Virtual Magazine of Morocco on the Web
Morocco Week in Review 
May 31 , 2008

Morocco to launch Daylight Saving Time.
By Imane Belhaj 2008-05-28

Morocco abandoned "Summer Time" nearly a decade ago. On June 1st, however, clocks in the Kingdom will advance one hour to extend daylight and reduce energy consumption. Opinions are mixed as to whether the measure will make a difference. Morocco plans to re-introduce Daylight Saving Time on June 1st to both align its time zone with regional and international partners and reduce power consumption. "The Ministry of Energy and Mining compiled a study on the efficiency of using energy, based on the currently adopted time. The study concluded that should the clock be set one hour ahead during summer, Morocco's consumption of energy will drop by 1%," said Public Sector Modernisation Minister Mohammed Abbou.

Morocco has observed the daylight-saving measure twice before: from March 16th, 1984 through October 1st, 1985, and again for the month of June in 1989. According to Abbou, these earlier experiments were successful at "improving the management of domestic affairs, the relationship between the government and citizens … reducing the cost of management and allowing the biggest number of employees to make optimum use of time."

Economic expert Lahcen Daoudi doubts, however, that the measure will make any significant difference, given Morocco's 8-9% annual increase in energy demand, tough global conditions amid the soaring prices of fuel and climate changes which have caused low rates of electricity production. "The last thing that can help economise on energy is setting the official clock one hour ahead," Daoudi told Magharebia. Morocco is acting as though it were an energy-producing country when in fact it imports 96% of its energy needs, he noted.

Beyond the issue of energy consumption, daylight-saving time is still very controversial. Some Moroccans maintain it has a negative impact, upsetting citizens’ lifestyles and the cycle of production. Proponents, meanwhile, believe that pushing the clock ahead, even if just by sixty minutes, starts working hours earlier and relieves people from the heat of the day.

Mustapha Bakkori, a civil servant, believes that summer timing has a positive impact in terms of rationing electricity, optimising solar energy use, and promoting tourism, shopping and trade.

Banker N. Samir said the summer timing upsets working hours, which, in turn, has a gloomy impact on power and electricity consumption. On the other hand, he conceded that without the time adjustment, communicating with other countries across different time zones is problematic for banking transactions, stock exchanges, even air travel. "Daylight-saving time is an opportunity for employees to finish working hours early and enjoy an extra hour to do their own business. Also, advancing the clock for 60 minutes will save on energy consumption, since some government agencies work by night," said office employee Mohammed Attaoui.

Homemaker Safia Badri believes the decision to push the clock forward, though "inconvenient", will serve many business owners whose work requires an early start.
http://www.magharebia.com/cocoon/awi/xhtml1/en_GB/features/awi/features/2008/05/28/feature-03
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A passion for Morocco.
24 May 2008

Long before the King of Morocco ratified the Vision 2010 national development plan to help diversify the economy and bring foreign investment, Morocco was a popular destination for international film producers. Films such as Ridley Scott’s ‘Gladiator’ and ‘The Kingdom of Heaven’ have recently been shot there and Morocco’s now so famous as a film set that it has a series of internationally acclaimed film festivals annually such as the Mediterranean Short Film Festival in Tangier and the Trans-Sahara Film Festival in Zagora, which both take place in June.

Naturally, now that the King of Morocco’s ambitious plans for economic diversification are coming to fruition as laid out and detailed in Vision 2010, the film industry is one to benefit even more from the new policies and legislation that have brought about greater business transparency in a successful bid to attract significant and sustainable levels of foreign direct investment.

One of the latest productions to benefit was the BBC’s ‘The Passion.’ Speaking in an interview with The Sun specifically about the filming experience, actor James Nesbitt who played Pontius Pilate remarked that: “from the bustle of Marrakech’s colourful souks to the vast beauty of the Atlas Mountains, it is surprisingly different from anywhere in Europe” – despite being only a short three hour hop away from the UK!

