We 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 have so much more to offer you. 

We don't do it out of interest, but because an invisible thread has always linked us, thanks to our culture, our religion, our traditions, which we've been able to jealously guard and protect wherever we are. 

As an architect and developer, I began investing in the Tangier/Assilah region in 2001. I have also worked in Belgium, my host country, and in other European countries since 1981. 

In 2021, democratically elected MP for the Tangier-Tetouan-AL Hoceima region for the ISTIQLAL party, which also supports MDM representation in parliament. As a second-generation immigrant MDM or MRE, as we're called, I followed my parents who left in search of their children's well-being. 

These same children have returned or wish to return to their mother country. But what does she have to offer them?

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

But it seems that my voice remains inaudible, it doesn't carry far enough, not loud enough. So let's use the megaphone that this article represents. And I'm speaking to Moroccans who are sensitive, who love their fellow citizens and, above all, who know how to listen! One of the first qualities that can be attributed to human beings. 

The subject of MDMs has not been discussed much, but seems to have emerged since the last speech on the occasion of the Green March celebration, by His Majesty Mohammed VI, may God assist him in all his endeavors. The message was strong and firm, giving a glimpse of the malfunctioning of the institutions already set up to defend the interests of the MDMs. So let's really listen to him. He's absolutely right. 

Just look at what Mr. Regragui, coach of the national soccer team, has achieved in creating a strong, united team for the 2022 World Cup. A team made up of MDM and Moroccan players. 

Since 2021, the beginning of the legislature, more than 140 interventions have been presented to the various ministries. In the form of written questions, oral questions to parliament. Or in the form of direct interventions with the various ministries for investment and others. These requests are varied and cover a wide range of MDM-related issues. 

What are these issues? Each week we'll be taking an in-depth look at a topic of importance to MDMs, such as : 

Strengthening communication channels with MDMs, creating a specific legal framework for MDMs, organizing investment fairs and forums, improving transparency and legal certainty, 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've done our job, we've answered you”. That's not enough for me, I'm a woman of the field, and action means a real, plausible reaction, even if it's unpleasant to hear, even if I don't like it, and even if they don't want to give me a positive answer, saying “we can't”. But at least I'll know what to say to those who put their trust in me by voting for me. For me, transparency is the second quality a human being can have. 

A forum, then, where I can address topical issues, and in any case those of importance to my compatriots living abroad and nationals. 

Here are the various problems encountered by MDMs, and they're practically the same wherever they live. 

Real communication between Morocco and the MDMs through different channels. 

Once again, this is the basis of human nature: communication enables the formulation of development programs and dialogue with the population.

• Investment support for MDM investors.
• Spoliation of MDM assets.
• Very high cost of air and sea transport for their return to Morocco. It makes no difference whether the price of diesel is low or high.
• Family law.
• Creation of Arab institutes with the same curriculum as the host country, but in Arabic and the other languages of the country of residence. Like the French lycée, British Scholl, Instituto italiano, Instituto Cervantes, etc.
• Equivalence and recognition of scientific diplomas with Morocco.
• Simplification of inheritance deeds.
• Simplification and acceleration of court cases.
• Digital exchange of bank accounts and assets of Moroccan expatriates with host countries, bill 76.19. Already rejected during the vote in Parliament on July 18, 2023, by all the majority and opposition parties.
• But it is expected to come back again this year!
• My proposal for the creation of a sub-committee working on the problems faced by the MDMs in the parliament's foreign affairs committee. A way of clearing the ground and being pro-active.
• Integrate schools of Islamic religion that teach our moderate Islam, the real one, and not the radical one that comes from and is financed by certain Shiite countries. Let's keep our identity!
• Create cultural centers in every capital with a high density of MDMs.
• Women's rights.

In order, we will deal with the first point concerning communication between Morocco and the MDMs. 

1st article: communication 

Current situation.

Today, there are several means of communication available to inform MDMs of their rights and the services they can access:

• Official websites and institutional portals, such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs portal for administrative procedures, consular affairs, etc.
• The MDM portal on various topics in civil law, administrative services, etc.
• 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. We can't say that Morocco has been left behind when it comes to information. But with all this, people get lost in the meanders of administration, and information is often unclear and sometimes contradictory.

It's easy to ask neighbors, friends or the local café. We can see that on social networks, some information is truncated or erroneous. 

Just look at how information was disseminated to the MDMs concerning Bill 76.19 on the digital exchange of bank accounts by Bank Maghreb and of real estate in host countries. This bill had been submitted to parliament for a vote in the foreign affairs committee. But thanks to God and the hard work of myself and my party chairman, Mr. Noureddine Median, following the vote in parliament on July 18, 2023, opposition and majority voted unanimously to reject and postpone this bill to a later date, but it will be back! 

However, certain social networks and local media created a general panic among the Moroccan community abroad, due to a lack of information or misinformation, communicating that “it was just a bill”! This was taken for granted, silencing the concerns of our fellow citizens. Some of them rushed back to Morocco, emptied their accounts and sold their land or houses to family members living in Morocco. You can imagine the disaster scenario this caused. Uncertainty and mistrust still reign today, as they wait and wait. 

This kind of important information should be relayed by the highest levels of government and announced with the utmost transparency. 

Proposal: It seems to me that the best way of communicating, the only really effective channel, is the audiovisual one. 

Morocco's national TV channels, such as 2M, Medi1 and the first, El Aoula, are highly prized and watched by the MDMs, as they are the link that still connects them to their country. 

Remember that on the Atlantique radio channel, Fayçal Tadlaoui hosted a program called “Les experts”. It was a very popular and extremely instructive program. 

I propose, as I've already recommended during these 3 legislative years, to schedule on one of the 3 national TV channels, a 1-hour program at regular intervals (once a month for example), which would operate in the same way as Fayçal Tadlaoui's program, inviting experts from different fields to discuss and provide information on subjects of interest to MDMs (legal, political, social, family law, investments, etc.) My little finger tells me that this will do our compatriots a world of good in terms of communication. 

The next big topic next week will be investment support for MDMs. How can we support them?

Malika Lehyan, Istiqlal Party MP