Anne Applebaum, liberal-ish Washington Post and Slate correspondent, former-USSR expert, and wife of the Polish Minister of Foreign Affairs, recently published the most ridiculous op-ed of all time, entitled “Morocco, an Alternative to Iran.” On Slate, it was published as “Morocco Makes Peace With Its Past” (perhaps even more proposterous), and I perhaps wouldn’t have noticed it had it not linked to a piece of mine on Global Voices which, quite neutrally, reported on the recent election of Marrakesh’s first female mayor.
Applebaum’s piece is problematic for a number of reasons aside from the obvious (which is to say that, while shooting protesters and clamping down on free speech are fundamentally wrong, the elections themselves are still contested). From the opening paragraph, in which she invokes the all-too-common cliché of non-headscarf wearing Muslims “[not looking] out of place in New York or Paris” to her claims of Morocco entering a new era of democracy, Applebaum demonstrates her total ignorance of the Maghreb and the Arab world on the whole.
Take this sentence, for example:
“…unlike most of its Arab neighbors, the country has over the last decade undergone a slow but profound transformation from traditional monarchy to constitutional monarchy, acquiring along the way real political parties, a relatively free press, new political leaders—the mayor of Marrakesh is a 33-year-old woman—and a set of family laws that strives to be compatible both with sharia and international conventions on human rights.”
Anyone with an iota of knowledge on Moroccan politics can see the flaws in this paragraph; from the recent elections, in which the newly created Modernity and Authenticity Party, or P.A.M. (dubbed the “King’s Party”), closely linked to the royal palace, managed to sweep 22,158 seats to the three journalists arrested and fined for insulting the tyrannical leader of Libya, it doesn’t take a genius to see that Morocco is not a prime example of democracy, nor a model for Iranian reform.
In fact, Morocco’s own human rights record is deeply flawed. Despite substantial changes from the “Years of Lead,” Morocco continues to oppress Saharawi citizens (be their true nationality Moroccan or Saharawi, it should be relatively undisputed that they are not treated well by the state), suppress Amazigh activists by outlawing their language in schools and requiring their children be given Arab names even abroad, and persecute converts to other religions. Furthermore, Morocco almost certainly harbors CIA rendition sites, as has been testified by former Guantanamo inmates, and almost always turns the other cheek to Israeli and United States imperialism.
Applebaum also brazenly suggests that perhaps, had the Iranian revolution not occurred, perhaps Iran could have followed a similar path to Morocco, saying, “One thinks wistfully of the shah of Iran and of what might have been.” It’s as if she forgets, or is completely unaware, of the human rights violations and general atmosphere of oppression under Pahlavi.
Lastly, Applebaum’s assertion that “the Arab world lacks the political will to change” reeks of Obamania. Doubtless there are a number of Arab countries in which rigged elections, oppression of citizenry, and lack of freedoms are rampant, but the meme that democracy and capitalism are the only way (not to mention the United States’ hypocritical views toward democratic elections in the Middle East) is getting old. Change, if it is to happen, needs to come from within, and will not occur thanks to Western journalists, nor Twitter users changing their icons green, nor United States imperialism.
Related posts:
- Morocco Knows Best
- What’s in a name?
- Push To Try Israeli War Criminal In Morocco
- Morocco stands for Gaza…sort of.
- Moroccan Wine: Just for Tourists?
Furthermore, Morocco almost certainly harbors CIA rendition sites, as has been testified by former Guantanamo inmates, and almost always turns the other cheek to Israeli and United States imperialism.
That's the real problem, isn't it? For you, I mean. Why not just cut to the chase? All the rest of that post illustrating Morocco's many wrongs becomes just a bunch of blah blah blah once one realizes you have an agenda.
Posted by programmer craig | June 30, 2009, 8:01 pmFrom the opening paragraph, in which she invokes the all-too-common cliché of non-headscarf wearing Muslims…
Really? And what is that opening paragraph?
RABAT – 6/30/09 – If you want an antidote to the photographs of police officers beating demonstrators and girls dying on the streets of the Iranian capital, take a drive through the streets of the Moroccan capital. You might see demonstrators, but not under attack: On the day I visited, a group of people politely waving signs stood outside the parliament. You might see girls, but they will not be sniper targets, and they will not all look like their Iranian counterparts: Though there is clearly a fashion for long, flowing headscarves and blue jeans, many women would not look out of place in New York or Paris.
