By Ece Koç*

Morocco News Tribune

Ankara, Turkey | In Turkey, there are now four hundred thousand Syrian refugees; 200,000 are staying in camps while some 200,000 are living in Turkish cities renting apartments. People in Syria are suffering terribly: They are emigrating en masse to neighboring countries. Turkey is doing its best to meet the needs of our Syrian brothers and sisters. According to the Emergency and Disaster Recovery Office of Turkey, the Turkish government has spent 1.5 billion US dollars for Syrian refugees so far. The UN officers said that they ‘were very moved to see the Turkish officials’ commitment to ‘help the Syrian refugees as if they were their own siblings’ and said that Turkey ‘was a great example to the whole world’. Turkey uses every means available to help Syrian refugees and we are keenly aware that this is not an easy process for the Syrian refugees.

It has been almost two years and they have been in the camps for that time;. it is not an easy life at all. Most of these people had good careers, families and good houses in Syria. However, due to Assad’s brutal regime, they left their homes without looking back. They chose to survive in another country as refugees. They could not bear to be tortured, raped or seeing the loved ones killed before their very eyes.

However, an unexpected thing happaned and after the recent Reyhanlı explosions, ‘a reverse migration took place’, with people going back right into the middle of war, tyranny and massacres. They didn’t want to face backlash after the Reyhanlı explosions because some locals in Reyhanlı, very wrongly said that they no longer want the Syrian refugees. That made 250 innocent people go back to their nation of constant turmoil and killings.

This rising hostility of some Turkish citizens towards the Syrian refugees in Turkey is entirely unacceptable. We should never utter such words to our guests. Some people make an unbelievable mistake of blaming these people who have fled for their lives for what happened. It should not be forgotten that those people left their countries, their homes, jobs and everything they had in order to save their lives and to protect their loved ones. Although I am very happy and proud that my country graciously opened its doors to them, and welcomed some 400,000 people and provided the best hospitality it could, there are still some unpleasant voices speaking words of hatred. There is nothing that can ever justify being hostile to those people that are in need of our help.

The best answer to such hatred would be opening the border with Syria. All the political parties should show their support to such an idea and then welcome our Syrian siblings and welcome them permanently, not merely as refugees. We should actually make them citizens there. We should make them locals of Hatay without further ado.

And those war-mongers should contemplate the manner in which they would have acted if they were in the same place as the Syrian refugees: Fleeing to save your life, your family’s life, and then someone is kind enough to open a door for you. You as a refugee are already feeling that you owe a great deal to the host, but then someone from the household blames you for theft in the house. I urge those war-mongers to heed their conscience; if they believe in Allah, then they should know that Allah orders us in the Qur’an to offer shelter

and protection to those who are seeking shelter, even if means that we will risk our own lives in the process.

They give food, despite their love for it, to the poor and orphans and captives. (Surah Al-Insan, 8)

Those who were already settled in the abode, and in belief, before they came, love those who have emigrated to them and do not find in their hearts any need for what they have been given and prefer them to themselves even if they themselves are needy. It is the people who are safe-guarded from the avarice of their own selveswho are successful. (Surah Al-Hasr, 9)

And even if some of these people have no faith in Islam, they should have at least some kind of moral values that they should abide by, remembering that ‘what goes around comes around’. They might one day need the help of those very people that they have turned a blind eye to.

Today there are fifty million refugees in the world, of which the majority consists of Muslims, according to UN reports. The Muslims who have decided to leave their countries and become refugees are largely from Iraq, Myanmar, Afghanistan, Kashmir, Somali and Arakan and some two thirds of Palestinians are also living in other countries as refugees.

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By Colin Kilkelly

Morocco News Tribune

Marrakech, Morocco|The Tunisian government took the decision to ban the Ansar Sharia conference which the Al Qaeda linked organization had announced would be held today in Kairouan. The decision was taken by the Interior Ministry on Friday 17 May on the basis that the event ,which was billed as attracting 40,000 Salafists was “a threat to security and public order.”

The Enhadda led government has been accused of being soft on Salafists who took to the streets armed with swords and sticks to enforce their version of extreme Islamic dogma by attacking women not wearing the veil, smashing shops selling alcohol and breaking up art exhibitions and music festivals they deemed unislamic. Salafists have waged an extensive campaign to take over mosques throughout Tunisia. They attacked police stations and finally the police shot back when their barracks were attacked in Jendouba.

 Then the American Embassy was attacked by Salafists and Ansar Sharia’s leader went into hiding.

This was a key turning point because Tunisia’s political leaders realised that attacks like this could not go on. Leaders including President Moncef Marzouki and the leader of Ennhada Rachid Ghannouchi both condemned the attack on the US embassy. Then the assassination of left wing Chokri Belaid caused shock waves around the world and forced a change of government under a new Prime Minister Ali Larradeyh ,with independents taking over key ministries rather than Ennhada politicians, although Ennhada remains the leading political party in the National Constituent Assembly.

