Utrecht, Netherlands - On Tuesday, political party NIDA Rotterdam requested a formal response from the mayor and city alderman in regards to Mayor Ahmed Aboutaleb’s silence on the execution sentence of a democratically elected president, Mohamed Morsi of Egypt.

NIDA party officials understand that Mayor Aboutaleb’s authority doesn’t extend beyond the city limits of Rotterdam, however, Mayor Aboutaleb previously has not limited himself to only dealing with Rotterdam issues. In February, the mayor attended a conference at the White House. In April, he hosted Egypt’s Grand Mufti, Egypt’s religious authority, at Rotterdam’s city hall.

Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International believe that the case against former President Morsi is flawed and politically motivated. Mayor Aboutaleb’s press secretary stated on Monday that they do not see this as a “Rotterdam case”. They acknowledge that they will be responding to NIDA’s formal request.

“Before responding to the media, we want to respond to the formal request from the political party [NIDA]. After we respond we will not hold a press conference or anything like that. This is not a Rotterdam case,” said Mayor Aboutaleb’s press secretary.

Charlie Hebdo

NIDA party leader, Nourdin El Ouali points out that the mayor recently met with Vice-President Joe Biden, during a 4-day White House conference which focused on countering extremism. During the conference, CNN’s Michael Holmes interviewed Mayor Aboutaleb. After the Charlie Hebdo attack the mayor gave a speech that gained international attention. In his speech, he instructed extremists to leave the Netherlands if they couldn’t handle cartoons and Western society. During his interview with Holmes the mayor explained that his authority extended beyond the city limits of Rotterdam.

“I'm not only a mayor of a city, but I'm also Muslim and that gives me maybe the additional authority to say these things that maybe other colleagues of mine in Europe and maybe in the U.S. are not maybe authorized to say,” said Mayor Aboutaleb.

Grand Mufti in Rotterdam

In April, Mayor Aboutaleb welcomed Shawki Ibrahim Abdel-Karim, who is the 19^th and current Grand Mufti of Egypt. The Grand Mufti was visiting the Netherlands to take part in meetings with Dutch-Muslims and non-Muslims. During these meetings he hoped to gain inspiration on how to modernize Islam. After meeting with Ronald Plasterk, the Dutch Minister of Interior, the Grand Mufti visited Mayor Aboutaleb at the city hall in Rotterdam.

Due to security issues the city hall group that met with the Grand Mufti was kept small. During the meeting the death sentence in Egypt was discussed. Egyptian law requires that all judges ask the Grand Mufti for spiritual advice when administering the death sentence.

NIDA is formally requesting that Mayor Aboutaleb use his relationship with the Grand Mufti to express his disgust towards the death sentence that former President Morsi is facing. If the sentence is carried out NIDA is demanding that the mayor implement sanctions. The party is recommending that the mayor call on the Dutch foreign minister to do the same.

“NIDA is of the opinion that if we do not act now, people will stop listening to the Netherlands and Rotterdam’s pleas for democracy and righteousness. They will see our pleas as worthless as the current state of law and democracy in Egypt,” wrote Nourdin El Ouali.

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Rabat - Casablanca continues to attract more and more executives and entrepreneurs from developed countries who wish to experience the potential of the growing African market.

ESCA Ecole de Management, a professional management school in Casablanca, will be hosting two groups of American business students from 16 May to 22 May to present “Doing Business in North Africa,” a series of exclusive seminars which focus on the potential challenges and benefits of an emerging market, such as Casablanca.

The American students, who come from Stern School of Business in New York and Georgia State University, have prepared for their highly anticipated visit by readings and lectures on Morocco and Africa. Both universities are high ranking institutions in the United States.

The seminars offered will provide discussion and conversation on cultural insights unique to African economies such as lifestyles, institutions, and the history of the continent. Further, the seminars will include academic lectures in which students will discover the growth that is currently occurring in Morocco due to industries such as tourism, banking, technology, and automotive distribution. Finally, ESCA Ecole will hold professional meetings with local successful entrepreneurs in order to provide students with an understanding of how to succeed in local business.

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Rabat - A 70-year-old Moroccan imam was caught in the act last week sexually molesting an 8-year-old boy inside a mosque near Marrakech, reports say.

The Moroccan imam was arrested when some locals heard screams of a little boy coming out from inside the mosque.

The locals recorded the disturbing scenes with cellphone cameras.