What's wrong with that, Jillian? She's saying that Moroccan women have the freedom to choose how they want to dress. Iranian women don't.
And it's hardly "cliche" to point out that a woman wearing a chador would look QUITE out of place, in New York. That's a simple statement of fact.
Posted by programmer craig | June 30, 2009, 8:07 pmActually, no. I'm far more concerned with Morocco's treatment of its own citizens.
Posted by JillianKF | June 30, 2009, 8:09 pmAnd yet those wearing flowing headscarves with jeans (the average Moroccan women wears a stylish version of hijab, by choice – often paired with jeans or long skirts) would look out of place in Paris? Not quite.
Posted by JillianKF | June 30, 2009, 8:10 pmok, im just gonna go out and say this, im not sure completely about it, but if you don't wear a hijab or aren't considering it, what is your business having a discussion about it
Posted by Marwa | July 2, 2009, 12:43 amMarwa, is it unclear to you that I'm defending hijab?
Posted by JillianKF | July 2, 2009, 1:55 amChange, if it is to happen, needs to come from within, and will not occur thanks to Western journalists, nor Twitter users changing their icons green, nor United States imperialism.
Is that in response to something she wrote? Because this is her closing paragraph:
Still, watching the extraordinary range of clothing and skin colors on the Moroccan streets, one takes away at least one thought: Transformation from authoritarianism to democracy is possible, even in an avowedly Islamic state, even with an ethnically mixed population, even with the presence of a jihadist fringe. More importantly: It is possible to acknowledge and discuss human rights violations in this culture, just as they can be discussed elsewhere. Just because much of the Arab world lacks the political will to change doesn't mean that change is always and forever impossible.
I don't know anything about this woman, but after reading all the links you provided in your post I'm at a loss to see how your rant correlates to her article. It almost seems like in your mind you changed what she actually wrote into something entirely different just so that you could object to it.
Posted by programmer craig | June 30, 2009, 8:11 pmCraig – what do you know about Morocco? This so-called change from authoritarianism to democracy isn't actually happening…it's a total farce. The point is that Ms. Applebaum doesn't seem to have spent any time in the country and is totally unaware of the fact that it is, at its core, still an authoritarian state.
Posted by JillianKF | July 1, 2009, 1:00 amCraig – what do you know about Morocco?
Nothing. I've never even met a Moroccan. And as far as I know my country never attacked Morocco, so of course I never bothered to make myself an instant Morocco expert. I watched "Casablanca", though.
This so-called change from authoritarianism to democracy isn't actually happening…it's a total farce.
That may be true, Jillian. But they still have Jews and Synagogues in Morocco, which is more than most Arab countries can say. I think the point of the article you posted about was that reform and tolerance are possible in an Islamic country. She played the example of Morocco against the example of Iran. That seems to be a working comparison. What middle-eastern Muslim country would you have suggested she use instead? Or does that not even matter? Are you just opposed to the proposition that Muslims can coexist peacefully with others?
The point is that Ms. Applebaum doesn't seem to have spent any time in the country and is totally unaware of the fact that it is, at its core, still an authoritarian state.
I didn't get that from the article at all. I think she was pointing out that Moroccans are free to do things that would get an Iranian sent on a one way trip to Evin prison. She even gave examples of some of the things she saw Moroccans doing that would have gotten an Iranian picked up and hauled off to jail for. Is this not a point worth making? If it's not perfect, then it's all bad? Do you even believe in reform rather than revolution, Jillian? I would have thought that you did. I myself am more of a "revolution" proponent. Since you are an atheist, I'll quote the Bible for you to explain why:
Mathew 7:15-20
Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
That's a bit too fruity for my taste, but the point being made is good. Corrupt governments should be hewn down and cast into the fire. They will never be anything but corrupt.
That's my position, Jillian, but if it isn't yours (and I assume it is not) then why would you want to condemn evidence of change in a positive direction as being a "farce"? What motivation is there for a bad government to reform, if they will continue to be condemned for not instantly becoming a perfect utopia?
