He proved his firm faith in freedom of expression. He been in prison for daring to make a caricature of King Mohammed and for writing about the Sahrawi refugees against the regime's line.
journalist Ali Lmrabet (Tetouan, 1956) is among those who do not taient. He was in prison and he had a hunger strike for their rights and defendere that of the Moroccan people, freedom to speak, even if it is against the King Mohamed VI. Now he sees amazed as tens of thousands of people dare to go out into the street and criticize the king and his regime. He knows that rebellion is underway and there is no turning back. Yesterday he gave a lecture at Palma IniciativaVerds invited.
- The title of the conference: "What happens to the democratic uprisings in the Arab countries?
- I'm very surprised this is happening. In the Arab world, we knew touours democracy was coming, but not with that speed. The most important message is that people are fed up. The Arab people are like you and want freedom you have. These revolutions are, in addition, the end of the myth manufactured the West says that these dictators are unpresentable but both are the best way to contain Islamism. We realized a wonderful thing: the people, Young, in its purest form, that rise to ask for something that is normal for you but for us is extraordinary: freedom, equality and democracy.
- In your opinion, what will happen in Morocco?
- Some say that Morocco will be the exception. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Trinidad Jimenez, once said something and another day "said another. Without going further, she said that the event happened in Morocco with "democratic normalcy." If she thinks that Morocco is a democracy, well, this is the second most important discovery after that of America. Arab countries are not equal and the revolt will not have the same characteristics, but we share the language and problems, be they rich or poor.
- Do they seek to depose the king or evolutionary to a monarchy like that of Spain?
- Me, I support the protest but I am not in the organization, even if the government and some groups say. Young people who came out to protest the 20-F said they had no nproblème with the king, but with the monarchy and want to go from an absolute monarchy to a monarchy Parlamentary. I think there is a problem then with the king, because he is the absolute monarch, Mohamed VI. He now has an extraordinary opportunity to transform the parliamentary monarchy. But I think he did not hear the message because he said that those were taken to the streets of demagoguery. Unfortunately, the King of Morocco reign, govern, he is the commander of the faithful and the country's largest contractor; Mohamed VI is both King Juan Carlos Rodriguez Zapatero, Rouco Varela and Botin. This is not normal and it should say in a peaceful manner. We ask only that you have. We have no social security, I live with my phone tapped the 24 hours, which can live like this? Few people.
- In the case of Morocco, Spain positions itself does a manner different than the rest of the revolts? "I advise
Spain's neutrality and that it leans more on its economic problems as problems of Morocco. When I hear Zapatero said that Morocco is an exception, I think "ah, that's amazing!". But it is not an exception. I would not say that the revolt will take place tomorrow, but the seeds of rebellion, democratic and not Islamist, are there, and sooner or later we will have a democratic country.
- Why did the PSOE recriminates nothing in Morocco?
- For Intrets economy. Spain is the second investor in Morocco after France. And there is the blackmail that Morocco to Spain with the subject of immigration. Morocco is a police state and can stop the flow of immigration into Europe so police and if he wants, he can let these people go. Spain has this fear. But Morocco is not a saint and Spain do not critique, criticize it should from time to time.
-European media, how do they communicate what is happening?
In Europe, there are important media to minimize what is happening. I recall a demonstration in Egypt a few years ago with 300 persons, was a success. In Tunisia, all 1,2,3 began with people. And in Morocco we had a very important event, and without the Islamists who do not get involved. The Islamist Justice and Spirituality are the association that can bring together as many people and they do not get involved. And now, the newspapers say there were only a thousand people. The king said he would not succumb to demagoguery, but Ben Ali and Mubarak also said the same thing and they relented. We attentuation 50 years and we can wait, but the end of absolute monarchy is already there. As regards the revolt of the Arab world, we can say that no geo-politician, none, No one had foreseen. Everyone was wrong.
-Is it time for a revolt of women too?
-Tunisia is a pioneer in women's liberation. In Morocco, King has developed a current status of women since it eliminates many restrictions, eg on marriage. On paper, everything is perfect, but the problem is that we do not have an independent judiciary, by cons we have a high illiteracy rate. Over 56% of the population is illiterate, rural years it reaches 92%. You can have the best text of the world, but when applying it does not work. The solution will be a democratization of Morocco. I do not know how long it will take, but it will be the solution. The king appoints the prime minister. We can vote, but the King may appoint a person who was not elected and it happened several times. And we must say that Islamism is a component of our society, but it must be given a bad vision, there are radical Islamists and a very important part of Islamists who are not radicals.
- You plan to open a new digital journal. Did you not afraid of further reprisals?
- I'm like a virus, to force him to inject antibiotics it is resistant to antibiotics. For 15 years, they crush us, at some point you feel nothing.
- How do you assess the state of journalism in our country?
