Experts debate terrorism awareness of Moroccans
Recent attacks in Algeria have stimulated a debate in neighbouring Morocco over the country's ability to prevent similar events.
Some critics argue that Morocco's anti-terrorism strategy focuses too heavily on security.
Last week's suicide bombings in Algeria have prompted Moroccans to question their country's preparedness for similar terrorist attacks.
Magharebia surveyed the positions of specialists and citizens on the extent of people's awareness of the dangers of terrorism, and whether they believe the issue constitutes some sort of urgency that calls for more vigilance.
University professor and communications specialist Yahya El Yahyaoui said Morocco lacks the strategic research capabilities, whether in universities or media outlets, to diagnose the causes of terrorism. "Instead, we have seasonal journalism, which is only 'activated' when our country witnesses terrorist attacks. In this regard, the media is insufficient at all levels", he said. The anti-terrorism strategy in Morocco is focused on security, he said. Instead, the problem should be addressed as a political, social and cultural phenomenon.
Professor El Yahyaoui expressed his belief that Moroccan media "is very weak; we can't bet on it too much in its dealing with the issue of terrorism. It treats the phenomenon as an exception, while the strike of terrorism may come from where we least expect. Al-Qaeda, for example, has been spread and established throughout the Arab Maghreb. We can't deal with it lightly, nor can we depend on a purely security strategy in confronting it".
Journalist Kenza Wadie said the attacks in Morocco have not been as intense as those in Algeria. Consequently, "it's only natural that we don't have the same strategy in dealing with them. It was not clearly shown that the responsibility for the attacks had been claimed by al-Qaeda. Rather, they were carried out by young men who suffer from marginalisation and poverty and found no way to express their resentment other than to carry out individual and isolated operations. The proof of this is the very conventional and modest tools that were used in bombings".
Wadie said the press should not exaggerate or overestimate the matter. Instead, she said, it should analyse the phenomenon and examine its causes. "We actually have trust in the state's security strategy, which has so far been able to disrupt all attempts and spare Morocco other disasters".
The journalist said cultivating an air of danger and fear will not help Morocco avoid disaster. "Rather it is the security strategy adopted by Morocco which will do that".
University student Khaled said the press may produce the opposite effect if it attempts to arouse Moroccans' awareness. "In these occasions, the press looks for sensationalism to sell. Therefore, it deliberately aims at exaggeration or relies on eyewitnesses whose accounts are not accurate. As to audio-visual media, it doesn't feel any urgency in the terrorist events as it is the last to report such events. It is preceded by satellite channels in reporting the news. How, then, can we expect it to play its role in making the citizens be vigilant?".
Abdellah, an employee, said Moroccans have become very watchful of any suspicious movements, whether in their neighbourhood or any other public place. "Those who lived through the last March 11th, April 10th and 14th events don't wait to be told by the media to be vigilant. Rather, their thinking and sense of citizenship keep them at a level of vigilance and alertness of anything that may threaten their safety and the safety of their country", he said.
Imane Belhaj for Magharebia in Casablanca, December, 20, 2007
* «Experts debate terrorism awareness of moroccans», Maghrebia, December, 20, 2007.