Posted by programmer craig | July 1, 2009, 3:16 amI'm against the hijab being forced on anyone, Craig, but I also don't have a problem with it being worn by choice. The chador is almost nonexistent in Morocco. You will see a few elderly women wearing niqaab, left over from the pre-colonial era, and a few Wahhabi imports in the chador perhaps, but on the whole, it's stylish djellabas, colorful hijab, or no hijab at all.
But to make the assertion that women who don't cover their heads – BY CHOICE – are somehow fashionable and more democratic than those who do is just absurd.
Posted by JillianKF | June 30, 2009, 8:12 pmI'm against the hijab being forced on anyone, Craig, but I also don't have a problem with it being worn by choice. The chador is almost nonexistent in Morocco.
Then you are in agreement with the author of this article, no? She was making a direct comparison between the way women are FORCED to dress in Iran, and the way women CHOOSE to dress in Morocco.
You will see a few elderly women wearing niqaab, left over from the pre-colonial era, and a few Wahhabi imports in the chador perhaps, but on the whole, it's stylish djellabas, colorful hijab, or no hijab at all.
Which is exactly what the author said.
But to make the assertion that women who don't cover their heads – BY CHOICE – are somehow fashionable and more democratic than those who do is just absurd.
I didn't see her making that claim. Is it absurd to claim that the very fact that in Morocco women do have a CHOICE is more democratic, on a very fundamental level? If one does not even have a choice about what what clothes they can wear, is it even worth talking about democracy?
Posted by programmer craig | June 30, 2009, 8:26 pmOne final question:
but the meme that democracy and capitalism are the only way…
What are the other ways? Please give examples of non-democratic forms of government that have guaranteed freedom and human/civil rights for the citizenry.
The only meme that is "getting old" around here is that people don't need democracy. Anything that isn't democracy is tyranny. Full stop.
Posted by programmer craig | June 30, 2009, 8:15 pmdefine freedom, human/civil rights
then define citizen
then shutup
Posted by ... | June 30, 2009, 8:56 pmit sounds like your right, but none of that really registered
just a bunch of blahblahblah
Posted by ... | June 30, 2009, 8:58 pmdefine freedom, human/civil rights
then define citizen
Why? Are they ambiguous concepts?
then shutup
Pretty lame. Even for an anonymous.
Posted by programmer craig | June 30, 2009, 9:15 pmwell, what said was more lame
Posted by ... | June 30, 2009, 9:20 pmyou may be more confusing than i am and i am convinced you are at the moment
Posted by :) :) | June 30, 2009, 8:16 pmit gave me a miniheadache+milddepressedfeeling
thanks, so much
Posted by ... | June 30, 2009, 9:06 pmnot even worthy of lameness
Posted by ... | June 30, 2009, 9:20 pmyou*
Posted by ... | June 30, 2009, 9:20 pmYou are correcting typos in your silly anonymous one-liners?
Posted by programmer craig | June 30, 2009, 9:27 pmbecause i messed up
Posted by ... | June 30, 2009, 9:34 pmyou know what you're doing
Posted by ... | June 30, 2009, 9:35 pmi dont need to see myself. thats not the problem
Posted by ... | June 30, 2009, 9:43 pmthe north african come
dear craig,
morocco isn't and cannot be an example of democracy, one example try to crticize the king M6 and you will stay infamous morocan prisons for a while (I don't wish such thing even for my enemies)
family codes? yes it may be modern if you compare situation to … afghanistan's one.
Anne Applebaum is just writing like other western journalists did, they saw some people at cities and think that is the situation in the whole country, they don't even speak language, culture nothing, they just depend to some nice locals who usually present their country in nice way.
last word, that election is nothing because the real power remain in the wali (governors) hands who are appointed by the king.
rafik
Posted by rafik | July 1, 2009, 1:16 amRafik, thanks
I think you are right. And, I'm not here to defend Western journalists who present only the story they want people to hear. I've complained about that often enough, myself.
Posted by programmer craig | July 1, 2009, 3:21 amIf you think Rafik is right, then you think I am right, because Rafik agrees with me. You just won't hear it from me because my position and experience bother you.
