French coverage of Morocco quake criticised for narrow outlook on aid response

In the aftermath of a devastating earthquake that has claimed thousands of lives and left many injured in Al-Houz, Morocco, a growing number of concerned Moroccans are criticizing the French media’s coverage of the tragedy. 

The central point of contention revolves around one question: Why did Morocco not accept France’s aid? 

This focus has shifted attention away from the actual crisis and, in the eyes of many, turned Morocco’s stance into a political matter, inadvertently casting France as a “victim” in the narrative that is being publicized by French media outlets.

It’s worth noting that, thus far, France has not extended assistance through the European Union, a step that could formalize aid and expedite the process.

Liberation’s controversial depictions:

Liberation, a French publication self-described as “liberal libertarian,” stirred controversy when it shared a caricature sketch on Instagram featuring King Mohammed IV. 

The illustration depicted the king being carried by hands, with the caption reading, “The earth shook in Morocco,” and a sketched response stating, “Personally, I felt nothing.”

The sketch was widely denounced by Moroccan and international media professionals, who labeled it as propagandist, provocative, and profoundly insensitive. 

In its recent journal issue, Liberation’s cover prominently featured a weeping woman, one of the earthquake’s victims, along with the title, “Morocco, help us we’re dying in silence.” 

Samira Sitail’s passage on BFMTV:

Samira Sitail, a prominent Moroccan journalist who served as the “Director of Information” for Morocco’s broadcasting station, 2M TV, from May 2001 to 2020, engaged in a spirited debate on French media channel BFMTV’s program “C’est pas tous les jours” hosted by Benjamin Duhamel.

The discussion revolved around Morocco’s decision not to accept France’s aid, despite accepting aid from other countries such as the UAE, Qatar, Spain, and the UK. 

Sitail’s passionate four-minute intervention challenged the French media’s emphasis on Morocco’s refusal of aid, redirecting the conversation toward what she perceived as an exaggeration by France.

“It is very serious to say that Morocco refuses aid from a country,” Sitail asserted firmly. 

She argued that such a statement amounts to a call for rebellion among the Moroccan population, as it clearly insinuates that Morocco’s government was preventing assistance.

Sitail further explained, “The idea is not to say that Morocco has refused; the idea is to point out that the Moroccan authorities, unlike other countries like Spain, have not yet responded to the French proposals.” 

Despite her argument, the BFMTV journalist continued to hold his position.

Sitail emphasized that Morocco had expressed gratitude to all nations offering help and highlighted that people convey their messages differently, noting that “there are some who manage their countries through Twitter.” 

This comment sparked a heated exchange as the host took offense, suggesting Sitail was hinting that the French are viewing the situation through an “occidental lens.”

Morocco’s Approach to Aid Acceptance:

According to the Ministry of Interior in Morocco, the country has opted to accept assistance offers from select nations, including the UAE, Spain, the United Kingdom, and Qatar. 

The Moroccan government expressed its profound appreciation for these friendly and brotherly countries, acknowledging their willingness to provide assistance during this critical time.

An official source clarified that Morocco’s approach to aid acceptance is deliberate and selective to ensure the effective coordination of efforts between Moroccan rescue teams and their international counterparts. 

This approach aims to prevent wastage of aid resources, especially considering that other regions worldwide may be in dire need.

The source underscored that Morocco accepts support through countries only, emphasizing that non-governmental organizations or associations seeking to assist should first try to coordinate with their affiliated countries.

National Syndicate of the Moroccan Press denounces French media practices:

In a press release issued today, the National Syndicate of the Moroccan Press expressed its concern regarding the “unprofessional coverage” by certain French media outlets. 

These outlets attacked Morocco for not accepting aid from France, politicizing the issue, and mobilizing French public opinion against Morocco.

The syndicate pointed out that the Moroccan government had issued an explanatory statement detailing its methodology for accepting aid while emphasizing its openness to assistance from friendly nations. 

Despite this clarification, a segment of the French media continued its campaign, publishing news and cartoons that portrayed Morocco in a negative light, insinuating that the country was obstructing aid efforts.