According to the same source, they surrounded the perpetrator before calling the authorities who came and arrested the septuagenarian Imam who was entrusted by the parents of the children to teach them the Quran and the teachings of Islam.

As soon as the scandal broke out, two other boys admitted that they were sexually abused by the said Imam.

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Rabat - The Moroccan man arrested in Italy in connection with the attack on the Bardo Museum was in Italy at the time of the attack, according to Italian police.

But Tunisian authorities have yet to be convinced by the finding provided by the Italians.

A Tunisian official said on Thursday that the Moroccan suspect “provided” attackers with weapons.

"(He) is a weapons smuggler…he brought weapons for the Bardo Museum attackers from Libya to Tunisia before the date of the attack," the official spoke to Reuters on the condition of anonymity.

22-year-old Taouil Abdelmajid was arrested by Italy’s anti-terrorism police on Tuesday evening at the home of his mother in Gaggiano, eight miles from Milan.

The Italian police said Taouil reached Italy on a migrant boat in February, but sources quoted by Reuters suggest that they were "99 per cent sure" he was in Italy during the attacks that left 22 people dead in March. Two attackers were also killed in a shootout with police.

The suspect's mother has rushed to the defense of her son, saying he was in Italy at the time of the attack.

"He doesn't have any ties with any terrorists," Fatima Taouil was cited as saying in an interview by the Corriere Della Sera newspaper.

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Rabat- The holy month of Ramadan, the most sacred month in Islam, when Muslims abstain from food, sex, and immoral behaviors, will start in France on either June 17 or 18, 2015.

In a communique published in their official website, the Grand Mosque of Paris has set the "Night of the doubt" for the 29th day of Sha'ban in the Hijri year 1436, which corresponds to Tuesday, June 16, 2015.

Like previous years, a theological commission of the "Night of doubt" will be held from 6:00 pm at the Mosque of Paris to determine the first day of the blessed month of Ramadan this year.

This Commission will be held in the presence of all the board members of the national office of the French Muslim Faith, representatives of the Muslim community in France, and all of its imams, leaders of mosques, and worshipers.

The communique, signed by the rector Dalil Boubaker, said, “Our goal is to unite in a common and fraternal commitment all Muslims of France around the same date of the beginning of the fasting month of Ramadan.”

Islamic months are dated according to the Islamic lunar calendar. Because of this, determining when a month starts and ends is subject to either observing the crescent moon or relying on a method of calculation.

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Rabat - Libya today has become quite a persistent headache for the world community, in gneral, and Europe, in particular.

NATO is surely regretting bitterly it has not finished the work it started in 2011 to oust the dictator Qhaddafi. The help extended generously to the revoutionaries, then, by NATO certainly destroyed the Qhaddafi system, but with it went, to date, the Libyan state. Today it is merely a collection of city-states, or worse tribe-states motivated by rentier privileges oil offers and religious extremism.

Alas, today Libya is a non-state to be added to the growing list of Arab failed states resulting from the destructive chaos of the Arab Spring. Libya could have simply gone into limbo like Somalia, at some point, if it had remained docile and quiet and the world would have gladly forgotten about it. But, it has not because it has gone awry and it has become a threat to its neighbours north and south.

The Libyan migration hell gate to Fortress Europe

For the lat two years, welcoming and friendly Italy has been patiently bearing alone the brunt of an African migration invasion originating from the Libyan shores. This migration, had it been in a trickle fashion could have gone almost unnoticed by other European nations as their dynamic markets could have accommodated happily this cheap god-sent labor, but it turned dramatic as the number increased and thousands drowned in the Meditrranean Sea.

Alarmed by this human tragedy, that could ultimately go crescendo if unchecked, humanitarian European NGOs called for immediate action. Some suggested flatly to welcome the migrants on the European soil. Under pressure, the European heads of states met to find an acceptable solution. Of course nobody expected Europe to open the gate for mass migration, because such a thing is synonymous of economic suicide for a continent that is hardly recovering from a severe recession.

Instead, Europe has made public its willingness to help the migrant boats in the Mediterranean and set up migrant quotas for member states, a decision that was rejected right away by some member countries. This means quite clearly that this thorny issue will certainly not be easy to solve within the European Union, in the short term.