Thus, end of discussion.
Posted by JillianKF | July 1, 2009, 3:25 amNo, Jillian. Rafik didn't say the same things you said. At all. He didn't even mention Iran, or the West. He spoke of Morocco. If you had limited yourself to criticizing her for inaccurately describing Morocco, I wouldn't have had a problem with this post.
Posted by programmer craig | July 1, 2009, 11:25 pmI can't find your most recent comment (stupid stupid IntenseDebate platform!) but what I was going to say was: So you only had a problem with one paragraph of my post and therefore decided you would discount the entire thing? That's just stupid.
Posted by JillianKF | July 2, 2009, 12:00 am“…unlike most of its Arab neighbors, the country has over the last decade undergone a slow but profound transformation from traditional monarchy to constitutional monarchy, acquiring along the way real political parties, a relatively free press, new political leaders—the mayor of Marrakesh is a 33-year-old woman—and a set of family laws that strives to be compatible both with sharia and international conventions on human rights.”
Biggest problem with that sentence? Way too effing long.
Posted by SanaKF | July 1, 2009, 3:08 amOMG I know. Why do you think I had to write a blog post instead of just tweeting that shit?
Posted by JillianKF | July 1, 2009, 3:26 amI'm pretty wordy, but even I would shorten that to two sentences, minimum.
Posted by SanaKF | July 1, 2009, 7:30 amYou must admit though, that M6 is a change from H2 and the era of extremely harsh policies that ended when he died and M6 took the throne.
Things have changed in Morocco, and what she is saying is somewhat true, at least superficially. The changes in government are not as profound and as drastic as she's making them out to be.
As a Moroccophile and Derija speaker, I do appreciate the government's efforts not to crack down on press and the language materials that are growing more and more common (i.e. Derija newspapers and magazines in addition to Tamazight and Tashelhiyt materials) which from a social perspective are part of a greater effort to combat the Islamists and Salafis and their call for Islamic shari3a.
Gotte love the police state of Morocco.
Maghribi hta al-mout!
Posted by Carlos | July 1, 2009, 2:41 pmNichane tal mout!
But seriously, yeah, I know. I'm not trying to demonizing Morocco either, this was intended as a reactionary, counter-opinion piece.
Posted by JillianKF | July 3, 2009, 3:38 pmGuess what I am an actual person and it is not right for you to ignore me when I am talking to you
Posted by Marwa | July 1, 2009, 8:33 pmwell, you demonize me anyway
Posted by Jason | July 2, 2009, 12:36 amWhen did you make this blog, I would say the one thing that it's lacking is consistency, and so I can't focus on the actual material you're bringing up
you're bouncing around all over the place
otherwise it's brilliant on a surface level
Posted by Marwa | July 1, 2009, 9:07 pmyou should be able to read what people write you idiot
Posted by Jason | July 2, 2009, 12:37 amI forget about you, I block you out, then after I write something honest out I can remember, bits, randomly
but if you just use your name and write me back that's gonna sink in deeper than me reminding myself
Posted by Marwa | July 1, 2009, 9:18 pmthis is just awful starting from the first four words, i love myself
Posted by Marwa | July 2, 2009, 12:38 amJason I can't read my own comments
Posted by Marwa | July 2, 2009, 12:29 amok that doesn't matter
Posted by Marwa | July 2, 2009, 12:32 amhow do you spell awful, is it with and "e"?
Posted by Marwa | July 2, 2009, 12:39 amAnd it's hardly "cliche" to point out that a woman wearing a chador would look QUITE out of place, in New York. That's a simple statement of fact.
what-ever
Posted by Lena | July 2, 2009, 3:32 pmLena, a woman in Chador in NYC would look just as out of place as a woman in a miniskirt and a halter top in Baghdad. It isn't "cliche" to point that out. Sorry if you want to be offended by simple statements of fact, but that's your business right?
On the bright side, nothing would happen to the woman in Chador in NYC except people would gawk at her. I doubt that's true, in the other case.
Posted by programmer craig | July 2, 2009, 7:46 pmUm, but would a woman wearing a simple hijab? NO!
Posted by JillianKF | July 3, 2009, 3:36 pm