It was Rachid Ghannouchi who blamed Salafists for the death of a police inspector whose mutilated body was found in May. It was becoming clear that there was a threat to undermine and even take over the state. He announced that the government would ban the Ansar Sharia conference and the Minister of the Interior confirmed that no official request to hold the conference had been received.

 Ennahdha long accused of laxity for tolerating the jihadist factions, has significantly hardened its position since 16 soldiers and police were injured between late April and early May by mines laid by armed groups close to the border with Algeria in the area of Jebel Chaambi. The security forces have been engaging jihadists in the area between Le Klef and Jendouba and despite early official denials

a terrorist training camp was found and there are probably others in the Jebel Chaambi reserve which has many caves where Jihadis can hide.The use of mines is especially worrying and the Jihadis said to be linked to the Okba Ibn Nafaa Katiba are affiliated to AQIM according to Jeune Afrique which reports dissatisfaction amongst the security services with the control and leadership of anti terrorist operations. Police earlier went on strike caught between violent salafist attacks and what they claimed was indecisive government support for the police.

It is now apparent just how dangerous and pervasive these groups of Salafists and Jihadi’s linked to AQIM are. The head of the Salafi jihadist movement Ansar al-Sharia, Abu Iyadh, threatened to wage war on the government led by the Islamist party Ennahdha, which it accuses of conducting a policy contrary to Islam.

 “We are not asking permission from the government to preach the word of God and we warn against any police intervention to prevent the congress from taking place,” spokesman for Ansar Sharia Seifeddine Rais said on Thursday. He was reported to have been arrested later.

 The government on Friday said it was banning Ansar al-Sharia from gathering in Kairouan because it had “shown disdain for state institutions, incited violence against them and poses a threat to public security”.

 Hundreds of supporters of Tunisia’s Ansar al-Sharia clashed with police in Kairouan and on the outskirts of the capital today, Sunday (May 19th), AFP reported.

 More than 11,000 security officers were deployed to the holy city of Kairouan, according to Shems FM.Ansar Sharia , blocked from holding its event in Kairouan called on their followers on its official Facebook page to demonstrate in the Ettadhamen district of Tunis where reports said some 500 salafists clashed with police setting fire to tyres in the road and hurled rocks at police. The police fired tear gas and shots in the air. “During the protests, eleven security personnel were injured, one seriously, and three protesters, including one seriously injured,” the Interior Ministry said, which refers refers to “more than 700 (…) Islamic extremists” equipped with “incendiary mixtures, projectiles and knives.” TAP reported.

 Calm returned to Kairouan about 4pm, no details of arrests of Ansar Sharia have been released as yet.

The leader of Ansar al-Sharia, Saif Allah Bin Hussein alias Abu Iyadh is an Afghanistan veteran who fought with Al-Qaeda. Reports from Tunisia and Syria have highlighted the large number of young Tunisians fighting with the Syrian rebels who have also been joined by Al Quaeda linked

organizations. After the Afghan war large numbers of Al Qaeda trained fighters returned to Saudi Arabia and other countries and then began a struggle against governments using terrorist techniques they had learnt in the fighting. The same phenomenon is likely to occur following the Syrian conflict.

Tunisia is not in finding attempts to establish terrorist training camps on its territory. Morocco earlier this week reported the dismantlement of two terrorist groups near Nador in the north which were apparently seeking to set up a base in nearby mountains reported the Ministry of Interior according to MAP.

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By Mohammed Amine Qasserras

Morocco News Tribune

Kenitra, Morocco|Moroccan Directorate for Studies’ and Financial Projections revealed in a report on the Exports Competitiveness that the trade deficit increased about 5 times moving from 44 billion dirhams in 2000 to 201 billion dirhams in 2012

The report which is titled ” Morocco Exports Competitive, Any Outcome ?” pointed out that the trade deficit declined in the period between 2009 and 2010, respectively, to 151 and 148 billion dirhams due to the powerful decrease which imports had seen, compared to the exports.

This imbalance according to the reports is connected to the particular negative effects of the global economic crisis on both Morocco and its major trading partners.

The studies revealed that the shortfall which happened in imports during the period between 2000 and 2012 was as a result of the increasing in imports of energy-related products which their values much connected to prices changes and rates exchange at the international level as well as food products, and the importance of imports processing which are associated with the national economy investment dynamism.

The national economy increasing openness is not in a balance with exports and imports, the report indicated, stressing at the same time that the level of imports was significantly higher compared to the level of exports,

In 2000 and 2011 the average height of Moroccan goods exports was 7.5 per cent annual average versus 10.2 per cent for imports.