The question, then, is what to do to solve this problem, in the long term? Actually, two possibilities arise at this point:

1 - Search for and arrest those responsible for the recruitment of migrants and the organization of the practice into a lucrative business and indict them in European courts with manslaughter charges. This is not an easy task, but if countries in the north of the Mediterranean would seek the help of the countries in the south of the Mediterranean, for that purpose, it could be achieved;

2 - Invade Libya to help set up a democratic government instead of the actual myriad powerless city-states. However, this option is not easy and might be risky for Europe in case the Islamists decide to call for Jihad against the "Christian" invaders. This could easily turn into a quagmire and might threaten the stability of both Italy and tiny Malta and create an area of instability for commercial ships in the Mediterranean. Also, if Libya is to be invaded, who will do the invasion: the European countries themselves or the NATO and in this case what would be the reaction of Russia?

For sure, the sitution in Libya cannot be allowed to remain as it is, for more the status quo perdures, more the risk of proliferation of extremist groups on the Libyan soil will increase and the temptation for the Libyan Islamists to join forces with other extremist group. Indeed, lately ISIS has conducted highly-publicized collective summary executions of religious and ethnic groups. The presence of ISIS on Libyan soil can also threaten other North African states as well as Europe.

Present Libya is a threat to stabilty in North Africa and in the Sub-Saharan region

In the long run, instability in Libya could be a lethal threat to the nascent democracy in Tunisia where the Islamists would feel emboldened to destabilze the existing government further, especially after the recent unfortunate terrorist attack on the Bardo Museum on March 18, 2015, which was directed at crippling the tourist industry, the economic lifeline of the country.

Tunisia has painstakingly adopted a very progressive constitution that enshrines women rights and democratic values and sets the groundwork for a long term democracy. So far, Tunisia is the only Arab Spring country that has gone democratic rather than going the way of instability and chaos. Therefore, it has to be nurtured and protected to serve as a role model for other Arab countries in the future.

A chaotic and Islamist Libya could embolden the various terrorist groups in the Sub-Saharan region to create a crescent of terrorism and instability all the way from Somalia in the Horn of Africa to Senegal on the Atlantic Ocean shore, and become a fertile ground for the rise of Islamist governments in this vulnerable area.

So stabilizing Libya would be tantamount to cutting the grass under the feet of the Islamists, who dream of the establishment of an Islamic Caliphate in the Sub-Sahara region.

Bringing back the monarchy to Libya is the solution

Libya, today, is split between an Islamist rule in the west and the south and a secular power in the east. The two blocks have failed militarily to neutralize each other and have also failed to reach a compromise in the recent UN-conducted negotiations in the city of Skhirate in Morocco. So, all the classical avenues for conflict resolution have been explored to no avail.

Short of an external invasion, the only solution possible today is an internationally-guaranteed package to bring back the Senussi monoarchy to reign and have a limited rule, as a referee power, and guarantee, as it were, a democratic system.

A national conference could be held anew in Morocco, to officially enthrone the descendant of the Senussi dynasty and negotiate a constitutional monarchy status for the country, with a new constitution to be presented to the people for a referendum. If accepted, then the monarchy could be restored with the mandate to, firstly, nominate a national union government that would put together a national army and a police force and, then, organize legislative elections within two years time.

The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Morocco World News’ editorial policy

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Rabat - The military prowess of ISIS is a mystery to Western observers.Nations with elite militaries fail to understand how the armies they have trained and equipped lose ground so fast to what they take to be small, unorganized, poorly equipped and trained commandos of uneducated and uncultured bigots. Their initial conviction that ISIS will be defeated by the support of air strikes and financial blockades is faltering. Not only has ISIS become increasingly wealthy, but it is conquering oil fields and depriving both Syria and Iraq of not only the sources of their wealth but also of the weight of the entrenched régimes and their hold on regional power. Furthermore, ISIS saves money on weaponry and equipment by simply picking up those left behind by the fleeing armies.

The strength of ISIS has many sources. First, they are supported by a strong ideology and an efficient, professional, and skillfully-run communication system. Second, the motivation of its fighters, their conviction, commitment, and their drive to die for a passion creates a power base of untold proporations. Third, its men operate in territories they are familiar with and are among people they counted as friends and neighbors. Fourth, ISIS field commanders have their origins in the very armies Western powers have disbanded and helped destroy, as well as from secret police organizations which they trained in intelligence techniques, street fighting, torture, and resistance. Fifth, contrary to what most Westerners seem to think, ISIS is not operating in a hostile environment; its neighbors ensure it is able to import and export goods, oil, weapons, fighters, and wives for the men. Sixth, ISIS is infused with the monetary benefits of a powerful financial network. Seventh, a divided, lethargic, fearful, hesitant, and perhaps partially complicit international community further emboldens ISIS.

