Photo credit: The Jewish News of Northern California
March 10, 2020
Three stories you need to read today. Compiled and broken down for you by Reporting Morocco student journalists — every day. Brought to you from the School for International Training’s journalism program, Rabat.
“Chnou Bghiti Nti:” A Campaign for Gender Equality in Morocco
Source: Morocco World News
Lede: On International Women’s Day, the “Chnou Bghiti Nti” campaign aims to raise awareness among Moroccans about gender inequalities and the needs of women in Morocco at the professional and personal levels.
Key Background: Global Shapers, a network of youth leaders driving dialogue, action, and change, launched the campaign today in partnership with We for She. The network is born out of the World Economic Forum initiative to facilitate social and economic change in 160 countries, including Morocco.
“Chnou Bghiti Nti,” meaning “what do you want,” asks Moroccan women about their needs and civil rights in an effort to draw attention to women’s issues on the occasion of International Women’s Day.
Why this is newsworthy: The “Chnou Bghiti Nti” campaign is an important youth led grassroots effort to mediate gender inequality by asking women for their input on the situation. This campaign suggests that it is useful to have on-the-ground discussions with women instead of only reflecting values held by activists.
After mass exodus, Morocco celebrates its Jewish heritage
Source: The Jewish News of Northern California
Lede: Morocco, once home to the largest number of Jews in the Arab world, is doing some serious Jewish outreach these days.
Key Background: Ten years ago, King Mohammed VI began allocating funds to restore Morocco’s historically significant Jewish sites and open them to visitors, part of an ongoing project to recognize the Islamic country’s rich Jewish past. Last fall, J. was invited on an American Jewish heritage press trip arranged by the Moroccan National Tourist Office to show how Morocco is elevating its Jewish legacy and investing in its preservation. It is safe to say that no other Arab nation embraces its Jewish history to this extent or grounds it in its national narrative.
Being the object of such affection, especially in a Muslim country, can be a novel experience for Jews, who often find themselves thrust into the role of proxy for Israeli policy. While Morocco is a member of the Arab League, which does not recognize Israel, it is considered the friendliest Arab state by far, with informal, back-channel relations established with Israel decades ago by the king’s late father, Hassan II.
Why this is newsworthy: In addition to explaining the historical context behind why the Jews left Morocco, this story provides examples of the possibility of coexistence and/or reparations for injustices motivated by anti-religion sentiment.
Source: North Africa Post
Lede: Intracom Telecom, a global telecommunication systems and solutions vendor, announced the supply of its market-leading Point-to-Point microwave (PtP MW) radio, OmniBASTM, to Morocco in the frame of the Border Management Program for the Maghreb.
Key Background: The EU-financed Border Management Program for the Maghreb region is designed to help Maghreb countries curb irregular migration. It aims to enhance the institutional framework of Morocco and Tunisia to protect, monitor and manage their borders.
Why this is newsworthy: This is an example of a direct attempt by the EU to crackdown on immigration in the Magreb. Advanced Radios pose invisible threats to migrants. This new technology has the potential to increase human right’s violations of Moroccan border officials.