- Here is more or less the same. I guess there's also censorship and self-censorship. And then there are the salaries, there journalists earn more.
journalist Ali Lmrabet (Tetouan, 1956) is among those who do not taient. He was in prison and he had a hunger strike for their rights and defendere that of the Moroccan people, freedom to speak, even if it is against the King Mohamed VI. Now he sees amazed as tens of thousands of people dare to go out into the street and criticize the king and his regime. He knows that rebellion is underway and there is no turning back. Yesterday he gave a lecture at Palma IniciativaVerds invited.
- The title of the conference: "What happens to the democratic uprisings in the Arab countries?
- I'm very surprised this is happening. In the Arab world, we knew touours democracy was coming, but not with that speed. The most important message is that people are fed up. The Arab people are like you and want freedom you have. These revolutions are, in addition, the end of the myth manufactured the West says that these dictators are unpresentable but both are the best way to contain Islamism. We realized a wonderful thing: the people, Young, in its purest form, that rise to ask for something that is normal for you but for us is extraordinary: freedom, equality and democracy.
- In your opinion, what will happen in Morocco?
- Some say that Morocco will be the exception. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Trinidad Jimenez, once said something and another day "said another. Without going further, she said that the event happened in Morocco with "democratic normalcy." If she thinks that Morocco is a democracy, well, this is the second most important discovery after that of America. Arab countries are not equal and the revolt will not have the same characteristics, but we share the language and problems, be they rich or poor.
- Do they seek to depose the king or evolutionary to a monarchy like that of Spain?
- Me, I support the protest but I am not in the organization, even if the government and some groups say. Young people who came out to protest the 20-F said they had no nproblème with the king, but with the monarchy and want to go from an absolute monarchy to a monarchy Parlamentary. I think there is a problem then with the king, because he is the absolute monarch, Mohamed VI. He now has an extraordinary opportunity to transform the parliamentary monarchy. But I think he did not hear the message because he said that those were taken to the streets of demagoguery. Unfortunately, the King of Morocco reign, govern, he is the commander of the faithful and the country's largest contractor; Mohamed VI is both King Juan Carlos Rodriguez Zapatero, Rouco Varela and Botin. This is not normal and it should say in a peaceful manner. We ask only that you have. We have no social security, I live with my phone tapped the 24 hours, which can live like this? Few people.
- In the case of Morocco, Spain positions itself does a manner different than the rest of the revolts? "I advise
Spain's neutrality and that it leans more on its economic problems as problems of Morocco. When I hear Zapatero said that Morocco is an exception, I think "ah, that's amazing!". But it is not an exception. I would not say that the revolt will take place tomorrow, but the seeds of rebellion, democratic and not Islamist, are there, and sooner or later we will have a democratic country.
- Why did the PSOE recriminates nothing in Morocco?
- For Intrets economy. Spain is the second investor in Morocco after France. And there is the blackmail that Morocco to Spain with the subject of immigration. Morocco is a police state and can stop the flow of immigration into Europe so police and if he wants, he can let these people go. Spain has this fear. But Morocco is not a saint and Spain do not critique, criticize it should from time to time.
-European media, how do they communicate what is happening?
In Europe, there are important media to minimize what is happening. I recall a demonstration in Egypt a few years ago with 300 persons, was a success. In Tunisia, all 1,2,3 began with people. And in Morocco we had a very important event, and without the Islamists who do not get involved. The Islamist Justice and Spirituality are the association that can bring together as many people and they do not get involved. And now, the newspapers say there were only a thousand people. The king said he would not succumb to demagoguery, but Ben Ali and Mubarak also said the same thing and they relented. We attentuation 50 years and we can wait, but the end of absolute monarchy is already there. As regards the revolt of the Arab world, we can say that no geo-politician, none, No one had foreseen. Everyone was wrong.
-Is it time for a revolt of women too?
-Tunisia is a pioneer in women's liberation. In Morocco, King has developed a current status of women since it eliminates many restrictions, eg on marriage. On paper, everything is perfect, but the problem is that we do not have an independent judiciary, by cons we have a high illiteracy rate. Over 56% of the population is illiterate, rural years it reaches 92%. You can have the best text of the world, but when applying it does not work. The solution will be a democratization of Morocco. I do not know how long it will take, but it will be the solution. The king appoints the prime minister. We can vote, but the King may appoint a person who was not elected and it happened several times. And we must say that Islamism is a component of our society, but it must be given a bad vision, there are radical Islamists and a very important part of Islamists who are not radicals.
- You plan to open a new digital journal. Did you not afraid of further reprisals?
- I'm like a virus, to force him to inject antibiotics it is resistant to antibiotics. For 15 years, they crush us, at some point you feel nothing.
- How do you assess the state of journalism in our country?
- Here is more or less the same. I guess there's also censorship and self-censorship. And then there are the salaries, there journalists earn more.
Source: Diario de Mallorca, 22/02/2011
Translation from English: SPS SADR