About one million soldiers throughout Syria and Iraq supported by the mightiest armies of the world have been retreating systematically under the pressure of a few thousand scattered in more than five countries. What is the driving force they are utilizing? They claim it is God. I propose it is the weakness of the standing armies, the political pettiness of the allies, the egotism and narcissism of politicians, the short-sightedness of the local social and tribal authorities, the resignation of the intellectual elites, and the greed of arms makers and weapons dealers.

Winning a war may not mean winning a battle. However, the terror of ISIS is in its brutal victories, wins a battle, it beheads men, stones women to death, weds as trophies little girls to its warriors, burns libraries, and destroys precious world heritage sites. Every provisional victory it makes, no matter how small and how brief, is one too many and too long. A deadly mistake would be to think that ISIS is not here to stay or that it will wait for alliances to form in order to defeat it. Every additional day it survives makes it stronger, more resourceful, and more anchored in the terrain. Waiting for a collective global surge of political will against ISIS has but one outcome—the perception that the forces it fights are weak and can only seek a compromise rather than having the ability to defeat it outright.

The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Morocco World News’ editorial policy

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Rabat - Nabil Ayouch's film "Much Loved (Zine li Fik)" about prostitution in Morocco's tourism hub Marrakech has divided the internet into two camps even before it hits movie theaters.

The debate over the film rages on between those who praise the film based on what they claim is an "accurate portrayal of prostitutes' life" and those who criticize it because of its nudity scenes and use of shocking and vulgar language.

Some even worry that the film might encourage sex tourism in the country.

"The film will open the door for people coming from abroad whose main goal is to engage in sexual activity with prostitutes in Morocco," said one commentator online.

Facebook user Souli Armani said: "Unfortunately, the film with the media coverage may help uncover this reality and attract more sexual tourism."

"Nabil Ayouch does not care about the image or the reputation of Morocco. All he cares about is the financial returns. [A] Film like that will not change anything from this phenomenon. It will make the situation worse," Sara Salwa Alami said.

Other social media users criticized the obscene language used in the film, adding that one can't use the excuse of representing reality to represent the phenomenon of prostitution in such manner, and that film just "shows advanced ways" to promote pornography.

"The same movie can be done in a more conservative way, since it's a movie for Moroccans, if I'm not wrong! You don't have to show everything for us to understand or for the language to be so low so we can understand the situation, I watched one clip and I couldn't keep the sound on as almost all the clip was bad words," Salma Ben said.

"I'm a grown-up but still if minors watch it, and trust me they will, what will they learn! And don't tell me he represents reality. Morocco's reality is not summarized in prostitution," she added.

"What disgusts me is that such movies don't fix our community problems as westerns do, instead it's just trying to develop and shows advanced ways to do pornography," another Facebook user Elhkam Redouan commented.

Others, however, argue people are making a fuss out of nothing, and claim that all what the film director is representing the reality."

"I don't understand why we don't accept the truth," Facebook user Naoual Ksiyer said. "I understand reputation and image but it's not like it is a secret […]. He is simply bringing it to the light so maybe change could take place."

"Good Luck, Nabil Ayouch, and bravo for not burying your head in the sand. Wish you all the best, as you face new challenges in the future," Batoul Daoudi Mootassem said.

Nezha Mastouri, another Facebook user, said: "Before judging the movie, look at our Morocco. Judge the economies, our politicians, our education system... The movie is just a mirror, reflecting one problem in Morocco. There are many problems that need brave people to point their finger at.

Nabil Ayouch’s film “Much Loved” was picked to feature in the lineup of the Director’s Fortnight at Cannes Film Festival (AKA la Quinzaine des Réalisateurs).

The director said he interviewed more than 100 prostitutes in Casablanca, Rabat and Tangier, for the making of this film.

Photo courtesy: Much Loved – Zin li fik – de Nabil Ayouch/ Official Facebook Page

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Rabat - A suicide bomber blew himself up inside a Shiite mosque in eastern Saudi Arabia on Friday in the village of al-Qadeeh, according to media reports.

Local residents said the explosion killed and wounded at least 30 people. It took place at the Imam Ali mosque in the town of al-Qadeeh, Qatif province.

