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"The Colonial Curse – Relations between the Moroccan State and the Rif” is a book by Belgian-Moroccan journalist Yassin Akouh, dedicated to a region in Morocco known for the historical figure Mohamed ben Abdelkrim el-Khattabi (1882 – 1963). In this work, published by Houtekiet, the 24-year-old Flemish author and activist delves into valuable archives to analyze the impact of the Rif resistance leader on regional history, local identity, and social movements.
However, the book is less comprehensive regarding events in the region after the end of colonization and the Protectorate. Nonetheless, Yassin Akouh offers a factual reading of the anti-colonial struggle and certain contemporary issues, demonstrating that El-Khattabi embodies an intergenerational symbol for both Moroccans and Belgian-Moroccans from Rif.
De Standaard recalls that towards the end of 2013, Antwerp was marked by a revealing dynamic. That year, the residents of Borgerhout were consulted about renaming Terloplein square. In this neighborhood, known for its large Moroccan community, one of the alternative proposals was the name El-Khattabi, in homage to the legendary leader of the Moroccan Rif resistance who led an armed struggle against Spanish colonizers in the 1920s.
The initiative sparked a heated political debate, even questioning the integration of binational individuals. Ultimately, the square retained its original name. Meanwhile, Yassin Akouh conducts reports on the Hirak movement which started in Rif back in 2016. From this, he concludes the omnipresence of the figure of the "emir," which led him to connect the history of the movements experienced in the region to its famous leader.
In this regard, the author thoroughly addresses the anti-colonial uprising of 1920-1926, the heavy defeat of the Spanish army, and their subsequent use of chemical weapons, which hastened the surrender of the nationalist leader and the fall of the Republic of the Rif.
Yassin Akouh mentions the writings and interviews of the emir, who was exiled by the French in 1926 to Réunion Island, before escaping to settle in Egypt until his death.
