Morocco Vs French Members of European Parliament
Moroccans of all walks of life stand united against the orchestrated hostile campaigns spearheaded by some French members of European Parliament against the North African Kingdom in a bid to undermine its progress and rising regional economic power.
On Wednesday, Moroccan lawmakers, attorneys, university professors, geo-political analysts and civil society militants denounced the tactics used by MEPs close to President Emmanuel Macron to secure Paris foothold in the country as France is losing ground across the African continent.
Many Africans view the French as irrelevant if not persona non grata in many former French colonies in which they once held sway. France’s influence is collapsing and its dominance over the African continent is ending, and with it, France’s pretension of being a major player on the world stage.
Seeing that Morocco started flying with its own wings and irked by its growing competitiveness, Paris reacts with its colonial mindset in a bid to subjugate it by sealing a pact with Algerian junta, Morocco’s arch-rival and unleashing its MEPs against Rabat, using human rights and Pegasus case as pressure tools.
Speaker of House of Representatives, Rachid Talbi Alami, decried the interference of MEPs in Morocco’s internal affairs, saying their hostile campaign is contrary to the relations set between Morocco and EU and the country’s advanced status with the European bloc.
The MEPs smear campaign is also contrary to the Morocco-EU strategic partnership including coordination in the fight against terrorism, illegal migration, climate change, regional peace and stability, said Mr. Alami.
Moroccan MP Lahcen Haddad said a number of MEPs known for their hostility towards Morocco are using the European Parliament as a platform to tarnish the Kingdom’s image.
Head of Parliamentary group “Authenticity & Modernity” Ahmed Touizi said the MEPs are trying to blackmail Morocco get economic gains, highlighting the major strides accomplished by the Kingdom in human rights and the laws passed by the Parliament to protect freedoms and human rights.
Political analyst Mustapha Sehimi slammed the European Parliament double-standard policy, wondering why MEPs chose to ignore the deteriorating human rights situation in Algeria, while focusing on thriving Morocco.
He cited, in this regard, the dissolution of the Algerian Human Rights League, the shutting down of several media websites and continuing harassment and detention of Hirak militants, journalists and political opponents.
For Academic Mohammed Kayen, the EP’s orchestrated campaign unveils the European “neo-colonial mindset”, saying the progress made by Morocco’s in matters of human rights and freedoms, particularly in its southern regions are disturbing them, while the abuse and crimes against humanity committed by Polisario militias in Tindouf camps, Southern Algeria, go without accountability in exchange for Algerian gas supply.
Lawyer Aicha Guellaa denounced EP’s refusal to listen to the accounts of Moroccan victims of sexual assault committed by those they chose to defend, while human rights activist Fatima Zohra Chaoui decried the recent EP resolution and the MEPs double standard as they turned blind eye to the sufferings endured by 12 women journalists victim of violence at work.
Following the dirty war engaged by MEPs against the North African Kingdom, the Moroccan Parliament has decided to re-assess its relations with the European Parliament to counter all plots hatched against the Kingdom.