Witnesses described a huge blast at the mosque as they were doing the first part of the Friday prayers, the source added.

The Saudi state news agency has confirmed the explosion had occurred in east of the country and said more details would be provided later.

Pictures and videos posted on social media showed body parts scattered across the mosque's floor.

BREAKING: Photos coming in from the terrorist attack on Shiite mosque in Qatif, Saudi Arabia. Over 10 people killed. pic.twitter.com/5QXIT4krrE

— Ibrahim Halawi (@Ibrahimhalawi) 22 Mai 2015

????????? ?? ???? 6 ????? ?????? ?????? ?? ????? ??????? ?????? ????? ?? ???? ?????? ??? - ??????- ?????? #???????? pic.twitter.com/IzGVfexVjz

— Marwan Matni (@marwanmatni) 22 Mai 2015

The al-Qadeeh town is home to Saudi Arabia's Shiite minority, in a country which is predominantly Sunni. Shiites makes up around 10-15 per cent of the Saudi population.

In late March Houthi rebels from Yemen threatened to carry out suicide bombings in Saudi Arabia if the latter continues with its air campaign against their positions. But, Houthis are also Shiite Muslims, like those reported to be killed in the suicide attack.

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Rabat - A group of Moroccans in Belgium launched a fundraising campaign to collect funds to help restore a Jewish temple.

Although they themselves do not have a place of worship, Muslims, including Moroccans in Belgium set a fundraising campaign to raise funds to repair a Jewish Synagogue.

The Muslim community in the town of Arlon, in southeast Belgium, set the campaign to save the town's synagogue - the oldest synagogue in Belgium – which was closed last year because of danger of collapse from the damage from moisture and dry rot.

The cost of the repair is estimated at €400,000. The campaign launched by the Muslim community has so far raised €2,400, according to Belgian media.

Mohamed Bouezmarni, Secretary General of the Muslim Association, said that the Association had decided to organize a fundraising drive “to provide help and testify publicly our solidarity. In line with our values of generosity and mutual assistance, the Muslim community of Arlon is willing to give a hand in this project of general interest."

Construction work is expected to begin later this year, with the Wallonia authorities funding some of it, but further financing will be needed to cover the full operation.

This is not the first time that Muslims in Europe have helped save a synagogue. In 2013, local Muslims in Bradford, England launched a fundraising campaign to help repair the more than 130-year-old Reform synagogue and save it from closure.

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Rabat- Daayiee Abdullah is believed to be the only openly gay imam in the United States.

The 61-year-old Abdullah was born and raised in Detroit. He came out as gay at the age of 15 and converted to Islam at 33 while studying in China.

He studied the religion in Egypt, Jordan and Syria. He now serves as the Imam and educational director of the Light of Reform Mosque in Washington, D.C.

"Nowhere in the Quran does it say punish homosexuals. And historians have also never found any case of the Prophet Muhammad dealing with homosexuality," Daayiee told Dean Obeidallah, an American Radio show host of Palestinian-Italian descent.

Since the 1990s, Daayiee has been advocating for the rights of LGBT Muslims in America. "When I graduated from high school, I hoped that one day gay Americans would be able to get married. And now here I am 45 years later officiating same-sex marriages—how can I not be optimistic that the future is bright?” explained Daayiee Abdullah.

He said his optimism stems from the fact that he has been receiving growing acceptance among Muslim Americans.  "The younger they are, the more tolerant and accepting they are of LGBT Muslims,” he noted, adding that "there are even older Muslims who are now supportive, including a grandmother here and there."

Asked about why some Muslim countries still punish or kill gays even if there is nowhere in the Quran where does it state punish homosexuals, he explained that "it’s based on culture, mythology, and pre-Islamic laws, with the goal being power and control over people."

Responding to critics who oppose that a homosexual should be a religious leader, Abdullah said, "Some don’t believe that homosexuals can be pious. But we can be just as good at our faith as anyone else. We are simply different from other folks, not less committed to our faith." "Some people are uncomfortable with gays,” Abdullah acknowledged. "But your discomfort with my sexuality should not translate into me having less rights as an American."

Daayiee's ever first act as an Imam was to perform funeral rites for a gay Muslim who died of AIDS.

“They had contacted a number of imams, and no one would go and provide him his janazah services,” he told Al Jazeera's America tonight. He was referring to the Muslim body cleaning ritual.

