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Morocco: Islamist Opposition figure Mohamed Baassou gets jailed for another case of “sexual harassment”
A Moroccan court on Wednesday sentenced a leader of the kingdom's principal Islamist movement, which rejects the king's authority over religion, to a year in prison for "sexual harassment", an official in the movement said. Al Adl Wal Ihsane (Justice and Dignity)...
Morocco: Building collapses in Tit Mellil, at least two killed
At least two people were killed and five injured on Thursday when a building collapsed in an industrial area near Morocco's commercial capital of Casablanca, state media reported. "Two people were killed and five others were seriously injured in the partial collapse...
Morocco: Dozen Israeli soldiers in Morocco for military exercises
Israeli soldiers will for the first time take part in military exercises in Morocco when the biggest war games event in Africa kicks off Tuesday, the Israeli army said. "This is the first time that the IDF is taking an active part in the 'African Lion' international...
Morocco: Demonstrators protests in Casablanca against surging cost of living
Hundreds demonstrated Sunday in Morocco's economic capital Casablanca to protest against the surging cost of living in the North African country and urge action by the government, AFP correspondents said. Protesters from the Democratic Labour Confederation (CDT)...
Morocco: Article from the Economist forces King Mohammed VI to reemerge
By Philippe Agret: Morocco's king has embarked on a whirlwind of public activities, which observers say aim to "restore the authority" of the monarchy, as international media have questioned his prolonged absences from the country. Royal watchers say King Mohammed...
Morocco ups campaign to capture more migrants crossing seas
Morocco's navy has intercepted 552 migrants attempting to reach Europe over 10 days in both the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea, a military source told state media on Thursday. Morocco in northwest Africa is a transit country for many migrants trying to get to...
Morocco arrests 70 migrants for attempting to enter Spanish enclave
Moroccan security forces on Friday foiled an attempt by 150 sub-Saharan African migrants to reach the Spanish enclave of Ceuta and arrested 70 people, local authorities said. The attempt to reach Ceuta comes less than a year after at least 23 people died when around...
Morocco’s conundrum: deepening alliance with Israel’s ultra-nationalist government vs. supporting the Palestinian cause,
By Philippe Agret: Morocco is struggling to balance its alliance with Israel with support for the domestically popular Palestinian cause, an increasingly complex challenge with Israel ruled by its most right-wing government ever. The North African country normalised...
10 dead after Moroccan fishing boat sinks off Western Sahara
At least 10 fishermen drowned Tuesday when a Moroccan trawler sank in the Atlantic off the coast of disputed Western Sahara, authorities said, adding that two crew members remained missing. "Five sailors were rescued while the bodies of 10 others were recovered," an...
Moroccan police announce arrest of three suspected militants
Moroccan police on Wednesday arrested three suspected members of the Islamic State group over the killing of an officer whose charred body was found this month, the authorities said. The two main suspects were detained following "security operations" in Casablanca and...
European Union to enact new lobbying measures in the aftermath of Qatargate
The European Parliament is pushing to stop former members from lobbying legislators for six months after leaving office, in response to a bribery scandal that has rocked the EU. Parliamentary sources said the plan was agreed by senior MEPs on Monday as part of the...
European elites are learning that they are not beyond the law: Head of ITUC fired in Qatargate case
The general secretary of the international union ITUC has been dismissed from his post over his links to a European parliament graft scandal implicating Qatar, the confederation said. Luca Visentini was arrested in December as part of the investigation into suspected...
Morocco’s stance on Israel-Palestinian conflict creates rift between monarchy and opposition party
Photo: Ex Prime Minister and current head of the PJD party, Abdelilah Benkirane: Morocco's royal court on Monday criticised comments by a leading Islamist opposition party that accused the authorities of bias towards Israel. The North African country and Israel...
Rome and Rabat in talks to extradite thousands of Moroccans jailed in Italy
Italy is asking Morocco to repatriate some 3,500 Moroccan inmates imprisoned in Italian prisons. Among the inmates targeting for deportation, are nearly 2,400 who have already been received court sentences. A meeting between Italian Minister of Justice Carlo Nordi...
Morocco applies for $5 bil IMF loan, likely to get the loan
On 6 March 2023, the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) Executive Board met in an informal session to consider a request from Morocco for a two-year loan arrangement under the IMF’s Flexible Credit Line (FCL). The amount under consideration is US$ 5 billion. The...
Maghreb competition: The ridiculous debate over who should claim ownership of the Haiek veil
Opinion by Arezki Daoud: Competition between the regimes of Algeria and Morocco has gone mainstream. Now Algerians and Moroccans are battling each other over the silliest things, from who presumably owns specific foods to who should claim ownership of specific arts...
Morocco: Appeals court reduces sentence of rights activist Rida Benotmane but he is still in prison
A Moroccan appeals court halved the sentence of rights activist Rida Benotmane, jailed for social media posts calling for rallies against "abuses by security forces", his lawyer said Tuesday. "The sentence has been reduced to a year and a half in prison," said lawyer...
How Morocco’s image is taking a beating at the European Parliament ($)
Morocco’s image in the European Parliament has taken a hit these days with its members (MEPs) investigating allegations of bribes paid by Morocco to influence the parliament’s positions on issues important to the North Africa nation. Furthermore, MEPs have also been active investigating Morocco’s alleged use of Pegasus spyware and how it is still detaining independent journalists in its prisons. These allegations are making Morocco’s standing in the European parliament difficult to hold. There is even the risk of the country’s representatives being banned from entering the EU parliament’s facilities.
Morocco: Inflation exceeds 8%, unions protest economic hardship, defy government’s ban on marches
Moroccan trade union activists protested Sunday in the capital Rabat and other cities to denounce surging costs of food and fuel, defying a government ban against marches. Protesters from the Democratic Labour Confederation (CDT) staged rallies outside their offices...
Belgian police detain Member of European Parliament in alleged Morocco/Qatar bribery scandal
Police on Friday detained a Belgian European Parliament member for questioning after searching a bank safe belonging to him as part of a probe into a bribery scandal that has rocked the EU. Belgium's federal prosecutors said "several raids" were carried out Friday...
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