And the film industry is certainly not the only one to benefit from Vision 2010 and the strong economic emergence of Morocco; forming strategically central roles in the national development plan are the tourism and real estate industries which is why Morocco has suddenly become such a popular place for property investment.

According to Steve Worboys, MD of Experience International: “developments such as Apple Gardens in Marrakech, which comprises of 51 high quality villas within a boutique-style development are being snatched up by investors well aware that demand will potentially push up values in the city where there have been predictions of 15% annual capital growth, but that as Vision 2010 comes to completion, Morocco will likely be internationally recognised as a superb place to live, work, invest and do business.”

For others, the appeal of Morocco is not just about its economic strength and fantastic investment landscape – it’s more about the beauty of the nation, the fabulous weather, the history, the magical cities and the people. This is why Morocco is such a popular choice with film producers, holiday-makers and now second home buyers alike. Proving popular with the latter group are resort style developments such as Mediterranea Saïdia with its golf clubs, private beach, diving and sailing centre and myriad of five star facilities, and Playa Vista where apartments are guaranteed an ocean view forever because of their breathtaking sea front setting.

For more information, visit experience-international.com.
http://www.easier.com/view/International_Property_News/Morocco/article-180557.html
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Morocco launches USD 8.4Mn multi-sectoral program to fight gender-based violence.
Marrakech, May 30

Princess Lalla Meryem, sister of King Mohammed VI, President of the National Observatory for Children's Rights (ONDE) and the National Union of Moroccan Women (UNFM), chaired, here Friday, the ceremony of the official launch of the USD 8.4Mn multi-sectoral program to fight gender-based violence through the empowerment of girls and women.

The Minister of Social Development, Family and Solidarity, Nouzha Skalli, who presented the program, stressed the importance of combating violence against women in keeping with human, religious and civilized values. To address this social scourge, she said, the ministry has devised, since 2004, a strategy and an action plan, and organized, in conjunction with the National Observatory for Children's Rights, awareness-raising campaigns.

For his part, UN resident coordinator in Morocco, Mourad Wahba, underlined that Morocco honors its commitments at the international level towards the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals, adding that this multi-sectoral program is the fruit of tremendous efforts of the UN and its partners in Morocco, namely ministries and NGOs.

According to the Moroccan Center for People's Rights (known by its French acronym CDG) , a total of 5,650 cases of violence against women, including 3,010 at workplaces, were reported in 2007 in Morocco. General violence acts include rape, physical violence, non-payment of alimony, eviction from marital home, repudiation, insults, abuse and sexual harassment. At workplaces violence includes illegal dismissal, not reporting work hours, sexual harassment, denial of insurance or compensation for extra-hours and disrespect of the Labor Code. http://www.map.ma/eng/sections/social/morocco_launches_usd/view
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Morocco: New law limits polygamy, says expert.
Rabat, 27 May (AKI)

Polygamist marriages are almost non-existent in Morocco due to new legal restrictions, said a leading commentator on Tuesday. "Polygamy still exists in Morocco even though it is almost impossible to find polygamous men because of strict legal limitations," said Rita el-Khayat, writer and anthropologist in an interview with Adnkronos International (AKI).

Although polygamy is allowed under Islam, it is not encouraged. The only instance where polygamist marriages can be legal, is if the woman signs a document giving her consent, said el-Khayat, referring to the situation in Morocco."Nowadays, the man has more to lose if he divorces, because he is forced to divide his assets with both wives. This means Moroccan men are afraid of engaging in a polygamist marriage, because they almost feel imprisoned, or trapped by this new system."

Al-Khayat, who is in Italy promoting her new book, Between Witness and Reality, said many women emigrated to Europe because they were poor and under Islamic patriarchy. Earlier this year, the president of Italy's Immigrant Party, Mustapha Mansouri, urged women who were victims of polygamy to call a special helpline for victims of violence, saying that "There are at least 15,000 cases of polygamy in Italy." Mansouri and his colleagues have for years reported cases of men who converted to Islam with the sole aim of being able to have several wives. Polygamous marriages are totally illegal in Italy, but imams presiding over such 'ceremonies' leave no paper trail to avoid prosecution, Mansouri noted.

