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Morocco World
2 days ago
- General
- Morocco World
Proposal to Rename Agadir Streets After Jewish Figures Sparks Debate
Doha – A proposal to rename several public spaces in Agadir after Moroccan Jewish figures has ignited nationwide controversy. The Moroccan Institute for Human Rights (MIHR), led by Abdellah El Feryadi, sent a letter to Aziz Akhannouch, mayor of Agadir and current head of government, suggesting changes that would replace the names of nationalist leaders with those of prominent Jewish Moroccan personalities. The letter, dated May 21, proposes renaming Allal El Fassi Avenue to 'Simon Levy Street' in honor of the late political and economic activist. It also suggests changing Abderrahim Bouabid Avenue to 'Rabbi Khlifa Ben Malka Street,' named after a prominent rabbi buried in the old Ehchach district cemetery. Additional proposals include naming the Reconstruction Museum after Orna Baziz, a survivor of the 1960 earthquake who authored a significant book about the catastrophe, and renaming the Dakhla district's cultural complex after artist Neta Elkayam. The MIHR bases its proposal on the Moroccan Constitution's preamble, which recognizes Hebraic heritage as an integral part of national identity. The institute argues that the absence of public spaces bearing the names of Moroccan Jewish figures represents a gap in representing the city's rich cultural and religious heritage. 'We note that to this day, Agadir has no public facility named after a Moroccan Jewish personality, despite the historical importance of this component within the local fabric,' the institute argued in its letter. The proposal has ignited fierce debate on social media platforms. Many critics question why honoring Jewish figures must come at the expense of national movement heroes. 'Blessing renewal of relations with the Nazis' 'Why attack the symbols of Moroccan resistance against colonization?' lamented one manifestly enraged commenter on social media. Others denounced the act, noting that one of the targeted spaces carries the name of Muhammad al-Durrah, the Palestinian child killed by Israeli forces during the Intifada. Observers point out that the issue isn't about honoring Jewish Moroccan figures but rather the specific choice to replace the names of national heroes. Critics suggest that new or unnamed streets could be chosen instead of replacing historically significant names. Aziz Hanaoui, secretary-general of the Moroccan Observatory for Anti-Normalization, declared on his Facebook page that the letter came from someone 'for whom serving Zionism has become a creed, even at the expense of historical national symbols.' Salima Belemkaddem, president of the Moroccan Movement for Environment 2050, condemned the letter as 'a public call for Zionism from a Moroccan institution,' adding that the request amounts to 'blessing renewal of relations with the Nazis.' Critics have also flagged El Feryadi's well-documented support for the renewal of ties with Israel and his visits to Tel Aviv during Israel's genocidal onslaught in Gaza, viewing the proposal as a calculated attempt to erode national symbols. 'Foreigners to the city' El Feryadi expressed surprise at the controversy, insisting that it's 'not an official decision issued by the municipal council, but an independent civil proposal submitted to the elected authorities.' He defended the initiative, claiming it aims to address 'the injustice suffered by Moroccan citizens of Jewish origin, especially in Agadir, where they have been systematically excluded through decades of public management influenced by exclusionary ideological backgrounds, whether Arab or Islamist in nature.' Regarding criticism about replacing national figures like El Fassi and Bouabid, El Feryadi asserted: 'We understand some people's emotional attachment to these names, but we don't accept this attachment turning into accusations against our patriotism as we've observed on social media.' He emphasized that the proposed names belong to local figures from Agadir who provided valuable services to the city, unlike El Fassi and Bouabid, whom he described as 'foreigners to the city.' As the debate intensifies, the Agadir municipal council has not yet issued any official response regarding whether it will adopt the proposals or subject them to broader consultation with local stakeholders and residents. Read also: Controversial Petition for Moroccan Citizenship to Jewish Descendants Sparks Debate Tags: AgadirMoroccan Jewish heritage
Morocco World
08-05-2025
- Business
- Morocco World
Competition Council Probes Alleged Anti-Competitive Practices in Sardine Supply Market
Rabat – The Moroccan Competition Council announced on Thursday launching a formal investigation into alleged anti-competitive practices in the market for industrial sardine supply, following the detection of serious irregularities affecting fair competition. In a press release issued by the Council's Rapporteur General, the authority stated that it had acted on its own initiative, invoking powers granted by the Moroccan Constitution, Law No. 20-13 on the Council of Competition, and Law No. 104-12 on the freedom of pricing and competition. The Council's role includes ensuring market regulation and safeguarding consumer interests. The Council says its investigation has gathered substantial evidence suggesting the existence of collusive agreements among several players in the industrial sardine supply chain. These agreements, which may have spanned two decades, allegedly aimed to restrict market competition by manipulating prices and limiting production access. The alleged violations involve concerted price-fixing for the initial sale of industrial sardines , which distorted market-driven pricing and led to artificial price fluctuations. Additionally, agreements to restrict or divide production limited access for new competitors and undermined fair competition. As part of its procedures under Article 29 of Law No. 104-12, the Council has formally issued statements of objections to 15 professional organizations believed to be involved. These include shipowners, fish processing and value-addition units, as well as wholesalers active in the initial purchase of marine products. The notification of grievances marks the beginning of a contradictory procedure, allowing the accused parties to exercise their right to defense. The Council emphasized that the issuance of these statements does not constitute a final decision. Only the Council's governing body is authorized to rule on the validity of the charges, after a full review and a public hearing. In February, Morocco's social media was abuzz with controversy over soaring fish prices in local markets. The debate was sparked by a young man from Marrakech, Abdolilah, popularly known as Abdo, who launched an initiative to sell sardines at just MAD 5 ($0.50) per kilogram. His action stood in stark contrast to the prevailing prices in coastal cities such as Rabat, Casablanca, and Agadir, where sardines were commonly sold for MAD 25 ($2.50) or more per kilo, despite their proximity to fishing zones. Tags: competition councilMoroccan sardinesprices regulationSardines
