكومات الإنطلاق في مشاريع التكامل. ولوحظ أن الولايات المتحدة عرضت مشروع تكامل اقتصادي اقليمي على العواصم المغاربية في أواخر العقد الماضي لإعطاء دفعة قوية للإستثمار والتنمية، إلا أن المشروع الذي يحمل اسم واضعه الوزير السابق أيزنستات، فشل مثلما فشلت المبادرات الأوروبية المماثلة، بسبب انهيار الثقة بين الزعماء المغاربيين الذين بأيديهم سلطة القرار.

وما لم توضع الدول المغاربية على سكة الديمقراطية وينتقل القرار إلى مؤسسات منتخبة وشفافة أسوة بالبلدان التي أنشأت "المجموعة الإقتصادية الأوروبية" والتي تطورت لاحقا إلى "الإتحاد الأوروبي"، لا أمل بإخراج الإتحاد المغاربي من غرفة العناية الفائقة ومعاودة بناء مؤسساته.