Al-Khayat, 63, thinks that more attention should be paid to the younger, second generation immigrants and that they should focus on the scientific field. In 1999, al-Khayat became the first woman to write a letter to King Mohammed VI, four months after he had been inaugurated, about the concerns of a reactionary Islamist movement that wanted women to remain at home. The letter contained several requests regarding the modification of the 'Moudawana' or "Personal Statutes", a sort of family code that many Muslim countries continue to keep as a legal minority.
http://www.adnkronos.com/AKI/English/CultureAndMedia/?id=1.0.2200269122
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Moroccan Jews celebrate Hiloula in Morocco.
Rabat, May 26

A number of Jewish pilgrims from around the world gathered in several Moroccan cities to celebrate the Hiloula of rabbis, a religious and charitable custom, based on the Sephardic tradition of making auction bids for ornate candles believed to help strengthen the soul. In the costal city of Essaouira (442km south of Rabat), hundreds of them gathered, on Friday, to celebrate the hiloula of rabbi Nessim Ben Nessim. A reception ceremony was organized on Sunday, last day of the festival, attended by king’s advisor, André Azoulay, a Moroccan Jew. During this ceremony, the pilgrims underlined the strong bonds uniting them to Morocco, a country of openness and tolerance, and their attachment to the Alaouite throne (dynasty of king Mohammed VI).

In the city of Settat (160 south of Rabat), several members of the Jewish community celebrated the hiloula in the mausoleum of rabbi Abraham Aouriour. The festival opened on Thursday and was marked by the organization, on Sunday, of a reception ceremony attended by several Moroccan officials in the city.

Some 2,000 Moroccan Jews from all over the world came also to the city of Ouezzane (north) to celebrate the religious ceremony in the mausoleum of rabbi Amrane Ben Diwane.

Morocco counts about 5,000 Jews living throughout the country.
http://www.map.ma/eng/sections/culture/moroccan_jews_celebr_1/view
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Jews stress ties to Morocco during pilgrimage.
Rabat, Morocco

Moroccan Jews have stressed their ties with their country on the occasion of an annual pilgrimage to the sanctuary of a Jewish saint, rabbi Nessim Ben Nessim, in the province of Essaouira 400 kilometres south of the capital Rabat, press reports said Monday. The week-end pilgrimage, which brought hundreds of Jews from several countries to the village of Ait Bayyoud, was a sign of the respect and fraternity between Jews and Muslims in Morocco, said Boris Toledano, president of the Jewish community in Casablanca.

Simon Levy, president of the Jewish community in Agadir, called on foreign Jews to invest in Morocco. Visitors to the moussem (festival honouring a saint) also included Andre Azoulay, an advisor to King Mohammed VI, who also advised Mohammed's father Hassan II. Azoulay, who attended a reception on Sunday, is of Jewish faith.
http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/207945,jews-stress-ties-to-morocco-during-pilgrimage.html
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Annual Jewish pilgrimage to Morocco draws Jews from across the world.
2008-05-27

Thousands of Moroccan Jews gathered over the week-end for pilgrimages and colloquiums across Morocco. Hundreds of Jews travelled to Ait Bayyoud, 400 km south of Rabat, for the annual pilgrimage to the sanctuary of a Jewish saint, local and international press reported on Monday (May 26th). The pilgrimage "is a sign of the respect and fraternity between Jews and Muslims in Morocco", German news agency DPA quoted Boris Toledano, the president of the Jewish community in Casablanca, as saying on Monday. Some 2,000 Moroccan Jews also went to the northern city of Ouezzane for a ceremony at the mausoleum of rabbi Amrane Ben Diwane.

