© 2008 Institute of Current World Affairs
The Institute awards long-term fellowships to develop a deep understanding of an issue, country, or region outside the US and to share that understanding with a wider public.
Institute of Current World Affairs - Home Page

Below is a hobbled text version of a PDF document.
In order to read the actual document please click the link below and register if necessary.
(One-time registration is free and very quick.)
Read article

6/1/2007 - The Two Moroccos by Kay Dilday

ICWA KAD FRANCE Kay Dilday Institute Fellow studying relationships French North African immigrants France North Africa letters Since Institute Current World Affairs Crane Rogers Foundation provided termfellowships enable outstandingyoung professionals outsidethe United States write about international areas issues An exempt operating foundationendowed Charles R Crane Institute supportedby contributions mindedindividuals foundations TRUSTEES Bryn Barnard Carole Beaulieu Mary Lynne Bird Steven Butler Virginia R Foote Peter Geithner Gary Hartshorn Pramila Jayapal Robert A Levinson Cheng Li David Z Robinson John Spencer Susan Sterner Edmund Sutton Boris Weintraub HONORARY TRUSTEES David Elliot David Hapgood Pat M Holt Edwin S Munger Richard H Nolte Albert Ravenholt Phillips Talbot The Two Moroccos By K A Dilday June CASABLANCA Nadia Yassine arrived trial Rabat Morocco veiled always mouth covered white emblazoned cross She reading Don touch Liberty Press Freedom The photo distributed around world announced battle between Moroccan monarchy Islamist group Al Adl Wal Ihsane called Justice Spirituality English moved generation Nadia Yassine Mohammed VI Morocco since father Hassan II Feared loved Hassan II ruled Mo rocco years independence better worse constructed contemporary Morocco Mohammed VI determined create modern Morocco He wants country identity pendence state defined itself opposition former colonizer redefine economically socially progressive Muslim nation As modern Morocco takes shape Nadia Yassine figure recast Justice Spirit uality powerful movement father built decades moral counter Hassan II brutal regime Both Ms Yassine King Mohammed VI contend conundrum Morocco It countries cosmopolitan enamored Western culture other poorly educated conservative devoutly Muslim Often seduces Morocco other Because country geographical proximity Europe century Moroccans traveled frequently European countries living easily least physical sense between radically different cultures Since Schengen agreement among European nations prevented Moroccans traveling Europe without visas Europe usually require proof significant assets Rich Moroccans still attend university Europe America after studying private international ondary schools Morocco They return Morocco coveted foreign degree taste Western culture Consequently small upper class lower class radically different lifestyles terms wealth values In Morocco conservative Muslim country women neighborhoods latest revealing Europe fashions about uncovered heads In neighborhoods public attire women foulard shapeless djellaba loose fitting garment Moroccans cover their clothes I shocked starkness contrast between worlds I La Bodega restaurant behind central market heart Casablanca I gathering Casa trash I prepared incongruity watching continental youth dance chairs while scantily women gyrated videos Children Festival Azzemour outside Casablanca The organizers festival bring tourism economically depressed scree about their heads Such scenes common West Morocco where exposed clavicle attracts wrong atten I scared Let quickly I panion This place someone drive The bombed Jewish targets central Casablanca Sidi Hacem outskirts Casablanca When I through I hijabs djellabahs aimless young These neighborhoods often grants rural villages cities scarce scarcer countryside In these neighborhoods Justice Spirituality running literacy programs distributing clothing providing ferent religious counter advocated violent jihadists recruit among young aimless A young lives Casa bustling train station Al Adl Wal Ihsane always there knocking inviting meeting Places La Bodega always Moroccan secret world elite cloaked masses places Sidi Hacem In attempt against Hassan II failed because cadets burst private party shocked shorts women lounging around bathing suits drink alcohol began shooting wildly killing their leader mistake Since Mohammed VI office loosened restrictions Western dence private Morocco becom visible daily promised accompanied trickling Western affluence The Morocco upset their contin poverty while booming business development clearly visible numerous construction sites across country The underclass optimis power promising would Mohammed VI lived early manner Moroccan He spent Europe where obtained graduate degrees socialized Westerners reports fixture circuit He power liberal cratic ideas about spreading wealth tried amends repressions trans gressions Mohammed VI fired father notorious hatchet interior minister Driss Basri lifted strictions dissidents Yassine invited others exile liberated palace harem descended slaves And watershed change maneuvered reform Moudawana family In theory change transformed Morocco gender dynamics swoop In practice KAD transition When Mohammed VI first tried reform Islamis groups successfully fought changes Moroccan mixture French Spanish sharia As Moudawana derived Koranic dictates Is lamists protective Nadia Yassine stated publicly Moudawana could should altered Justice Spirituality charge against reforms arguing changes instigated Western meddlers With other Islamist groups including political party Party Justice Development PJD Justice Spirituality