Spain’s local elections : Muslim parties win big in Melilla and lose ground in Ceuta

Parties representing the Muslim community in both Melilla and Ceuta achieved different results following Spanish local elections' vote, held Sunday. In Melilla, Mustafa Aberchan’s Coalicion por Melilla (CpM) won eight seats in a 25-seat assembly. The party’s chances to preside a local government are real but depend on forming a coalition with the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE) and Ciudadanos. Socialists got four councilors while the center-right formation got

Benjamin Netanyahu’s son and Vox’s leader argue over Ceuta and Melilla

In a tweet made public the weekend, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s son, Yair, «called for Arabs and Muslims to conquer Spanish lands in North Africa», referring to Ceuta and Melilla. On May 25, Yair Netanyahu addressed Arabs and Muslims in a tweet, saying «want to free occupied Arab and Islamic lands ? Here’s a good start». His tweet featured a map that showed Ceuta and Melilla as occupied territories by Spain in North Africa. Dear Arabs and

Far-right Finnish politician rips up a copy of the Quran in public

Far-right Finnish politician Marco De Wit ripped up, Sunday, a copy of the Quran, Turkish press agency Anadolu reports. The leader of nationalistic political party Finnish People First tore a copy of the Quran into pieces in Helsinki in front of police officers, a member of the World Turkish Business Council’s European Committee told the Turkish agency. «I told the police officers that he was committing a hate crime and they should stop him. The officers did nothing», the

In Algiers, the Polisario denounces Morocco’s rejection of AU participation in peace process

In a conference held, Saturday, in Algeria, the Polisario denounced Morocco’s rejection of the African Union participation in the Western Sahara process. This rejection comes after the body announced that a presidential troika is the only party allowed to address the conflict.

Afcon 2019 : Nike accuses a Moroccan brand of plagiarism

One month before the start of the Africa Cup of Nations, Mauritania has been accused of plagiarism. While the country presented on Monday, May 20, the new jersey for its national football team, it was accused of copying British Nike designer Craig Ward, So Foot magazine said. «Linked to Moroccan equipment manufacturer Ab Sport, it seems that the Mauritanian football association had not realized that the typeface used to write the names and numbers of players was not entirely

Morocco's Marouane Chamakh announces his retirement as a professional player

While on the show «L'Expresso» Sunday morning on beIN Sports, 35-year old Marouane Chamakh, without a club since his departure from Cardiff City in 2016, announced that he was retiring from the field, to embrace another career as a coach or a consultant. «It's been two years since I really quit football. It was intentional. Officially, I did not say that I was retiring. I am not into social networks. I really wanted to quit football and get closer to my family. Today, I can

Brahim Ghali flies to South Africa via an Algerian presidential plane

Polisario leader Brahim Ghali attended, Saturday, the swearing-in ceremony of President Cyril Ramaphosa and listened to his speech next to hundreds of guests. Brahim Ghali arrived in Johannesburg on Friday, May 24, to take part to these festivities. At the airport of the country's economic capital, he was received by the Director of African and Middle East Affairs at the South African Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Ghali flew to South Africa on an Algerian presidential plane. The Polisario's

Kohler resignation : Polisario points the roles of France and Morocco

The Polisario does not believe the «health reasons», as communicated by the UN, behind Horst Kohler’s resignation. «There are other reasons», said M'Hamed Khaddad in statements to the agency Sputnik relayed by SPS. «Since his appointment, the former personal envoy of the UN Secretary-General has faced obstacles in the accomplishment of his duties with the European Union and the UN. France has always hindered the action and the work of Mr. Kohler»,

Migration : Spain demands annual EU aid for Morocco

Spain has urged again the European Union to support Morocco in its fight against irregular migration networks. Two senior officials from the Spanish Interior Ministry forwarded this request to the Deputy Director-General for Migration in the European Commission Simon Mordue during his visit to Madrid on May 10, El Pais reveals. The daily reports that Spanish officials have demanded that Brussels grant a «fund», on an annual basis, to Morocco. This request joins an

Diaspo #93 : Nadia Bouras, debunking myths on Moroccan migration in the Netherlands

Born and raised in Amsterdam, Nadia Bouras is a Moroccan-Dutch historian who is interested in debunking myths on Moroccan migration in the Netherlands. The researcher is currently working on a book and a documentary on Amsterdam’s first Arab school.