At a reception ceremony on Sunday, the president of the Jewish community in Agadir invited foreign pilgrims to invest in the country, MAP reported. King Mohammed VI advisor Andre Azoulay, a Moroccan Jew, also attended the event. On Monday, Marrakesh hosted an international forum on Moroccan Judaism. Morocco's Jewish community numbers up to 5,000 people.
http://www.magharebia.com/cocoon/awi/xhtml1/en_GB/features/awi/newsbriefs/general/2008/05/27/newsbrief-03
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High and dry in dusty Morocco.
28/05/2008

At just 20-years-old Lower Mountains director/producer Kane Christopher (pictured) is an award winner who is quickly turning heads in the motion picture industry across the globe. He’s now covered five of the seven continents for his work, recently returning from an exotic shoot of a new music video which took him to Morocco in North-West Africa.

He directed the video for Mountains guitarist, Phil Stormer.“(Phil’s) beautiful and emotive music influenced me to take this video to Morocco. I wanted to shine a positive light on these middle-eastern countries,” said Kane. “It’s so cliche for us to put a negative spin on Arab nations. One thing I have learned in my travels is . . . the simple things in life are often the best . . . and the people in these nations are a testimony to that. I wanted to reflect this thought in Phil’s video.”

Titled ‘Charmer’, the video was shot over four days in some of the most remote locations around the globe. It will be released on YouTube and www.kanechristopher.com on June 21. With a slew of projects in the works which cover everything from a children’s TV series to a feature length documentary, Kane’s camera lenses could be working overtime.
http://bluemountains.yourguide.com.au/news/local/news/general/high-and-dry-in-dusty-morocco/778770.aspx
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500k-year-old human fossil remain discovered in Casablanca.
Rabat, May 27

A complete mandible of a human fossil remain dating back at least 500,000 years was recently discovered in "Thomas I" quarry in Casablanca. According to a press release of the Culture ministry, the fossil belongs to a variety called Homo Mauritanicus. It was found associated with stone tools and many animal vestiges: gazelles, antelopes, warthogs, bears, monkeys, rhinoceroses…etc. This scientific discovery was achieved by a Moroccan-French team from the "Institut national des sciences de l'archéologie et du patrimoine" (INSAP) and the National Center of Scientific Research (University of Bordeaux I, France). Thomas I quarry is one of the most important sites to know about the early populations of northwest Africa.
http://www.map.ma/eng/sections/culture/500k-year-old_human/view
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Are gays at risk in Morocco?
By Craig Young - 27th May 2008

When one thinks of Morocco, one usually thinks of famous western expats like Paul Bowles, Jean Genet, Jack Kerouac, Joe Ortonand Allen Ginsberg. But is it really the oasis of relative liberal tolerance that it seems? Earlier this year, Brian Whittaker sounded a warning note in Gay Times (March 2008). While tourists are not at risk, Article 489 of the Moroccan Penal Code still hands down a maximum three year prison sentence for Morocco's gay inhabitants.

In November 2007, Moroccan police raided a private party at Kar el-Kebir, south of Tangiers. Youtube footage shows a relative innocuous event, without kissing, but with same-sex dancing, a drag artiste and intoxicated lounging figures. The Muslim Right's Justice and Development PartyOpposition and Jama'atu al-'Adi wal-Ihssan (Justice and Spirituality Association) jumped to the conclusion that there had been a 'gay wedding', without a shred of evidence to substantiate that supposition. They demanded further investigation, the gutter media made similar allegations and the men were arrested and then imprisoned from four to ten months in December 2007, although their sentences were reduced in January 2008.