"I believe every person, no matter if I disagree with you or not, you have the right as a Muslim to have the proper spiritual [rites] and rituals provided for you. And whoever judges you that will be Allah's decision, not me."

Abdullah is planning to launch an online school called the Mecca Institute with the aim of connecting Muslim and non-Muslims to debate about Islam. He explained that his inspiration for the project was the “golden age of Islam” (7th century to 13th century), which was marked by scholars of different faiths sharing ideas.

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Rabat - French car manufacturer PSA Peugeot Citroen is planning to build a production facility in Morocco as part of an effort to increase its sales in Africa, following in the footsteps of French rival Renault SA, a source close to the company told Bloomberg news agency.

"The plant would initially have a capacity of fewer than 100,000 vehicles a year, and Peugeot may announce the project publicly as early as June", according to two people familiar with the matter, who asked not to be named because the talks are private.

The factory might be possibly located near the city of Kenitra.

The first Moroccan-assembled vehicles would come from the middle to lower portion of Peugeot's product range and be sold in the region, the same source said.

Morocco is familiar territory for Peugeot Chief Executive Officer Carlos Tavares. The former Renault director of operations helped the latter set up its factory in Tangier.

In February 2012 King Mohammed VI inaugurated the Renault-Nissan Alliance factory in Tangiers, specialized in the manufacturing of low-cost cars.

The new factory would be the first wholly owned and operated by Peugeot in Africa. Europe’s second-biggest carmaker's sales in Africa and the Middle East dropped 25 percent last year to 169,400 vehicles. That was 5.8 percent of its total sales.

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Rabat- One person was killed and two seriously injured on Friday morning in a catastrophic trailer tire explosion in a blacksmith garage in Taliouine, in southern Morocco.

The tragic accident took place around 1 PM GMT +1 after a welding operator tried to weld the rim of a trailer tire that had previously suffered damage.
The welding flames hit the tire causing it to explode and throw the three men into the air, the reverberations of the explosion terrifying local residents.

One person died on scene after a fat head injury, while two others were hospitalized.

Sources told MWN that one of the injured is still in coma, while the third has received medical treatments and been released from the hospital.

Emergency services dispatched to the scene used all methods at their disposal to care for those involved.

An investigation is underway to determine the magnitude and root causes of the accident.

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Rabat - A court in Taourirt, eastern Morocco, has sentenced three men to three years in prison each for practicing homosexuality, news website Al Youm24 reported.

Authorities in Taourirt arrested two men who were caught in the act having gay sex inside a mechanic workshop.

The same source said a mediator between the two men was also arrested. The three men admitted to practicing homosexuality.

Homosexuality is not tolerated in Morocco and across much of the Middle East and North Africa.

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Taliouine - The small town of Taliouine, 200 kilometers from Agadir, hosted a Model United Nations (MUN) conference for high school students at Ibn Maja High school on Friday afternoon.

Sponsored through the personal contribution of the high school administrators, the event was organized by Larbi Arbaoui, Ibn Maja’s MUN coach, along with the collaboration of Mustapha Hasnaoui, the coordinator of extra curricular activities at the school.

The event was part of an initiative to help students from remote areas to become familiar with youth programs in the kingdom and to give these students a chance to express themselves and share their thoughts regarding the United Nations’ millennium development goals.

High school student delegates had the chance to learn democratic principles, communication skills, and the rules and procedures of the MUN, while debating the theme of “Promoting gender equality and empowering women,” which is one of the third millennium goals set by the UN.

During the simulation of the formal and informal sessions of the UN General Assembly, students exchanged ideas regarding the issue of promoting women, while enthusiastically defending the position of their represented countries.

The delegates attended the school in formal attire with some wearing suits, breaking the routine of wearing casual clothes and school uniforms.

“This is a very good opportunity for me, as a student living in a remote place, to be cognizant of the rules of procedures of the United Nations and how debates, lobbying, and communication takes place in the real world,” said one of the participants.

Another delegates added, “I would like to thank my teachers who worked very hard to organize such an event in our school in order to help us understand how the United Nations is run.”

“I would definitely take part in the upcoming national conference of Model United Nations in Morocco or abroad, now that I am familiar with the rules and diplomatic missions,” the participant continued.

At the conclusion of the conference, the delegates drafted a number of resolutions and recommendations under the supervision of their leaders.

The school administration awarded exceptional delegates for their participation and presentations during the conference.

