By Hiba Tareq Abla from the Netherlands
Mother's Day in the Netherlands is no longer just a fleeting family occasion associated with flowers and gifts. Within Moroccan community circles, it has transformed into a human moment where families reflect on the meaning of motherhood, considering it the primary memory of life and a source of balance within the home and society. Amidst the details of being away from home and the pressures of daily life, the Moroccan mother remains exceptionally present, transmitting warmth, customs, language, and values from one generation to the next, and maintaining the thread of belonging that extends between the Netherlands and Morocco, no matter how far the distances.
During my professional presence at the evening's events, organized by the Assadaaka Community Association inside the Podium Genieten hall, it became clear that the event had transcended the traditional celebratory character. The hall brought together families from multiple backgrounds and cultures under a single title: loyalty to mothers. This was a human scene that reflected the Moroccan community's ability to create spaces for social warmth and preserve human connections within the immigrant society. The speech given by the association's president, Ahmed Al-Masri, carried a great deal of depth and sincerity, far from ready-made rhetorical language. He spoke of the mother as the quiet force that builds a person without expecting anything in return, and of the women who silently and patiently bear the burdens of life. The great interaction with his words revealed the extent of the emotional connection that the attendees had for the image of the mother, especially within the environment of immigration, which makes nostalgia more present in daily memory. The artist, Hana Zaidan, created one of the most impactful moments of the evening when she performed the song "My Tender Mother, My Beloved." Her voice, filled with sorrow, caused the hall to enter a collective emotional state, where many of the attendees repeated the words of the song while tears overcame the faces of a large number of mothers and children. The moment seemed like a collective recollection of a distant childhood and memories that still live within the hearts despite the passing of years. Among the segments that strongly attracted the audience's attention was the participation of the artist, Idriss Imran Tahraoui, who presented a bouquet of sophisticated Spanish songs with an artistic spirit that preserved the authenticity of Moroccan taste. His musical presence gave the evening a diverse artistic dimension without losing its cultural identity, before concluding his performance with the famous Algerian song "Ya Rayah Win Msafir," in a moment that carried a lot of nostalgia and collective interaction, where the audience repeated the words with enthusiasm mixed with emotion and the shared Maghrebi memory.
One of the most profound human moments during the evening was the honoring of Mrs. Salima, a woman known within the association's assistance team for her calm smile and her great composure in dealing with people. Her name was associated within the association circles with the image of a person who opens the door to everyone without discrimination, especially the needy, the poor, and those with disabilities, who always find with her a warm welcome and a kind word before any other assistance. Many who know her within the community work see her as a model of a person who practices social work with a rare professional and human conscience, far from showing off or seeking attention. During the segments of the ceremony, she did not suffice with organizing and following up, but from time to time she reminded the husbands of their wives in a sophisticated human way, as if she was telling them calmly that your wives are also mothers who deserve appreciation and attention, because just as a person has a mother who carried and raised him, there is also a wife who shares his life and looks after the upbringing of his children and the making of stability in his home. Those simple gestures gave the evening an additional emotional dimension and made many rethink the meaning of motherhood within the home with all its silent daily details. The moment of her honoring carried sincere applause and clear feelings of respect from the attendees, in a collective acknowledgment of the value of women who work in silence and leave a great impact on the lives of others. In a statement to HIBAPRESS, the first deputy of the association's president, Malak, expressed her great emotion with the atmosphere of the evening, confirming that this day brought back to her many memories associated with her mother and childhood years. She said that a mother's love remains firmly rooted in memory, no matter how many years pass, adding that she feels a great longing for her mother and hopes that she will have a close opportunity to travel to Morocco and embrace her again within her beloved city of Tetouan, the city that still inhabits the details of her memory and conscience.
The evening also reflected a balanced artistic presence through the participation of Fouad Benis and Al-Aqel, along with a number of artistic figures who gave the evening a warm rhythm that combined music, emotion, and the family spirit. Between the music, human encounters, and the exchange of memories, it was clear that the attendees did not come only to follow an artistic program, but to regain a collective feeling of belonging, warmth, and loyalty to mothers. In conclusion, the evening seemed closer to a social message than to a fleeting celebratory activity. Honoring the mother within the immigrant community carries dimensions deeper than a mere seasonal occasion, because it is related to preserving humanity itself within a fast and changing world. The Moroccan mother in the Netherlands not only raises her children, but also rebuilds the meaning of family, belonging, and continuity every day. Therefore, many of the attendees left the hall carrying an inner feeling that the greatest thing a person can offer to his mother is the constant acknowledgment of her grace and her presence in all the details of life.
