Rabat -Moroccan director Ismael El Iraqi’s movie Zanka Contact has stirred controversy for featuring a pro-Polisario song by separatist singer Meriem Hassan.
Morocco’s Cinematographic Center (CCM) issued a press release on Thursday, arguing that Iraqi changed the content of his film and his music after he got approval from the center.
The CCM said that the version of the movie that the cinema authority viewed “made no allusion to the use of music by Meriem Ment Hassan but excerpts from the song Sidi Reddad by singer Fadol.”
The CCM said that the song that was previously used did not involve any attacks on “the fundamentals of the nation.”
CCM also decided to suspend the commercial and cultural authorization of the film in Morocco as well as screenings in Morocco and abroad.
Morocco’s CCM also withdrew El Iraqi”s professional license and sent a warning to the production company, urging it to change and review the song so that it “corresponds to the original script.”
The CCM warned that it could withdraw the production company’s authorization to work in Morocco, recalling that it reserves the right to go to court against the director and producer for modifying the script.
The controversy came a few weeks after Zanka Contact won the Grand Prix of the 22 annual Tangier National Film Festival (FNF).
The CCM recalled that it helped the realization of the movie with a budget of MAD 4.2 million ($382,449).
Many took to social networks to condemn the negligence of the authorities in charge, including the Ministry of Culture.
An internet user said that the issue has gone beyond supporting Toto, who was advocating for the “use of drugs with the support of the Ministry of Culture.”
“We have reached a level where the ministry supports the enemies of the country,” an internet user wrote.
The Ministry of Culture has been under backlash after a recent press conference at a government-sponsored festival, where rapper Taha Fahssi known by his stage name Toto spoke in support of normalizing the use of weed.
The government responded to the controversy, saying that it is taking the necessary measures so it won’t happen again.
“Where are the authorities in charge of monitoring this before the screening?” another Twitter user said.
A hashtag is also calling on the Minister of Economy Mehdi Bensaid to resign.