marched against reforms hastily organized event nonetheless hundreds thousands people affirmed Islamists reach Faced their power Mohammed VI tabled reforms But after rorist attacks Islamists weakened seized moment force reforms through King Mohammed VI careful forms Koranic readings The revised Moudawa internatio praise Morocco overly Islamists Nadia Yassine critique Moudawana reform different I first publicly declare sacred When talking about Moudawana changes women Nadia Yassine focused depicting reformed paper tiger So legal marriage instead A countryside three choices She become prostitute married With other attractive options marriage appealing choice She questioned honesty judicial process It common belief Morocco judges easily bribed Driss Ksikes editor Arabic language Nichane judges applying Moudawana vigor Nonetheless Mohammed VI enjoys praise internationally reforming Moudawa otherwise departing brutal autocratic But neighboring North African countries Egypt Algeria human rights eralization Morocco government desire squelch Islamists preserve power In years judges punished numerous independent newspapers magazines large fines reporting monarchy private Yet publications permitted write about financial holdings business affairs thing would unthinkable He secretive father Brahim Amine Casablancan article I reading about financial holdings This I Yet courts INSTITUTE OF CURRENT WORLD AFFAIRS imposed large fines several publications writing sensitive topics Moroccans attack sacred Moroccan institutions Mr Ksikes recently prosecuted writing article jokes about religion politics Nadia Yassine defendant editor weekly newspaper Ousbouia Jadida charge attacking sacred Moroccan institutions She paper reporter republic would political system Morocco But turned trial media circus Consequently judge hastily postponed trial postponed again again The Mazakhen immediate cabinet giving public forum backed charges During decade Na Yassine pushed movement frontational direction It publicly agitates rights speech judicial freedom Nadia father Sheikh Abdesselam Yassine origi nally envisioned movement politically active Throughout member Sufi group Quadirya Boutchichia while working Ministry Education According official raphy dismissed senior istry challenging corrupt superiors Other reports become increasingly focused religious activity interested Regardless after devoted Quadirya Boutchichia When founder Yassine wanted group become politically active He power struggle Boutchichia founded magazine movement eventually became Justice Face Justice Spiritualityversus Moroccan security forces Spirituality But under repressive regime Has II political activism risky activity Sheikh Yassine letter Hassan II suggesting ruler chosen panel oulema Muslim instead heredity earned Sheikh Yassine three years confinement psychiatric hospital But daughter Nadia refocused Justice Spirituality style father originally visioned When Nadia founded women division early 1990s became prominent member group protesting against judicial corruption press repression became group hallmark activities Even while Europe members Justice Spirtiuality signature tactics May anniversary government began persecuting earnest Justice Spirituality scheduled press conference Club Avocats Morocco capital Rabat Tucked wealthy lined neighborhood country embassies hordes police other forces The conference canceled I approached As other press gathered police dressed expensive beige politely asked recorded And Al Adl Wal Ihsane arrived phalanx dressed suits glasses marching purposefully toward entrance It became shouting match chests pressed against another The police enter The spokesman Fathallah Arsalane roared address press Justice Spirituality The Marrakech No conditioning stops towns A moments later peasant marched pushed further further police Al Jazeera Justice Spirituality always gives television In Hassan II unlikely onstration would gotten He employed informers ruthless retribution People spoke against tortured their children failed exams university dissidents might simply disappear It powerful deterrent The former house Mohammed Oufkir Hassan military chief close still empty warning years after Hassan imprisoned family Has believed Oufkir behind attempt Oufkir mysteriously custody family spent years desert prison The Oufkir family still middle quarter Rabat crumbling overgrown weeds The years bullets began after failed The military operations brutally crushed But Hassan II ruthless At lenced encouraged Islamist factions Morocco social counterforce Now however Morocco fears Islamist fervor revolution Marxist intellectuals Hassan policies during INSTITUTE OF CURRENT WORLD AFFAIRS Islamists space traction King Mohammed VI faces prospect major Islamist political party Party Justice De velopment majority parliament September elections The PJD considered party moderate Is lamists although favor sharia Justice Spirituality relationship complicated Justice Spirituality stance about government until country becomes republic refuse participate political Because PJD wants within system fields candidates elections Moroccans inter ested immediate change present tractive alternative In parliamentary elections PJD surprised government winning nearly elections which fielded candidates In September election plans stand candidate almost every district An American democracy group released predicting PJD would majority Parliament The Mazkhen since opposing polls predicting fewer victories results disputed PJD Regardless party popularity embarrassment Moham VI lured foreign investment promising attacks Casablanca anomaly Morocco progressive Muslim country Turkey Iran For Justice