The report added that the rate of imports growth compared to exports was very weak in the period between 2000 and 2005, which means respectively 4.7 per cent and 9.2 per cent, shrinking in 2006 and 2011 respectively to 8.5 Bmadla and 11.2 per cent.

The recent exports growth is resulted in the effort to improve this sector in Morocco, which reached about 20 per cent in 2011 after the decline in 2009 and in spite of this rise, Morocco exports rate reached about 17 per cent between 2000 and 2011.

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By Mohammed Amine Qasserras

Morocco News Tribune

Kenitra, Morocco|Mahjoubi Aherdan, the Veteran, staunch politician and the head of Morocco Popular Movement party, said to the press that he doe not care about Istiqlal Party’s withdrawal from the government and that the most important thing for him now is the kingdom’s interests and its future, revealing at the same time that Istqlal Party is known for not sticking with either the majority or the opposition.

Aherdan added that Istiqlal party’s joining or exiting government is not important to him.

Aherdan Ahradan finished his statement by saying that the current situation calls for working with Benkirane, who, he adds, has great potential and good intentions to serve the country and there is no need to interrupt his work.

Aherdan Ahrada founded Popular Movement party in 1958 along with Dr. Abdelkrim al-Khatib who founded later a splinter party which is now Morocco led-Isalmist party Justice and Development Party.

Popular Movement is a member of Morocco government coalition, heading three ministries: interior, Sports, and Tourism.

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By Mohammed Amine Qasserras

Morocco News Tribune

Kenitra, Morocco|The Giant Japanese electronics manufactorer Sony aims at expanding its activities in a number of African countries, including Morocco.

The Japanese corporation plans to establish new offices in Morocco, Ghana, Nigeria and Angola, where it will employ local talented people and explore new partners who have the ability to support the company’s growth strategy in Africa.

The company’s plan aims to create a radical shift in the experience in the world of consumer electronics by introducing the latest technology products and the opening a number of stores bearing the name of the company, and the establishment of service-centers in almost all African countries.

Mr. Hiroyasu Sugiyama, the Managing Director of Sony l of the corporation’ subsidiary in the Middle East and Africa, said “Africa is undoubtedly one of the most important markets for Sony, and we look forward, by 2015, to having a share around to 1.4 billion dollars in the field of consumer electronics, including cell phones, which are one of the fast-growing sectors.

According to the site “ITP” source, the director said that the figures are very encouraging and our direct focus is limited now to developing plans to help us move forward to achieve our goals, and he added that the strategy of Sony in Africa depends on four pillars which include products, customers, society, and operations.

It is noteworthy that the company “Sony” ranks first in the category of audio products in Africa, with a share of up to more than 40% of the market.

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By Mohammed Amine Qasserras

Morocco News Tribune

Kenitra, Morocco| Recent study made by the Foundation of Marrakech Festivals revealed in a meeting with the press the danger which threatens the extinction of folk arts in Morocco, which includes the history of musical traditions, folk dancing and a variety of Morocco songs along with their different dialects and traditions.

The meeting came as a preparation for the Fiftieth Session of the National Festival of Folk Arst which the city of Marrakech will host next summer, as well as to announce that this festival has joined the European Forum of Music Festivals of the world.

Ibrahim Alemzend, the festival’s technical staff and an expert at popular music, said in a statement to the press that ‘the Moroccan folk art is facing now the risk of extinction and the succession is no longer guaranteed and such art is for sure moving towards death. “

Alemzend continued talking about the aspects extinction, stressing on the absence of women that becomes clearly noticeable within the folk art groups and this, in his view, is due to the coming of conservative values from the city to the village, the origin of those arts, which was much open to those arts.

The expert added that musical instruments makers are in continuous extinction all over the country and only one maker of Rabab Banjo-like instrument was left even though such craft-ship is an ancient heritage since centuries.

He also pointed out that the vacuum caused by the extinction flute machine makers pushes musicians to have Turkish and Omani -made instruments.

The spokesman noted that only three makers were left for other machines, highlighting that the values of the culture of globalization has threatened this culture and the arts which are not supported and they are included within the immaterial heritage which resisted loss thanks to the values of respect, coexistence and modernity that such arts embrace, stressing at the same time that “we Moroccans and citizens of the world will lose everything if such culture disappeared.

In the same context, Alachak, the head of Marrakech Festivals Foundation, said in a statement to the press” The manifestation of the effects of globalization and urbanization brought some significant changes to Moroccan society and weakened to some extent folk arts progress.

Karim sees the necessity of educating citizens and decision-makers of the threats which face this heritage as well as working together to enhance the level of these arts that shape Morocco culture and consider it a priority for the country’s identity.