Amnesty International's Middle East and North African programme has condemned the sentences, especially as they were based on thus far unsubstantiated allegations, and has asked Morocco to decriminalise homosexuality. However, whether that will ever happen is a moot point, given that Morocco seems caught between the need to attract western tourists and conservative Muslim social activists. Thus, it seems likely that the double standard that Whittaker describes may stay in force, and Morocco's gay inhabitants may continue to face the consequences.
Recommended: Brian Whittaker: "Morocco Bound" Gay Times 354 (March 2008): 95-97
http://www.gaynz.com/articles/publish/31/article_5993.php
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Olfa Youssef discusses her book "Bewilderment of a Muslim Woman".
Interview by Jamel Arfaoui 2008-05-30

In "Bewilderment of a Muslim Woman", researcher and specialist in Islamic thought Olfa Youssef addresses a number of topics considered taboo in Muslim societies: gender roles, marriage, inheritance, and religious interpretation. Olfa Youssef is a Tunisian researcher known for her critical approach to Islamic thought, deconstructing human preconceptions about the religion and its holy texts. Youssef spoke with Magharebia recently about her latest book, "Bewilderment of a Muslim Woman", in which she confronts what she contends is the contemporary misuse of Qur'anic interpretation for political interests and her belief that ijtihad should be encouraged.

Magharebia: Your latest book carries a fairly provocative title, "Bewilderment of a Muslim Woman". In your opinion, what is the "bewilderment" of the Muslim woman today?

Olfa Youssef: The bewilderment of the Muslim woman expressed by the book is essentially my own. However, it undoubtedly intersects with the bewilderment of other Muslim men and women. This bewilderment stems from the huge difference between what is in the Qur'an and in the sunnah in terms of openness and the possibility for multiple interpretations on the one hand, and the parochial readings provided to us by jurisprudents' interpretations which claim to be final and therefore close the door of ijtihad. It even falsifies the content of the Quran [to] benefit individual, sectarian or political interests.

It is the bewilderment of the honest Muslim today caused by the horrible image presented by some people about an Islam that ignores the essence of religion, which is love, tolerance, peace and absolute good in the philosophical sense of the word. Instead, they present the image of a horrific, appalling Islam in which the Muslim man turns into a ferocious monster, enslaved by his own instincts, who is easily distracted by a woman's hair or a part of her wrist and forgets about the duties of his religion and life. Under this version of Islam, the woman is turned into nothing but a sensual body that is good for nothing but its sexual value. Under this Islam, the "other" who is different in religion, opinion or ideology is turned into an enemy and a target for terrorism.

The Islam presented by some sheikhs today has nothing to do with the ethics of the Prophet (PBUH), who is our role model, or to the essence of our Holy Book, the Qur'an. The followers of so and so ideology, or of so and so sheikh, have now become the judges who decide who are Muslim and who are not. Takfir of other people has spread among the people. They forgot that the Prophet (PBUH) confirmed that the accusation of takfir was more dangerous than killing – and killing is one of the gravest sins.

Magharebia: You're questioning a number of uncontested matters in the Qur'an. You would like to review the issues of inheritance, marriage, and a wife's obedience to her husband, as well as sex life in Muslim society. Don't you think that this is a risky venture?

Olfa Youssef: The matters you mentioned in your question were not mentioned in the Qur'an. Rather, they were brought up by the interpretations of Qur'an jurisprudents. The difference between the two things is essential, and my book proves and illustrates it. I'm not calling for a reconsideration of the existing rules. Rather, I'm calling for a reconsideration of their legitimacy.

I firmly believe that it is the state which makes legislation. Therefore, we find that a lot of laws in Muslim countries are different from each other, although all these countries claim that they depend on the same rules of law, which is the Qur'an and sunnah and the other rules of jurisprudence.

It is about time we understood that all laws are man-made…although the source of the law is one – the Qur'an. [Although] we believe in the sanctity of the Qur'an, its interpretation is human and relative. [This interpretation] can't be sacred, and the proof is that there have been multiple interpretations, such as Ibn Abbass, Tabari, and current schools.

