How the Moroccan King fights against Islamic extremism almost single-handedly...

...by empowering his most marginalized loyal subjects, restoring their God-given rights, making them shine and be heard: 21st century Moroccan women.

Watch the video clips from this PBS segment and draw your own conclusions.

Wide Angle. Video Clip. Class of 2006 | PBS Part 1

Wide Angle. Video Clip. Class of 2006 | PBS Part 2

Wide Angle. Video Clip. Class of 2006 | PBS Part 3

Wide Angle. Video Clip. Class of 2006 | PBS Part 4

Wide Angle. Video Clip. Class of 2006 | PBS Part 5

A big thank you to Mary for sharing this great story!

Mary's comments:

PART I: Women Break Taboos

The women shown in the beginning, wearing black, as the film says, are not dressed in Moroccan costumes, but in outfits from the Gulf, specifically from branches of fundamentalist Islam.  But yes, we are seeing more of this type of dress in every city.  Before ten years ago, you never saw it at all.

This documentary shows fantastic film clips of Moroccan scenery and people, just as we are seeing it today.  I'm glad they did such a good job, because seeing it gives you a REALLY good idea of exactly what it looks like living here today.

The family shown at home about five minutes into the video is a typical middle-class family, a bit better off than average (judging both by their home, and the fact the man's father had three wives), who is living the way many Moroccans continue to live today.  Most of us who are married to Moroccans find our in-laws living very similarly to this family.  Also, the husband married at 24, and was married to the wife when she was about 15 (and both may not know how to read).  This is also typical of our husbands' parents' generation. Preparing food on the kitchen floor was also typical (as shown in this family) until about seven-to-ten years ago, when many people began modernizing their kitchens, and building counters for the first time.  (My own mother-in-law now has counters.)

I think the video isn't quite accurate in saying that sweeping changes have been made.  Some changes have been made, but women still do not have the right to initiate divorce (except in cases of repeated abuse, or impotence of the husband, as far as I am aware).

PART II: the Graduation (I didn't watch this section since I had seen it before.  But last summer, when I was in France, my Moroccan brother-in-law, who is no extremist, commented that he thought the United States was trying to pressure Morocco to "change Islam," which is the only way he could see women brought into the religious sphere.)

Part III: Reformers Vs. Islamists
I noticed some women wearing the complete headscarf, with a baseball cap on top of it all--yes, this is becoming fairly common to see, it's not so remarkable anymore--the visor gives a good sunshade for the eyes, which is why some women do it (generally the less fashion-conscious women). 
     Some Moroccans have told me they listen to audiotapes of Islamicists imported from other countries, preaching different (more radical and extremely conservative) ideas than are traditionally preached in Morocco--but it's only certain people who are interested in hearing them. The leader of a party who believes in fighting for women's rights says in the video, very correctly, "In Morocco, we follow Maliki Islam (one of the four universally-recognized branches of Islam, and a "moderate" form), and found ourselves invaded by Wahabism (extemist views from Saudi, i.e. those who dress in black from head to toe, or wear beards)."  This speaker's dress and demeanor are typical of modern Moroccan women who do not choose to wear the Hijab (hair coverings and long sleeves, and skirts to the floor).
     This video states incorrectly that the new family law gave women "equality."  It did not.  It did make SOME significant improvements, however, such as that a woman must be INFORMED if her husband chooses to take a second wife.
    
Part IV and V:
I couldn't get these loaded right now, so I'll just send out these comments as they are.

Mary

Comments

[Ibn Kafka]

The young woman in the black top does seem enthusiastic about the islamist PJD, whose flag (the flag with the oil lamp, which is the party's symbol) she waves...

[xoussef]

yeah that's a bit... disconcerting

[Myrtus]

WOW I had no idea, thanks for pointing that out Ibn Kafka. I went looking for an image with Moroccan women do add to this post and was so happy to find this one, not just because of the obvious contrast in the outward appearance of the two women in the picture, but also because they're both demonstrating their patriotism by waving the Moroccan flag.

[The Lounsbury]

Well, Ibn Kakfa's observation rather puts the lie to your fairly simplistic - in fact utterly wrong-headed thesis.

The Monarchy is fighting single handedly for the Monarchy. Anything else is merely spin for useful dupes.

Oddly in my last trip through Casa I found a goodly number of secularists opining in favour of the PJD on the simple basis it is the cleanest and only coherent party, and the Makhzen needs a kick in the pants.

In any case, the women as front line against Islamists is a funny idea, given the heavy support among women for PJD, etc.

[PeacefulVanguard]

"Well, Ibn Kakfa's observation rather puts the lie to your fairly simplistic - in fact utterly wrong-headed thesis.

The Monarchy is fighting single handedly for the Monarchy. Anything else is merely spin for useful dupes.

Oddly in my last trip through Casa I found a goodly number of secularists opining in favour of the PJD on the simple basis it is the cleanest and only coherent party, and the Makhzen needs a kick in the pants.

In any case, the women as front line against Islamists is a funny idea, given the heavy support among women for PJD, etc."

Wait a minute. First of all, why are you so rude, Lounsbury? Can't you make your point without the ad hominem attacks? Give Myrtus a break.

In any event, I think you're being very short sighted here. The fact of the matter is that opening up freedom of expression for women may empower the PJD in the short term, but as a long term strategy to build Moroccan society and foment its democratic institutions, which ultimately will be anathema to strict Islamist codes of conduct, women's empowerment is the best way to go. Look beyond the immediate political situation into long term social development, and what giving women more say in society can bring overall.

[The Lounsbury]

The thesis is simplistic and wrong-headed, nothing ad hominem about that mate. Politeness over wrong-headed bollocks does no bloody good at all.

Monarchy serves Monarchy and quite frankly the Makhzen system of the Moroccan monarchy - its corrupt nature, the closing out of opportunity for those "outside the system" etc are main drivers for the popularity of the Islamists (who indeed deserve to win I may add).

Saying some utter nonsense about how M6 fights against "Islamic extremism almost single-handedly" is parroting the Monarchy's spin to, well, useful dupes.

Monarchy is useful for the moment in Morocco, but don't bloody fool yourself about its nature, or its "combating."

[Ibn Kafka]

You're welcome, Myrtus. I've written some comments (here http://www.blog.ma/obiterdicta/index.php?action=article&id_article=15316 - in French though ) on that specific picture, which show the danger of judging a book by its cover. As you say, many people secular in their outlook - like blogger DaSpaceMonkey (see here http://daspacemonkey.bloxode.com/2053740,a-qui-veut-bien-entendre.html ) - confess their willingness to vote for the PJD, while pious and even fundamentalist people - I know of some - would not touch them with a ten-foot pole.

[Myrtus]

Oh PV, never mind Lounsbury, he's generally known for being rude to people. What can I say, some people are just naturally depressed, they can't help it. If anything goes wrong in Morocco, they blame it on the king and if anything is good in Morocco they blame it on the king....it's always blame blame blame, they never give credit nor praise where it's due.

Nice catch Ibn Kafka!