First Independent Mena Newspaper
Participants in the 5th World Sufism Congress, held this week in Fez, called for the creation of a world alliance of Sufism adepts, in order to convey the word of truth, promote Islam’s authentic values, and counter fallacious discourse. This congress, which gathered scholars from around the globe, underlined the need to promote world peace […]
The 16th Harat Al-Maghariba summer camps, organized for children from Al-Quds by Bayt Mal Al-Quds Asharif (BMAQ) Agency under the high patronage of King Mohammed VI, Chairman of the Al-Qods Committee, was inaugurated this Tuesday in Tangier. The camp, held august 12 through 26, is hosting 50 girls and boys aged 11 to 14 […]
In a landmark move, the French government has unveiled a new bill aimed at simplifying the return of cultural artifacts taken during the colonial period. Introduced by Culture Minister Rachida Dati, the legislation would allow items looted between 1815 and 1972 to be returned by government decree, bypassing the need for time-consuming parliamentary votes. The […]
Morocco has uncovered 20 historic shipwrecks beneath its Atlantic and Mediterranean waters, marking a significant milestone in understanding the kingdom’s maritime heritage and prompting new legislative protections for underwater cultural assets. The National Center for Studies and Research in Underwater Cultural Heritage announced the discoveries across several coastal regions, including El Jadida and northern Morocco. […]
Africa’s cultural and natural heritage gained significant recognition at UNESCO’s 47th World Heritage Committee session in Paris, with five new sites inscribed and three historically threatened locations successfully removed from the danger list after decades of conservation efforts. The rescued sites demonstrate remarkable resilience through targeted interventions. Madagascar’s Atsinanana Rainforests, endangered since 2010, achieved restoration […]
Morocco continues to shine on the global tourism stage as Marrakech and Fez have been ranked in the top 10 best cities in Africa and the Middle East in the prestigious World’s Best Awards 2025, published by Travel + Leisure magazine. The annual ranking, based on votes from international readers, highlights cities that offer exceptional […]
Morocco’s culture ministry has reinforced its legal arsenal to combat the illicit appropriation and trafficking of its cultural heritage, with the signing of a new partnership with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). The agreement aims to better protect the country’s rich traditional knowledge, cultural expressions, and artifacts from misappropriation, particularly in the fashion and […]
A groundbreaking genetic study has revealed that ancient Moroccan populations played a foundational role in the emergence of Ancient Egypt’s early civilization. Published in Nature, the study presents the first fully sequenced genome of an individual from Egypt’s Old Kingdom (circa 2855–2570 BCE), showing that the majority of his ancestry traces back to Neolithic North […]
An Algerian appeals court has upheld a five-year prison sentence against renowned French Algerian author Boualem Sansal, intensifying concerns over freedom of expression in the North African country. The ruling also includes a fine of 500,000 Algerian dinars (approximately $3,850). Sansal, 80, was convicted of “undermining national unity” under Article 87 bis of the Algerian […]
The Moroccan Atlantic city of Essaouira will host the 2026 Annual Conference of the Creative Cities Network of the UNESCO, becoming thus the first city in Africa and the Arab world to host the Network’s annual conference. The UNESCO said in a press release that this decision to hold the Annual Conference’s 18th session in […]