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Taroudant - The diversity of Morocco’s landscapes, waterfalls, beaches, desert, climate and culture makes it among the world’s most beautiful countries.

Through its geographical position in the Mediterranean basin, the Kingdom, thanks to its rich nature and diverse landscapes, always makes it to the lists of famous countries that appear regularly in the world's best tourist destinations.

Akchour Waterfalls

A little paradise on earth located 30 kilometers from the city of Chefchaoun in the valley of Talembote, the waterfall of Akchour is a pristine natural beauty and offers guarantee an amazing scenery.

Akchour is an uplifting cascade, attracting more and more tourists since the opening of the natural park of Talassemtane.

The dam of Bin el Ouidane

The dam of Bin el Ouidane is located in the province of Azilal, designed by engineer André Coyne.

Merzouga

Merzouga is a small Saharan village located in the southeast of Morocco, 35 km from Rissani and 50 km from Erfoud.

Being one of the best tourist destination of the kingdom, the desert is an ideal place for vast open places, sand lovers and those travelers who love to observe the sun rising over the dunes in very majestic moments.

Merzouga is home to Erg Chebbi, one of the largest ergs in the kingdom located in the south east, lining the Algerian border, covering an area of 50 kilometers.

Ouzoud Waterfalls

The waterfalls of Ouzoud, which received the Certificate of Excellence 2014 by the international travel website, TripAdvisor, are one of the most popular sites in Morocco, providing uplifting sightseeing.

The falls of Ouzoud, which is a Berber name meaning “the process of grinding grains,” lie in a beautiful and friendly small village. The falls provide visitors with stunning views and strenuous, rewarding experiences for hikers.

Dakhla

Dakhla, a southern Moroccan city, where the Atlantic gigantic dunes meet the golden dunes of sand in the desert, is one of Morocco’s beautiful cities.

In addition to the beauty of the city, which will ensure a comfortable stay for the tourists, Dakhla is one of the country’s most attractive venues for wave riders.

The city gained international recognition as an essential destination and a haven for surfer and water sports enthusiasts.

Legzira beach

Legzira beach is located about ten kilometres from the city of Sidi Ifni in the southern region of Morocco. Its uniqueness is that it has four arches carved into the cliff by the tides.

Last year, the beach ranked 29th among the 40 best beaches on earth.

Marc Chika lagoon in Nador

The Nador lagoon, also called Mar Chica, a Spanish name, meaning a small sea, is a lagoon on the Mediterranean coast, between Nador and Melilla. It is at the heart of a vast redevelopment project.

The Todra Valley Gorge 

At 15 km (9 miles) from the center of the province of Tinghir, the entrance to the High Atlas, there is a huge gorge in the Todra valley. The high limestone cliffs rise 300 meters above the ground and peak at 2500 meters. Some of them have never been climbed. For thousands of years, the Todra river carved the cliffs, which are decorated with beautiful colors by the sun.

Toubkal Mountain

With its 4,167 meters high, Mount Toubkal is the highest peak of the High Atlas, Morocco and North Africa. Located sixty kilometers from Marrakech, the mountain is known for its snowy peaks throughout the year, and attracts thousands of hikers.

Jebel Toubkal, the highest peak in Morocco, is home to Africa’s highest ski resort, located 10,000 feet above sea level on Grande Combe, in Jebel Attar in the chain of the Atlas Mountains.

Paradise Valley waterfalls 

On the road of Imouzzer Ida Outanane, 56 km from Agadir, there is a small rest stop. This is where the adventure to Paradise Valley begins. Mountains, forests, and rivers surround this beautiful place. It is composed of three major waterfalls with immense natural turquoise swimming pools.

The post In Pictures: Morocco’s Top Ten Beautiful Natural Sites appeared first on Morocco World News.

Rabat- The father of the Moroccan pilot Yassine Bahti denies rumors that Saudi Arabia has given his family any financial compensation following the death of his son in Yemen.

Contrary to media reports suggesting that Saudi Defense Minister and Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman ordered 1 million Riyals to the family of Lieutenant Yassine Bahti, the pilot's father said he has not received any money from Saudi Arabia.

Speaking to news website Alyaoum24, Noureddine Bahti, father of pilot Yassine Bahti whose F-16 warplane crashed in Yemen while on a mission for the Saudi-led coalition against Iran-backed Houthi rebels, said he has not received any official confirmation that he will be financially compensated by Saudi Arabia.

