Even officials in the Muslim African nation of Morocco want to expel Syrian and sub-Saharan migrants calling them invaders and social disasters
Posted on | April 10, 2016 | No Comments
https://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2016/03/morocco-slave-negro-160330082904386.html
Yet the influx of Syrian and sub-Saharan refugees has also created a political backlash. In late February, four city councillors affiliated with the National Rally of Independents party, whose president is the Foreign Minister Salaheddine Mezouar – issued a statement describing Syrians and sub-Saharan refugees in the southern town of Tiznit as invaders and “social disasters”, and calling for their expulsion.
While the letter was denounced as “irresponsible” by human rights groups, the episode indicates that parliamentary support for stronger anti-racism legislation in Morocco will be difficult to achieve.
Moreover, note activists, Moroccan state media have refused to broadcast the video “Bledi Bladek” (My Country, Your Country) developed by the late photographer Leila Alaoui, in which sub-Saharan migrants in various cities across Morocco, describe the indignities that they face daily.
The current campaign aims to jump-start public discourse and embarrass authorities into addressing the plight of migrants.
“The regularisation process is good, but the problem is there is little communication between Moroccan youth and migrant youth,” says Eric William, a Cameroonian migrant who heads ALECMA, an organisation based in the working class neighbourhood of Takaddoum in the Moroccan capital that highlights the plight of migrants.
“There are Syrian refugees in Takaddoum, but there is little dialogue between us and them. In 2013-2014, the Ministry of Youth helped us launch a basketball programme called Morocco Playground that brought together youth from different neighbourhoods. We’re hoping this campaign will generate more programmes like that.”
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