We, the Moroccans from elsewhere

"Where are you, Motherland, where are you"?

Despite our distance, we love you.
Despite our distance, we return to you.
Despite our distance, we believe in you.
So be present for us, look at us, listen to us. We still have so much to offer you.
We do not do it out of interest, but because an invisible thread has always bound us thanks to our culture, our religion, our traditions that we have been able to keep and jealously protect wherever we are.

As an architect-developer, my investments began in the Tangier/Asilah region in 2001. I have also been practising in Belgium, my host country, and in other European countries since 1981.
In 2021, I was democratically elected as a parliamentary deputy for the Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima region for the ISTIQLAL party, which, moreover, reaches out to the representation of MDMs (Moroccans living abroad) within parliament. Coming from the second generation of MDM or MRE (Moroccans residing abroad), as we are called, I followed my parents who left in search of the well-being of their children.

These same children have returned or wish to return to their motherland. But what does it have to offer them?

Since the 2021 elections, my voice has been raised in parliament in order to be heard; as a representative of the 1st and 13th regions (Moroccans from elsewhere), I fight for the defence of Moroccan citizens whether they are from Morocco or elsewhere.

But it seems that my voice remains inaudible; it does not seem to carry far enough, not strong enough. So let us use the megaphone that this article represents. And I address Moroccans who are sensitive and love their fellow citizens and especially who know how to listen! One of the first qualities that can be attributed to a human being.

The subject of MDMs is rarely discussed, but it seems to be emerging since the last speech on the occasion of the celebration of the Green March, by His Majesty Mohamed VI, may God assist him in all his endeavours. The message was strong and firm, which hinted at the dysfunction of the institutions already put in place for the defence of the interests of MDMs. So let us really listen to him. He is absolutely right.

One only has to see what Mr. Regragui, coach of the national football team, was able to succeed in creating: a strong and united team during the 2022 World Cup. A team composed of MDMs and players from Morocco.

Since 2021, the beginning of the legislature, more than 140 interventions to date have been presented to the various ministries. In the form of written questions, oral questions in parliament. Or in the form of direct interventions with the various ministries for investment and other matters. These requests are varied and address many problems related to MDMs.

What are these subjects? Each week will be the subject of an in-depth treatment of an important subject for MDMs, such as:
Strengthening communication channels with MDMs, creating a specific legal framework for MDMs, organising investment fairs and forums, improving transparency and legal security, facilitating access to financing for MDM investment projects, etc.

The questions asked are based on real, lived facts, and for which we have no answers at all, or unconvincing answers, just to say, "we have done our job, we have answered you". That is not enough for me; I am a woman of the field and who says action says true, plausible reaction, even if it is unpleasant to hear, even if I do not like it, and even if they do not want to give me a positive answer, by answering me "we cannot". But at least I will know and I know what to answer to those who trusted me by voting for me. Transparency is for me the second quality that a human being can have.

A platform, therefore, where I will be able to address current topics and in any case those of importance for my compatriots residing abroad and nationals.
Here are the various problems that MDMs encounter and it is practically the same wherever they live.
True communication between Morocco and MDMs through different channels.

Once again, it is the foundation of human nature; communication allows for the formulation of development programmes and dialogue with the population.

• Support for the investment of MDM investors.
• Spoliation of property belonging to MDMs.
• Very high cost of air and sea transport for their return to Morocco. This does not change anything whether the price of diesel is low or high.
• Family law.
• Creation of Arab institutes with the same programme as the host country but in Arabic and the other languages of the country of residence. In the same way as the French lycée, British School, Instituto Italiano, Instituto Cervantes, …
• Equivalence and recognition of scientific diplomas with Morocco.
• Simplification of succession acts.
• Simplification and acceleration of files before the courts.
• Digital exchanges of bank accounts and assets of MDMs in Morocco with host countries, bill 76.19. Already rejected during the vote in parliament on 18 July 2023, by all parties of the majority and the opposition.
• But it is expected to return again this year!
• My proposal for the creation of a sub-committee working on the problems encountered by MDMs at the parliamentary foreign affairs committee. A way to clear the ground and be pro-active.
• Integrate Islamic religious schools that teach our moderate Islam, the true one, and not the radical one, which came from and is financed by certain Shiite countries. Let us keep our identity!
• Creation of cultural houses in each capital with a high density of MDMs.
• Women's rights.

In order, we will address the first point relating to communication between Morocco and MDMs.



1st article: communication

State of play.

There are today several means of communication to inform MDMs of their rights and the services they can access:

• Official websites and institutional portals, such as the portal of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for administrative procedures, consular affairs…
• The MDM portal on various themes in civil law, administrative services, …
• Social networks and digital platforms such as Facebook, X, Instagram, etc.
• Consulates and embassies.
• Local audiovisual media, radio, television.
• …

There are indeed different types of communication for MDMs. One cannot say that Morocco has lagged behind in terms of information. But with all this, people get lost in the meanders of the administration and often the information is unclear and sometimes contradictory. For convenience, we ask neighbours, friends, at the local café. We can see that on social networks some information spreads truncated or erroneous.

One only has to see how the information was disseminated to MDMs concerning bill 76.19 relating to digital exchanges of bank accounts by Bank Al-Maghrib and real estate assets of host countries. This bill had been submitted to parliament for a vote at the Foreign Affairs Committee. But thanks to God and thanks to the hard work on my part and that of my party President, Mr. Noureddine Median, following the vote of 18 July 2023 in parliament, opposition and majority voted unanimously for the rejection and postponement of this bill to a later date, but it will return!

Yet some social networks and some local media created general panic within the Moroccan community abroad, due to lack of information or erroneous information, communicating that "it was only a bill"! This had passed as a done deal, silencing the concern of our fellow citizens. Some returned in a hurry to Morocco, emptied their account, sold their land or house to family members living in Morocco. You can imagine the catastrophic scenario that this had caused. Uncertainty and mistrust still reign today; they are in expectation.

This type of information of high importance should have been relayed by the highest authorities of the government and announced with the greatest transparency.

Proposal: It seems to me that the best way of communication, the only truly effective channel, is that of the audiovisual.

Moroccan national television channels are very popular and watched by MDMs; it is the link that still connects them to their country, such as 2M, Medi1, and the first, El Aoula.

Remember that on the radio channel Atlantique, a programme "Les Experts" was broadcast, which was hosted by Fayçal Tadlaoui. A widely listened to and extremely instructive programme.

I propose, as I have already recommended during these 3 legislative years, to provide on one of the 3 national television channels, a programme at regular intervals (once a month for example) lasting 1 hour, which would have the same operation as that of Fayçal Tadlaoui, inviting experts from different fields who will debate and inform on subjects that interest MDMs (legal, political, social, family law, investments, …) My little finger tells me that this will do the greatest good to our compatriots in terms of communication.

Next big subject next week will be support for investment for MDMs. How to support them?