Morocco and the rest of the world

For a foreigner living in Morocco, one’s own country feels close at the start of his time there, but gradually feels further away as the years go by.

Integrating into Moroccan society undoubtedly also means changing one’s perspective (somewhat) on certain social issues. In a country where the headscarf poses no problem whatsoever – quite the opposite, in fact – and where women who wear headscarves and women with their hair uncovered live side by side peacefully and go out together, the tension surrounding the headscarf that one encounters in certain countries seems strange. Moroccan Islam is experienced in everyday life as a tolerant religion, and the Islamophobia that prevails in certain countries and among certain political parties is incomprehensible.

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Another contentious issue is visa policy, with the high cost of submitting an application – which is not refunded if the application is refused – and refusals that often seem difficult to understand.

Our country as seen from Morocco also means our involvement in political life over there, whenever we can, through elections that generate little enthusiasm, even though they are important!

Finally, it is the impact in Morocco of measures taken overseas, whether – for us – the taxation of nationals abroad or – for Moroccans – the increase in university fees for non-European foreign students.

For someone with dual nationality, it also means being torn between their two countries, as is the case, for example, in World Cup football matches between France or other countries and Morocco.

It is the act of voting in elections in our country whilst harbouring dual loyalties that will determine choices made not necessarily for “the good of our country”, but solely on the basis of the candidates’ positions on Western Sahara.

France and many other countries no longer hold the same allure for Moroccans. In the case of France and Spain, there remains an underlying ‘colonialised’ complex, with the colonised asserting themselves against the former coloniser; however, Mohammed VI has broadened Morocco’s range of trading partners. Whilst the former colonisers still exert a significant influence on the Moroccan economy, they are no longer the only partners.

However, most Moroccans genuinely appreciate foreigners, provided they respect the country, its values and its people.