[This is a roundup of news articles and other materials circulating on the Maghreb and reflects a wide variety of opinions. It does not reflect the views of the Maghreb Page Editors or of Jadaliyya. You may send your own recommendations for inclusion in each week`s roundup to maghreb@jadaliyya.com by Thursday night of every week.]
Algeria
New law on associations used to stifle civil society Amnesty International condemns conviction of Abdelkader Kherba, an activist distributing pamphlets on unemployment in the country.
Algerian Islamist party picks new leader Nazim Fethi reports that Abderrezak Mokri has been elected as head of Algeria’s Movement for a Peaceful Society, further distancing the movement from the current government.
Grève Du Sud et Des Haut-Plateaux: Le Pourrissement! Bentouba Said describes a critical moment in a coordinated month long strike in Algeria’s southern and high plains regions, one that has disrupted schools in the area.
Libya
Sabha jailbreaks prompt court strike Essam Mohammed describes motivations behind a prison workers strike, after 111 criminals escaped from a prison in Sabha after the overtook guards there.
Libya passes political isolation law Despite intense controversy, Essam Mohammed reports that Libya has passed a political isolation law barring Qaddafi era officials from serving in the Libyan government.
The Fezzan region: an interesting history and a prospect for a brighter future Mustafa J. Salem, Nick Drake, and Ahmed S. El-Hawat explore the potential of Libya’s resource rich Fezzan region for the country’s economy.
Mauritania
Circulez, la route est barré! Amar Ould Béjà highlights a worsening transportation crisis in Nouakchott.
Quand le FMI maintient mon pays dans le sous-développement Mustapha Ely calls out the IMF’s responsibility in the underdevelopment of Mauritania.
Quand les Harratines s’éveillent… Mamadou Lamine Kane describes the enduring effects of slavery, past and present, on Hratins in Mauritania.
Morocco
http://freekoulchi.org/ Activists from the 20 February movement, Mamfakinch.com, and the Moroccan Association for Human Rights launch the website “FreeKoulchi” to raise awareness about the state of conditions for political prisoners in Morocco, estimated to be over one hundred.
Morocco’s Politicians, Jails and Sahara this Spring Zineb Belmkaddem describes discouraging trends in the situation for political dissidents in Morocco, prompting the #FreeKoulchi awareness campaign.
Ahmed Assid : Je n’ai point blasphémé Ahmed Assid, Amazigh activist, defends himself against criticisms that he has blasphemed Islam.
Tunisia
Candidats à l’ISIE : Les Tunisiens ont trois jours pour faire objection Lilia Blaise raises the flag on a hasty publication of the list of the 136 candidates put forth to serve on the ISIE, the governmental body that oversees elections.
Agression d’étudiants subsahariens: “L’attaque de l’immeuble à Lafayette n’est pas une première” Sana Sbouai interviews Touré Blamassi, president of the Association for African Students and Trainees, about the regular violence perpetrated against sub-Saharan Africans.
POMED Notes: “Human Rights in Tunisia’s Transition: A View from the Field” The Project on Middle East Democracy, headquartered in Washington DC, held a recent panel to analyze the most recent draft of Tunisia’s constitution.
Al-Qaeda tied to Jebel Chaambi militants Yasmin Najjar reports on militants with ties to AQIM who were recently arrested after attacks in the Jebel Chaambi region.
Western Sahara
Laâyoune : la plus grande manifestation pour l`autodétermination depuis 1975 Lakome.fr reports that thousands of demonstrators took to the streets in Laayoune this week, marking the largest protests for independence in Western Sahara since 1975.
فعاليات الانتفاضة بالسمارة المحتلة A video of activists in the Saharan town of Smara reveals the level of police brutality against protestors.
Appel sur internet au meurtre de Sahraouis pro-indépendance Amine Baroudi, member of the “Alliance for Young Royalists,” a group that has been heavily criticized as a figment of the makhzen, calls for violence against Sahrawi demonstrators.
Recent Jadaliyya Articles on the Maghreb
Algeria Between “la Boulitique” and la Politique: A Tale of Two Youths Muriam Haleh Davis warns of the futility of football fervor as politics.
السلفيون الجهاديّون في تونس: سر انتشارهم الواسع في الأوساط الشعبيّة Ghassan Bin Khalifa describes Salafism in Tunisia.
Libya: Which Fate for Gaddafi’s Henchmen? Abdullah Elmazzi outlines potential problems with Libya’s political isolation law, drawing comparisons with the de-Baathification of Iraq.
Alternative Worlds at the 2013 Social Forum in Tunis Frances Hasso describes her experiences at the recent WSF, highlighting its value as a “discursive and symbolic space” to explore alternatives to neoliberalism, patriarchy, and conflict.
Le Sahara, l’identité et l’africanité dans la littérature francophone du Sud-est: Moha Souag s’exprime Brahim el Guabli interviews Moha Souag about his body of francophone literature centering on the Sahara and identity.
Eye on the Libyan General National Congress: Sixth Report Jadaliyya reports on the Bokra Youth Organization and H20 Team’s evaluation of the actions of Libya’s General National Council.
من يكتب أدب الثورة؟ Brahim El Guabli explores the crucial role of literature in articulating revolution.