He said he only received condolences from a Saudi military official during his son's military funeral honors at the Sale Air base on Wednesday.

The Saudi Press Agency (SPA) quoted the Saudi Defense Minister and Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman as saying that the Moroccan martyr is to be treated as a Saudi martyr, both financially and morally.

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Rabat - One day after he had been deported back to Morocco from Great Britain on Wednesday, Younes Tsouli, a Moroccan alleged Jihadist who was described by British media as "the world’s most wanted cyber-jihadist", set fire to his parent's house in Rabat and refused to surrender to police, threatening them to kill himself with an edged weapon.

Tsouli, in his thirties, arrived in London in 2001 with his father, a Moroccan diplomat. He studied IT at a college in central London. He had lived in Great Britain for nearly ten years before being sentenced to 16 years in prison for incitement to commit acts of terrorism on the internet.

He served the sentence at Belmarsh High Security Prison in London, where he was denied access to the internet. Based on documents found by British investigators on his computer, he had also been sentenced for hacking credit cards, creating websites and forums supporting the Al-Qaeda terrorist organization.

The young Moroccan, aged 23 at the time, used his London flat to help Islamist extremists wage an online propaganda war against the West. He even took on the user name of Irhabi 007- Irhabi meaning Terrorist in Arabic. He posted videos condoning al-Qaeda, including messages from Osama bin Laden and images of the kidnapping and murder of hostages in Iraq.

It is believed that al Qaeda leaders in Iraq contacted Tsouli and took the decision to recruit him to help with their efforts to reach a wider audience.  He later became the administrator of a web forum used by extremists to communicate with each other and through which he shared information as how to make explosives and video material from al-Qaeda in Iraq.

Upon his return to Morocco, he set fire to his family's house and threatened to jump from the rooftop of an apartment that housed the Consul General of Great Britain in Rabat.

According to media reports, it took Moroccan authorities, assisted by a psychiatrist, nearly 13 hours to negotiate his surrender. On Thursday, Morocco expressed its dissatisfaction with the British Government "which have not mentioned the dangerousness of this person, insisting to keep him free, which jeopardizes other people’s lives."

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Rabat- Morocco's city of Ifrane was chosen among the world's cleanest cities, according to website Hassle.com, a London-based online booking and payment platform that connects customers with pre-vetted local cleaners.

Ifranes is the only city from the African continent that has made it to the 28-city list.  "This ski resort does not have any industrial action, which means that citizens can enjoy largely unpolluted air and water day in and day out," said the list.

According to Hassle.com, the list of the world’s cleanest cities is as follows:

In Europe: Birmingham, England, Stockholm, Sweden, Amsterdam, Netherlands, Oslo, Norway, Helsinki, Finland, Copenhagen, Denmark, Zurich Switzerland, Nottingham, England, Bern, Switzerland.

In the United States and Canada: Chicago, Illinois, USA, Toronto, Canada, Calgary, Canada, Austin, Texas, USA, Ottawa, Canada, Portland, Oregon, USA, Vancouver, Canada, Honolulu, Hawaii, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.

In Asia: Tokyo, Japan, New Delhi, India, Singapore, Kobe, Japan.

In South America and Africa: Bogota, Colombia, Curitiba, Brazil, Ifrane, Morocco.

In Oceania: Sydney, Australia, Adelaide, Australia, Wellington, New Zealand.

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Rabat- The Netherlands has partially banned the full-face Islamic veil in its public institutions, as well as on public transport, education and health institution.

"Face-covering clothing will in future not be accepted in education and healthcare institutions, government buildings and on public transport," the Dutch cabinet said in a statement carried by AFP news agency.

Prime Minister Mark Rutte said the ban does not completely forbid the veil in public places, but only "in specific situations where it is essential for people to be seen" or for security reasons.

"The bill does not have any religious background," he told journalists after the cabinet meeting. The draft law will be sent to the highest court in the Netherlands, the Council of State, for its opinion.

The government said it had "tried to find a balance between people's freedom to wear the clothes they want and the importance of mutual and recognizable communication." It said the cabinet "sees no reason for a general ban that would apply to all public places".

Between 100 and 500 women in the Netherlands are believed to wear the burqa, according to the country's state broadcaster, NOS.

If it is enforced, those violating the ban could be fined up to 400 euros.

The Netherlands follows the lead of several European countries that have introduced partial burqa bans despite accusations of restricting religious expression.

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