If we agree on the relativism of interpretations, then my book aims to show the holes existing in the interpretations of old jurisprudents regarding inheritance and marriage in particular. I don't think that humans' criticism of other humans involves any transgression against the divine texts. Many men in history differed amongst themselves and criticised each other's interpretations. Why, then, should we stop thinking and practicing ijtihad today?

Magharebia: Are you accusing Muslim countries of applying legislation that don't espouse gender equality?
Olfa Youssef: The book doesn't accuse Islamic law, but it proves a certain reality, which is: if there is gender inequality in legislation, its source, then, is not the Qur'an or sunnah. Rather, it is the result of readings by jurisprudents [coloured by] their historical affiliations and even self-interest.

These affiliations, interests and calculations were unjust, not only to women, but to many men as well. The chapter on inheritance shows that some relatives and orphans were denied a right to inheritance, although it was proven in the Qur'an itself. It was even referred to by some old jurists known for their fairness. However, their opinions were ignored.

Is it conceivable that the Prophet himself allowed a woman to divorce her husband although she had nothing against him, whether regarding money or morals, provided that she returned to him [what] he had given her, while today, we find legislation like that in Egypt approving the khule' (divorce at the wife's request) only after debates and arguments?

Do those people consider themselves to be more religious than the Prophet himself? Or is the desire to oppress women stronger in them than their observance of the teachings of the Qur'an and sunnah?

Magharebia: What did you mean when you said that some TV channels come across as if they were the path to heaven?
Olfa Youssef: Some people who have no way to access religion other than through the people who speak on these TV channels think that they have the absolute truth. The strange thing is that most of those viewers haven't read the old muffassereen (expounders of the Qur'an), jurisprudents and religious scholars, and know nothing about their differences, opinions and backgrounds. When you listen to [the television preachers], you feel that they have guaranteed themselves a place in heaven, and that God has asked them to give the people the recipe to enter it.

Magharebia: The Tunisian capital recently hosted a symposium on how to present a positive image of Islam in the West. Does the picture look that dark? Do you think a mistaken interpretation of jihad is responsible for getting us to that situation?

Olfa Youssef: There is no doubt that the picture is dark. What does it mean when a child blows himself up under the pretext of jihad? Where is our fear of killing innocent people and of killing the soul which God has forbidden, except for the requirements of justice? Where are we from a prophet known for his mercy and for his good treatment of the idolater prisoners of war, even though they fought against him? What then about civilians in a house, restaurant or a market who may have different opinions, faiths or sects? Does this give us the right to kill them and to commit suicide as well?

I support the defence of one's homeland if usurped, and I'm for self-defence in the case of aggression. But what do you think of someone who is attacked by Zeid, and then goes out and kills Amr? Let our children and youth fear God and let us present the shining image of Islam to them.

Magharebia: Tell us about the project of establishing a joint committee with Moroccan researcher Rachid Ben Zein to find a new approach to interpreting the Qur'an.

Olfa Youssef: I fully respect Rachid Ben Zeid and other new thinkers in Islam because they don't deny other opinions and they don't accuse anyone of kufr. My view is that all approaches to interpreting the Qur'an are new. It's wrong to think that some modern thinkers want to change the Qur'an. The Qur'an is sacred, and we all – as Muslims – believe in its contents. However, its readings are different. Ali bin Abi Taleb himself said centuries ago that the Qur'an "is capable of different interpretations". I find that some opinions of Tabari, Zamakhshari or Ibn Ashour have a depth of knowledge and intellectual modernity that is not understood by most of our young people today, who take their religion from Qaradawi or Amr Khaled.

Interpretation of the Qur'an is not restricted to certain people. Neither I nor others would allow people who have certain political interests to deny us a God-given right, which is the right to ijtihad. If they want to discuss our opinions, we welcome the discussion and the difference. If they find a mistake in our linguistic reading or in any of our methodological references, we welcome anyone who can correct what can be corrected.

