Rabat- A photo showing Moroccan Head of Government Mr Abdelilah Benkirane and his wife Mrs. Nabila Benkirane posing with U.S. President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama sparked fierce comments and criticism in electronic media and social networking. The picture was taken during a White House reception organized during the US-Africa Summit, currently being held in Washington DC.
This is the first-ever official public appearance of Mrs. Benkirane since her husband’s election as Morocco’s Head of the Government in 2012.
The comments ranged from simple approval to harsh criticism, mainly focusing on Mrs. Benkirane’s attire. Some think that the Jellaba (typical Moroccan dress) she was wearing was too ordinary and is the type of dress women wear to go to the souk (local market).
Others wondered if she couldn’t afford to buy herself a Kaftan (front-buttoned coat or overdress, usually reaching to the ankles, with long sleeves). Some people think that Mrs Benkirane is simply not stylish and what she was wearing did not represent Moroccan tradition attire.
Others went even so far as to question what she was doing there next to her husband in the White House, since according to them “ the Moroccan constitution does not allow the spouse of the head of the government to play any official role”. Therefore, a number of Moroccan social network users emphasized that she is not supposed “to travel with the head of government on state budget expenses.”
Hello Moroccans, wake up, Mrs. Benkirane was going to an official dinner, not to a fashion show. Let’s not forget that Mr. Benkirane is representing King Mohammed VI at this summit and he is leading a high-profile Moroccan delegation to the US. The King has certainly approved of this delegation and the White House has invited African leaders and their spouses. Even the US First Lady hosted a reception in honor of African leaders’ spouses.
Mrs. Benkirane, though she had never appeared in public life or been involved in politics, is an educated woman who speaks many foreign languages. Not being involved in politics doesn’t mean that she doesn’t understand them and cannot communicate with other leaders’ spouses.
Apologies to Mrs. Benkirane for mocking on your Jellaba, which is part of our tradition. Apologies that you were not stylish. Apologies that they didn’t excuse you for your ever first protocol mistake in your first public appearance. Apologies because they forgot that several female leaders were wearing very normal clothing in high-level international meetings but nobody cared about their appearance and were more interested in their performance. Apologies because people forgot that several presidents like Francois Holland and many others, even president Obama, have made many protocol mistakes in several occasions. Apologies for the fact that your husband is Mr. Benkirane, so you have to get your share of criticism. Apologies that we didn’t prepare you well for the fashion show; we should have chosen for you the most stylish and expensive Kaftan so that you can be Miss African Spouse. Apologies that you were wearing decent clothes.
I was hoping to see more constructive criticism and comments on the symbolism of this historic picture that shows that our institutions are functioning. It represents a symbiosis between the Royal Palace and the government as an institution, since King Mohammad appointed Mr. Benkirane to represent him. I was hoping to see comments on what Mr. Benkirane and the delegation discussed in Washington on behalf of Moroccans. After all, our head of the Government is said to be the only African elected leader from a moderate Islamist party to be welcomed in the White House reception among other African leader.
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