By Loubna Flah
By Loubna Flah
Morocco World News
Casablanca, June 27, 2012
According to the daily Al Massae, Mr. Omar Louzi, the director of the International Festival for Human Rights, decided to charge Ms. Bassima Hakaoui, the minister in charge of family and solidarity, for religious discrimination.
The director, Mr. Louzi accuses Ms. Hakaoui of religious discrimination after the minister withdrew the subsidies granted to the festival that took place from June 18 to 20, 2012.
Sources close to the festival organizers claim that the director considers Ms. Hakaoui decision was a reaction to the tribute paid to some Amazigh and Jewish figures who have a good record in defending human rights.
The festival organizers paid tribute to four Jewish intellectuals namely Mohammed Aragon, Ibrahim Serfati, Edmond Imran and Shamoun Levy in addition to Ouzine Mohammed Ahardane and Hassan Id Belkacem both of Amazigh descent.
The media noted the absence of the adviser to the king, Mr. Andrey Azoulay in addition to three ministers from Benkirane’s government who were invited as honorary guests to attend the opening session.
In response to Mr. Louzi’s accusation, Mr. Amrani of Ms. Hakaoui’s office denied the discrimination accusations. He made it clear that the ministry is drafting a new procedure that would regulate the subsidies allotted to associations.
Therefore, it has suspended all subsidies granted to all associations with no exception. He asserted that there is no discrimination on the basis of religion or ethnicity noting that he is himself is an Amazigh.
The new procedure will be announced in a press conference scheduled for next Tuesday.
Subsidies will be granted to the associations on three grounds: the association’s administrative and legal status, compliance with the ministry strategy and partnerships with other players in civil society.
Mr. El Habib Choubani, the Minister-in-charge of Relations with the Parliament and Civil Society, declared during a meeting with civil society associations last Friday in Tangiers that 90% of associations do not submit any written records of their finances.
He announced also that his ministry is currently drafting a bill that will guarantee more transparency in managing the subsidies granted to associations.
Mr. Choubani declared, “It’s high time the association enforced internal democracy.” He considers that associations should provide the example of good governance taking into account their role in promoting the culture of democracy and emancipation.
Mr. Chouabani has distinguished associations into three major categories: Those that are ready to enforce good internal governance, those that need assistance to reform their internal structure, and those that depend more on people and lack autonomy in their management.
The minister expressed alacrity to provide adequate assistance to the two last categories in order to instill the culture of transparency and good governance in the associative work.
Edited by Benjamin Villanti
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