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International columnist, political analyst and senior journalist Ahmed Mohiuddin Siddiqui’s articles are published across Asia, Africa and Europe. He writes for The Moroccan Times, The Tunis Times, India Tomorrow, Kohram News, The Etemaad Urdu Daily and for news papers published from Muscat, Sultanate of Oman. You can follow him on Twitter at: @journopolana[/symple_box]
Muscat, Sultanate of Oman—The Kingdom of Morocco has come forward to protect its image and Moroccan Women’s honour by deciding to ban Franco Moroccan film maker Nabil Ayouch’s vulgar and degrading film – ‘Much Loved’ about prostitution in Marrakech. The Communication Ministry has said that the ban on the film remains after a ‘fabricated article’ in a cloned version of the French newspaper Le Figaro had claimed falsely that the ban on the film was revoked by the Moroccan Government. The Communications Ministry said that the decision to ban the film remains valid because the film,’‘undermines the moral values and the dignity of Moroccan women and (is) a flagrant attack on the kingdom’s image.’’
Much Loved (Zin li Fik) paints Morocco as a sex tourism destination and casts aspersions on the character of Moroccan women as prostitutes, who can go to any extent for the sake of money and luxurious life. The Israeli and French conspiracy to defame Islam and Muslims cannot be ruled out in this case as Nabil was born to a Tunisian jewish mother and brought up in France. Whatever little fame Nabil had acquired as a film maker before this movie, it has gone drain down now. Nabil was in a frenzied hurry to gain the acceptance of the world renowned international cinematic institution by exhibiting it at the Cannes Film Festival this month. Perhaps Nabil thought that it is more important to exhibit the film in Cannes than in Morocco, for the Moroccan people. He may have thought beforehand that the self respected and dignified people of Morocco will outrightly reject the film.
Nabil Ayouch conveniently forgot that the roots of Islam and the way of Islamic life are very strong in Morocco. Every culture and community may have its ‘black sheep’ who may not conform to the ways of the society. The same may hold true of the Moroccan society. If there are any ‘black sheep’ or non-conformists, it does not mean that the entire Moroccan society can be branded as those lesser moral beings. Nabil does not understand or pretends not to understand the concept of ‘cultural sensitivity.’ He has painted the Saudi nationals with a negative brush who are portrayed as sex-starved creatures in his film. If Nabil was serious about women’s lives and difficulties as prostitutes, he could have formed a non-governmental organization (NGO) or a trust to better the lot of the unfortunate and under privileged women. It is utterly disgusting to project Morocco as ‘Thailand’ of Africa. His film amounts to an open invitation to moneybags or wealthy people that sex is available for a price and the sex maniacs can fulfill their wildest sexual fantasies in Morocco.
The double entendre and the body language used in Much Loved shows the mental decline of Nabil Ayouch. He portrayed the life of four Moroccan prostitutes and their dealings with the Arab Gulf sex-starved men. The abusive and vulgar language used in the film points out the intellectual bankruptcy of Nabil, who does not understand the greatness and richness of the standard Arabic language known for its sweetness, classical thought and wisdom. Nabil is the son of an ignorant father, who had demanded not long ago that darija — the colloquial Arabic language of Morocco be declared as the official language. Standard Arabic binds us all – Arabs and Muslims. There is no quarrel with darija but to communicate and articulate at the national and international level standard Arabic is more suitable for political, cultural and commercial usage. Nabil failed to realize the beauty of Arabic language like his father.
The Moroccan culture was presented in an offensive and crude way with the prostitutes displaying their booty to their customers while performing lap dances and the lust evoking belly dancing.
Nabil Ayouch has betrayed his Moroccan roots and the Islamic heritage. The Moroccan Government deserves to be congratulated for protecting the Islamic values and protecting the honour of the respectable Moroccan women. Nabil is the new Charlie Hebdo, who is patronized by all those who are inimical to the righteous and respectable way of life followed by the Moroccans and Arabs.
Nabil would do well to highlight the issues of prostitution and disrespect to women in Europe. He could focus on Paris and Amsterdam, where there are more number of prostitutes than anywhere in the Arab world.
Verily, Nabil is not from amongst us.
