Fouad, a 26 years old engineer with so much potential, so much to offer to Morocco sits rotting in a jail for exercising bad judgment. Three years is an excessive sentence for a conduct that could have been considered at worst a misdemeanor, since no criminal intent was established. Fouad should have been fined and set free. I am well aware that the Moroccan constitution prohibits criticism of the royal family. This hardly qualifies as a criticism; in fact, Fouad, in his testimony before the judge (misjudge), stated that he created the Facebook profile in reverence of His Royal Highness Prince Moulay Rachid. The King’s brother is a public figure and as such should be prepared for such an eventuality as the one highlighted by the Facebook affair. A Facebook profile is not a Carte D’identité National; I am not aware of any business or administrative transaction in which a Facebook profile is used as proof of identity. The REAL ISSUE here is that internet users elsewhere around the world are guaranteed more freedoms than we are in Morocco. Yes! Fouad bit more than he could chew on, but the reaction of the Moroccan justice system is a travesty. The point behind the verdict is not to serve justice, but to set precedence; to make an example of Fouad. This is an indicator that the Moroccan criminal justice system (in this case the injustice system) is still archaic and in need of serious reform. Fouad’s generation indeed is left without illusion about the ubiquity of injustice in Morocco; they got the message; this is not a country where they feel they will prosper; this is not a government they feel they can coordinate the betterment of their country with; they feel now that this is not a justice system that is designed to protect the citizen. The government is sending a loud and clear message to the Moroccan internet community and this is it: Blog all you want, but mind your own business (dkhoul souk rassek); if you don’t, we will get you. I hear the hollow sound of Hassan II’s voice.
I know what you are thinking Fouad, sitting in that dark and damp hole. I know what your mind’s eye is looking at. You are looking past those mountains, across the Strait, into that land they call Sbania. It may not be your salvation, but it’s a land of many opportunities, and – why not say it? – justice. Facebook does have quite a few profiles of the Spanish Royal family, but no one is being detained for it. Why not? you may ask. IT IS NOT A CRIME. I know! I know! You wish you were living in Sebta or Melilla; this wouldn’t have happened to you for sure. You are not feeling this injustice alone Fouad; thousands of Moroccans your age do too. Everyday, they are braving insurmountable obstacles while crossing into Europe in their quest for a better future. Is this a dream worth dying for? They think it is.
Fulfill the dream, free man.
Ahmed T. B. Copyright © 2008
Salam! Welcome to the blogoma! Nice of you to express your solidarity with Fouad. Btw, you may want to register yourself with this site: http://www.maroc-blogs.com/ , in order to appear on its aggregator.
See you around!
Ibn Kafka
Comment by Ibn Kafka — February 24, 2008 @ 9:02 pm |
I second Ibn Kafka, welcome to the blogoma! Only I wonder, don’t you think that this dream of escape to the golden shores of Europe is something of an empty dream? Of course it is a life-changing opportunity for those who make it, but for the majority who will never make it, wouldn’t it be better to put their energy into trying to change things at home? Until the mid-1970s, Spain knew dictatorship and poverty, so isn’t it worthwhile to ask how they went from that condition to the free and prosperous land they are today? And if in Spain, why not Morocco? Doesn’t the young Moroccan’s dream of escape actually help the existing power, because it draws away the energy of young people that otherwise would be pushing for change?
Comment by eatbees — February 27, 2008 @ 9:11 am |
Hello Ahmed! I’m agree with eatbees. It’s important for Morocco that young people, with new ideas and great hopes to stay there to change the things. It’s in your hands. I’m from Canary Islands, in Spain… next to Morocco and I’ve get impressed (in a good way) with the reactions for the Fouad case. People talking without reserve about the necessity of changing things in Morocco. It’s a great beginning.
About the Spanish Monarchy, it isn’t nearly as nice as it looks. Last November, a judge condemned two cartoonists to pay 3.000 euros to the Royal House because they drew the prince having sex with the princess. That decision have generated a lot of controversy in Spain, but finally it have take place. You can’t say “everything” you want about the Royal Family. They have special laws about them. There aren’t as hard as Morocco’s ones, but they are.
Congratulations about your blog!!!
Comment by sergio — February 28, 2008 @ 12:12 am |
I remember having this why don’t you stay conversation with my host brother, according to him he didn’t have “vitamin B” (i.e. come from a family with connections) so he wanted out, Germany, Italy, Spain anywhere but el-Maghreb). He said his siblings could stay behind and make Morocco a better place for Moroccans.
I don’t know if it’s a false dream (Europe I think more so than North America is one) but until a critical mass make the decision to stay and be defiantly adamant about changing the status quo nothing can be changed.
At the same time, if someone is not physically and mentally prepared to stay, or if their current situation does not even afford them basic necessities, then how can they stay?
Comment by gazelledusahara — December 5, 2008 @ 7:19 pm |