Spirituality PJD means longer powerful Is lamist organization Morocco No disputes Justice Spirituality adherents The movement refuses disclose number nalists estimated Morocco membership about Their popularity stems large their focus social In keeping Sufi philosophy formed Sheikh Yassine views Justice Spirituality emphasizes works personal relationship experience It works among urban Morocco major cities centrating education literacy social development With focus spirituality position strict violence offers alternative violent movements compelling unhappy uneducated residents In country where people extreme poverty activity Justice Spirituality government The women divisi Nadia Nassine founded successful Women Justice Spirituality membership Women Morocco shockingly illiteracy The national average percent rural areas often percent The literacy other development programs Justice Spirituality offers valued these women Nadia Yassine portrayal modern Muslim women Her confident sophisticated devout public resonates especially freedoms leave women searching their place At lectures Europe United States Na Yassine styled movement spokesperson serves unofficial ambassador Yet position defined Because large Moroccan Diaspora Justice Spirituality counts followers numerous countries Just outside Paris Ms Yassine welcomed members French branch where dined female Eu based followers Moro Jordanian Tu nisian descent words which ranged charming stories about seeing photo along terrorist primacy Internet communication The movement large branches Netherlands Spain In United States Justice Spirituality outpost Pennsyl vania publishing disseminates Sheik Ms Yassine works English Yet visible member Justice Spirituality during Sheikh decline clear movement willing accept leader Ms Yassine offer title position although others movement saying spokes people official founded women division years person board Malika Zeghal French Tunisian academic studies Moroccan Islamist movements would difficult I slamist movement accept officially spokes person other major outside women division routinely identified spokesperson audiences abroad Nadia Yassine caught between these Mo roccos Moroccan citizenship irrevocable Mo roccans welcome eagerly travels abroad little relationship rural uneducated masses tradi tional ideas about woman place With Sheikh Yas imminent death internecine power struggle already begun leadership Justice Spirituality What chance Ms Yassine winning seeing leadership position which doesn official title Like King Mohammed VI Nadia Yassine struggling Morocco The devout Morocco gives Nadia Yassine Mo hammed VI their legitimacy The traces Prophet Mohammed which basis He commander faithful But faithful resistant reforms It Morocco their customs antiquated cause KAD INSTITUTE OF CURRENT WORLD AFFAIRS Current Fellows Kay Dilday FRANCE MOROCCO October December Kay studying relationships French North African grants France North Africa A former editor The New York Times Op Ed Kay holds master degree comparative interna tional politics theory Graduate Center City University New York bachelor degree English literature Tufts Univer graduate Universiteit Amsterdam Netherlands Cours Civilisation Sorbonne Suzy Hansen TURKEY April A John O Crane Memorial Fellow Suzy writing about politics religion Turkey A former New York Observer appeared Salon New York Times Book Review Nation other publications She graduated University Pennsylvania Derek Mitchell INDIA September As Phillips Talbot Fellow Derek explore impact global trade economic growth Indians living poverty He served volunteer Swaraj Peeth institute New Delhi cated nonviolent conflict resolution Mahatma Gandhi thought Previously Fulbright scholar India Gandhi Peace Foun dation He coordinated foreign policy research George Washington University Institute Communitarian Policy Studies worked political organizer New Hampshire Derek graduated degree religion Columbia University Nicholas Schmidle PAKISTAN February Nick freelance writer interested intersection culture religion politics Asia He P akistan ICWA fellow examining ethnic sectarian national identity Previously reported Central Asia Iran His published Washing Post Weekly Standard Foreign Policy Christian Science Monitor elsewhere He holds master degree International Affairs American University Raphael Soifer BRAZIL April An actor director playwright musician theatre educator Raphi Soi Donors Fellow studying participant observer tionship between social change communities throughout Brazil He worked performer director United States Brazil taught performance prisoners underprivileged youth through People Palace Projects Rio Janeiro Community Works San Francisco He holds bachelor degree Theatre Studies Anthropology Yale University Institute Fellows chosen basis character previ experience promise They young professionals funded spend minimum years carrying designed programs study writing outside United States The Fellows quired report their findings experiences field month They write subject formally informally The result unique reporting analysis periodic assessment international events issues ICWALetters ISSN published Institute Cur World Affairs Inc exempt operating foundation corporated New York State offices located Street NW Suite Washington DC The letters provided charge members ICWAand available libraries professional researchers scription Phone Fax orgWeb Executive Director Steven Butler Bookkeeper Program Assistant Jim Guy Publications Manag Ellen Kozak Institute Current World Affairs The Crane Rogers Foun dation The Information contained publication reprinted republished without express written consent Institute Current World Affairs