Honoring Lalla Khiti Benhachem : Pioneering Moroccan journalist celebrated at SIEL 2025
The Council of the Moroccan Community Abroad (CCME) organized a ceremony and debate in honor of Lalla Khiti Amina Benhachem Alaoui, the first Moroccan journalist at Belgian Radio and Television, as part of the 30th International Publishing and Book Fair (SIEL).
The gathering, attended by researchers, media professionals from Morocco and abroad, and members of Benhachem Alaoui's family, featured testimonials highlighting the uniqueness of her media career and her contributions to migration issues and intercultural dialogue, according to the organizers.
In a speech read on her behalf, Benhachem Alaoui noted that her media work served as «a bridge between cultures, between Morocco and Belgium, between generations, and between who we are and who we become».
Academic and researcher Hassan Bousetta emphasized that the duo formed by Benhachem Alaoui and her husband, director Mehrdad Taghian, became a key part of the history of Moroccan immigration in Belgium, helping shape the representation of immigrants in public broadcasting.
For Karim Ibourki, president of the Higher Council for Audiovisual Media in Belgium, Lalla Khiti's reports were the first to «show both French-speaking Belgians and Moroccans that they were going to be part of the same society».
Testifying to their friendship and achievements, French journalist Claire Frachon recalled meeting «the legendary couple, Lalla Khiti and her husband», during a conference in the early 1990s that brought together European journalists and producers. She also spoke emotionally about the importance of the program Sindbad, which showcased inspiring journeys and initiatives led by migrants.
Lalla Khiti Benhachem's work accompanied and reflected the history and transformations of Moroccan immigration in Belgium over several decades, until her retirement in 2010. This marks the second time the CCME has honored her for her pioneering role and exceptional career in Belgian media.
This edition of SIEL celebrates Moroccans around the world with a rich and extensive program. As part of this tribute, the CCME organized several events honoring Moroccan figures who have made a significant impact on the international cultural scene.
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