DON'T MENTION MOROCCO! RIOTS AND AIDS

20 February 2011, protests in Al-Hoceima, in Morocco

On 30 January 2011, anti-government protests in Tangiers were brutally put down by security forces.

On 20 February 2011, mass protests led to five deaths and 138 wounded in Al-Hoceima, Marrakech and Rabat.

On 26 February 2011, protests in Agadir caused several injured.


Will the CIA topple the King?

Nihat Çiftçi, a businessman living outside Casablanca said: "I am scared for my children and wife. Most of my regular customers have started to cancel their orders, as they know that sooner or later their shops will be looted."

afrol News - Investors fear Morocco riots

Thirteen were jailed following Morocco riots

Thirteen jailed following Morocco riots | Morocco World News February 14, 2012

Cars were set on fire and public buildings ransacked during the clashes between police and rioters.

In parts of Morocco two in three people between 15 and 29 are unemployed.

Rabat protest against high food prices.

In July 2012, Police in Casablanca clashed with Moroccans protesting high living costs and high unemployment.

Police clash with Moroccans protesting high living costs‎

Dozens were injured and several were arrested when security forces attacked the protesters who were chanting anti-government slogans.

The protesters say that the the parliamentary elections in November 2011were a sham and that the US-backed monarchy is not committed to real change.

The Muslim Brotherhood's 'Justice and Development Party' won the most seats in November 2011.

The country has been facing serious economic troubles over the past few years, with high unemployment and rising levels of poverty.

Much of Morocco is poorer that Egypt.

In 2011, a bomb in Marrakech killed a large number of tourists.

Heart of Marrakesh feels impact of euro zone crisis‎

Morocco now has fewer tourists.

Europe is Morocco's biggest trading partner and tourism is Morocco's biggest source of foreign currency.

Tourism is Morocco's second-largest industry in terms of jobs.

Unemployment has reached 33 percent among people under 35.

Economic growth is slowing, due to the slowdown in Europe and a poor harvest in Morocco.


There is a high rate of AIDS and sex tourism in Morocco.

"The most comprehensive review yet done of HIV's spread in MSM (gay males) who live in the region (North Africa) reveals that there are several hidden epidemics, with prevalence reaching as high as 28% in some groups." http://news.sciencemag.org/ 2008

"The epidemics seem to be growing in several countries ... including Morocco. About one in 20 people in need of antiretroviral treatment are now receiving it in this region." http://www.greenfacts.org

In Morocco, "the quantification of the epidemic is difficult for two reasons: the first is the insufficiency of the anonymous and free HIV test centers and the second is the immoral (illegal), and therefore difficult to quantify, character of some modes of transmission...



"The difficulty of access to taking a HIV test because of its non-availability in all regions explains certainly the under-diagnosis. Besides, only the AIDS cases are obliged to be declared. The declaration of seropositivity is not obligatory.
"The weakness of AIDS prevalence in Morocco is definitely amazing because factors of HIV propagation are very present and varied enough.

"These factors are mainly reflected in: the wide prevalence of Sexually Transmitted Infections, the growing sex work industry, drug use, sexual exploitation, the paucity of the use of prophylactics, multi-partnership, homosexuality, precarious economic conditions, periodical return of Moroccan workers (in Europe), wild urbanization, international exchange and tourism (largely sexual), subordinate feminine condition."  http://dialmy.over-blog.com/article-32518264.html



"600,000 new Sexually Transmitted Infection cases are believed to occur in Morocco each year... 

"Prostitution in the country has become more widespread; in many cases this has been due to economic factors, although in others it may be attributable to changes in lifestyle. 


"A change in lifestyle is particularly evident in major cities such as Casablanca, Agadir and Marrakech, where most female prostitutes are compelled to take up prostitution because of poverty...

"Sexual relations between men have always existed in Moroccan society, but are never discussed openly ... Such practices are now becoming more open, especially in major cities."

Voices from Africa