More churches face desacralization in Morocco

Up to date, more than thirty churches are still operating in Morocco. The number seems chocking as it has been steadily declining for decades. In fact, many churches and cathedrals in the Kingdom have been transformed into cultural centers, hotels and mosques. Spanish news agency EFE tackled the issue, putting the blame on a regulatory vacuum. Indeed, Morocco has never set a framework for justice to protect sacred places. «The Catholic church had no legal status in Morocco, from the day

MINURSO’s «partial» communiqué on Horst Köhler’s visit to the Sahara

The United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) has published a communiqué on the UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy Horst Köhler’s latest visit to the Sahara. The statement, which Yabiladi has a copy of it, mentions the meetings the UN official held with representatives and local authorities from Laayoune and Dakhla, as well as some economic decision makers. Unexpectedly, the document skipped the two meetings Köhler held

Schalke player Amine Harit granted his passport and driving license after the fatal car accident

Moroccan World Cup footballer Amine Harit who was involved in a fatal car accident in Marrakech was handed down his passport and driving license, says German online newspaper NRZ. The Schalke midfielder can leave the country whenever he wants and he no longer needs to accompany his lawyer for court hearings. On Monday, Harit’s hearing was postponed to a later date «leaving way for negotiations with the victim’s parents for a settlement». It is possible for Harit

England’s National Express wins a 1 billion euro contract to run bus services in Morocco

National Express, a British multinational public transport company, has announced that its Moroccan and Spanish subsidiaries won a 1billion euro contract to manage bus services in the North African Kingdom, says Reuters. The contract will cover 61 routes and is expected to last for 15 years, said the National Express on Wednesday 4th of July. Within a year, the British company will run the service through its unit ALSA and with the help of CityBus.   «We have been steadily growing

Russian vehicles to be sold soon in Morocco

Russian automotive conglomerate GAZ and Africa Motors have collaborated to sell GAZelle NEXT chassis for the creation of 100 types of vehicles in Morocco, announced the two firms on Tuesday 3nd of June. The new chassis are equipped with a «2.8-litre diesel engine and offered with a single-row or double-cab», says the same source. «Together with our partner, Africa Motors, we took the first step - we've signed a distribution agreement and launched sales of GAZelle NEXT

Noureddine Amir, the first Moroccan fashion designer to participate to the Paris Fashion Week

Moroccan designer Noureddine Amir is taking part for the first time in the Paris Fashion Week, reports fashion online magazine Emirates Woman on Tuesday. Amir will be representing Morocco because he is the first national to make it to the prestigious fashion event. He was selected by the Chambre Syndicate de La Haute Couture to present his 2018 fall collection. The Marrakech-based designer studied at the Esmod fashion school and his creations were exhibited at the Museum of Fashion in

Nasser Bourita criticizes his Dutch counterpart for interfering in Rabat’s «internal affairs»

Speaking to media on Tuesday, 3rd of July, Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita stated that the Netherlands should not intervene in Rabat’s «internal affairs», reports Turkish press agency Anadolu. The minister’s reaction comes as the Dutch Foreign Minister Stef Block brought Hirak protests and the sentences handed down to detainees that led the movement in the Rif region to the parliament. He has even warned Dutch-Moroccan citizens against entering

Al Hoceima’s first instance court postpones the hearing of eight newly arrested Hirak activists

The Al Hoceima first instance court postponed on Monday, 2nd of July, the hearing of eight Hirak activists to the 8th of July, says Arabic-language newspaper Alyaoum 24 on Tuesday. The detainees were arrested in a series of protests that took place recently in the region. They were arrested while protesting against the heavy sentences handed down by the Casablanca Appeal Court, last week, to 53 Hirak detainees. According to the same source, protesters were accused of participating to an

Coach Hervé Renard addresses departure rumors saying «for now, I am here !»

Asked on Monday night by 2M.ma sports journalist Morad Moutawakkil, Atlas Lions’ coach Hervé Renard finally addressed departure rumors. «I was treated in an extraordinary way in Morocco, especially by the Royal Moroccan Football Federation president Fouzi Lekjaa», he clarified. The French former footballer urged Moroccans to not «fall for confusions». «There is nothing to worry about», he added before hailing his experience with the Moroccan

Tournoi de Muay-Thaï au Caire : Deux médailles d'or et quatre de bronze pour le Maroc

Le Maroc a remporté deux médailles d'or et quatre de bronze lors du Tournoi international d'Egypte du Muay-Thaï qui a pris fin dimanche soir au Caire. Les deux médailles d'or ont été décrochées par Youssef Al-Faqi (-54 kg) et Otmane Fakkaki (+91 kg), représentant respectivement la Ligue de Souss Massa et la Ligue du Centre. Le Maroc a été ainsi représenté dans les catégories de -57 kg, -63,5 kg,