But if they want to deny us the right to interpretation, to confiscate our ideas and to claim that only they are established in this science, my colleagues and I would strongly oppose them, whatever the price. This is because we are the nation of "Iqraa", not the nation of "follow the ignorant".
http://www.magharebia.com/cocoon/awi/xhtml1/en_GB/features/awi/reportage/2008/05/30/reportage-01
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ISU to help establish university in Morocco.
(MENAFN)
Officials at the Indiana State University said that it will lend its moral and intellectual support overseas as the possibilities of establishing an International University in Morocco are explored, the Indian Tribstar reported. University officials signed an agreement with the Group Chaabi YNNA Holding to conduct an in-depth feasibility study to produce an implementation plan for the Morocco university. The International University in Morocco will be a non-profit, private university, based on American-style campuses, located between Rabat and Casablanca, according to the general memorandum of understanding between ISU and the Chaabi Group.

The study phase of the exploration is expected to last 6 months, at which time each party will assign a working group to analyze and develop a proposal that will explain the nature of future collaborations, including a business plan and agreement on the role of each party in the development of the new campus. ISU will provide technical assistance and administrative leadership in areas such as information technology, library and media services, student housing and records systems while the Chaabi Group will provide financial support.
http://www.menafn.com/qn_news_story_s.asp?StoryId=1093198386
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Larchmonter Going to Morocco as a Fulbright Scholar.
by Judy Silberstein (May 29, 2008)
Jacqueline Powers, a Larchmont native and 2006 graduate of Georgetown University, is going to Morocco as a Fulbright scholar and as a recipient of the Critical Language Enhancement Award, a component of the National Security Language Initiative sponsored by the U.S. Department of State. At Georgetown, Ms. Powers majored in French and minored in Spanish and English but in Morocco she will be studying a completely different language – Arabic. In addition to intensive language study, she will be researching how changes to Morocco’s family code have contributed to women’s socio-economic empowerment.

Arabic is not an entirely new subject for Ms. Powers – nor is Morocco.“I majored in French – that’s my forte – but I’ve taking Arabic classes since January 2007,” she explained. “It’s very tough. Learning the alphabet and the sounds can be difficult when it’s not your native tongue.” Since graduating from Georgetown, she has also been working at both Penguin Books and the American Bar Association Section of International Law, where she currently focuses on international rule of law projects.

Her interest in Morocco was sparked by the year she spent studying at the University of Paris-Sorbonne, where she encountered a lot of people whose parents had emigrated from North Africa. “I was looking at the French laws on becoming a citizenship, which are difficult, and also on mixed identity - identifying with their North African heritage and their French heritage.” That led to her completing an honors thesis in French with distinction on “The Conflict of Generations and the Future of Muslim Youth in France.”

Recently, she had an opportunity to visit Morocco. In October, she was in Marrakech and met with the woman who runs the organization where she will be working. When she returns to Morocco, she will be conducting independent research and volunteering with the Democratic Association of Moroccan Women in Rabat and the El Amane Association for the Development of Women in Marrakech. She is particularly interested in looking at reforms enacted in 2004 to the “Moudawana,” Morocco’s family code, and hopes to gain a greater understanding of how written law has had a tangible impact on both rural and urban women. During her time in Morocco, she will record her experiences on her blog: vieaumaroc.blogspot.com/.

Her professor, Patrick Laude, praised Ms. Powers for her “unflinching ability to abide by goals, deadlines and standards of research.” He said, “Jacqueline’s seriousness of purpose and ability to achieve her goals is one of her most striking qualities.” Undoubtedly, her “seriousness of purpose” was among the qualities that motivated the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board to award her a scholarship. Since its inception in 1946, the Fulbright program has sent nearly 300,000 scholars to over 155 countries, with the aim of building international cooperation. “I was thrilled and really excited,” to learn about the Fulbright award, reported Ms. Powers. “I double-checked the envelope to make sure it was meant to go to me.”
http://www.larchmontgazette.com/2008/articles/20080529powersfulbright.html
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