He also added this art holds a great opportunity to enhance economic and social development through cultural tourism, explaining that his organization has developed a project which will work in the long term to maintain these arts, including the founding of a Folk Art city.

He explained that the city will include a conference center, theater, training and recording studios, art complex, documentation center, archive, media library, hotel, and digitally museum or even a museum dedicated to fashion and machinery.

Some fans of this traditional art who attended the conference denied the extinction which threatens such arts and at the same time they insisted on a serious interference from the government to protect and save what they called ‘Morocco heritage’ from loss and extinction.

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By Mohammed Amine Qasserras

Morocco News Tribune

Kenitra, Morocco| Some sources close to the ruling party PJD said that the news of the withdrawal of the Istiqlal or Independence Party from the government coalition did not affect Benkiran so much.

The sources added that Benkirane is a strong and wise man and respects his opponents and anybody who disagrees with him, but in such time Bekiran he listens to his advisers, especially old friend Mr. Abdullah Baha.

Benkirane knows very well how to manage crises, the source added.

The same sources reported that Benkirane fully knows that Chabat, the head of Istiqlal party, will not withdraw from the government coalition because Bekirane knows who is Hamid Chabat and how he thinks.

This is a blatant conspiracy and Hamid Chabat’s move is childish, Benkirane said according to the sources.

Istiqlal party declared last Saturday the withdrawal from Benkirane government coalition for failing to enhance the economy and deal with social issues in the country.

A source from Istiqlal party indicated that King Mohammed V of Morocco has urged the Istiqlal party to go back on a decision to withdraw from the government and carry on their affairs until his coming back home from France.

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By Mourad Anouar

Morocco News Tribune

Oklahoma, U.S.A | Moroccan authorities said the two dismantled terror cells members arrested recently were planning to build a base in the mountains where they would have their own school in order to use it for inculcating children with jihadist principles.

According to the Moroccan security forces, the two terrorist cells have been dismantled Sunday in Morocco’s northern city of Nador.

The groups members arrested in northern Mediterranean city port had links with a network of extremists in northern Mali that is in charge of recruiting volunteers for jihad in Africa’s Sahel region, the Interior Minister’s statement said.

The Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), a Salafi-jihadist militant group operating in North Africa’s Sahara and Sahel, is considered by many experts to be the primary transnational terror threat in North Africa and also to Europe and the United States.

The French-led mission was able to chase the jihadists with links to the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) into the desert in January after they took over key northern towns of Gao, Kidal, and Timbuktu, where they enforced their interpretation of shari’a law.

It is to note that Morocco has frequently cracked down on small extremist cells, which seem to appear from time to time.

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By Samira Arabi

Morocco News Tribune

Agadir, Morocco | Spanish authorities said on Thursday they arrested a network of Moroccan and Chinese origins who laundered hundreds of thousands of euros a week in drug money.

Spanish police apprehended two persons from China, one suspect from Hong Kong and three others from Morocco in raids at locations including a major Chinese trading estate near the spanish capital Madrid, according to a police statement.

The suspects sold hashish that was smuggled from Morocco to Spain, which was distributed to other European countries such as Britain, France, and then laundered the money via wholesale purchases of clothes and jewellery.

The police statement said 21 million items of clothing were seized which were worth more than 100 million euros (US$131 million) as well as luxury cars and jewels and watches worth four million euros, according to the Business Times. 

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By Stephen Tizzard

Morocco News Tribune

Barcelona, Spain | Barcelona’s Cristian Tello is a highly coveted player who is on the radar of several European clubs who are realising his fantastic potential and excellent football and who only has a 10M euro clause.

Liverpool remains one of the keen favourites to acquire Tello’s services for next season.

The Anfield club tried to secure Tello last summer when it considered the possibility of the Catalan giants letting him go on a loan deal and the English club would have no problem at all paying 21 year old Cristian Tello’s buyout clause.

The player has no intention of moving from FC Barcelona and is waiting for the club to communicate their intentions.

If Isaac Cuencastays at Ajax of Amsterdam, then it looks highly probable that Cristian Tello will stay at Barcelona.

Tello is a young star who has come through the ranks and made the first team. Although not a regular first team player, Tito Vilanova knows just how valuable the young man is. He is only 21 years old and has lots to learn at Barcelona and it makes sense to keep him if Cuenca stays at Ajax as predicted.

On the other hand, there’s nothing like going abroad, whether on loan or transferred to learn your craft better. Tello would be a good asset to Liverpool and Brendan Rodgers knows it. Tello can play both as a forward and winger which is a real bonus for a club.

With Cristian Tello in the Liverpool squad to add youth, Rodgers can start the rebuilding of a great squad and put the Anfield team back on the map.

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