HIBAPRESS – Tetouan
A video clip circulating on social media platforms sparked a wide wave of interaction and praise among Moroccans, after it documented a civilized stance by a young Moroccan man working in a cafe in Chefchaouen, in which he intervened to alert a group of foreign tourists to a serious mistake on their shirts, which showed a map of Morocco cut off from its southern provinces.
The young man, who demonstrated a sense of patriotism and great responsibility, approached the tourists and spoke to them calmly and fluently in Spanish, explaining to them the symbolism of the complete national map that extends from Tangier to El Guerguerat, and emphasizing that the unity of the national territory represents a red line that cannot be touched. This behavior won wide approval from social media users, who considered his behavior an honorable model for young Moroccans who are jealous of their country. The incident, which took place in the famous tourist square "Outa el Hamam", turned into a public discussion within hours, after thousands of activists interacted with it, praising the responsible and refined behavior of the young man, stressing that defending the unity of the national territory is not limited to official institutions only, but is a national duty that includes all citizens. This incident brings to mind a similar incident witnessed by the city about a year and a half ago, when a group of foreign tourists sparked a wide debate after wearing shirts bearing a cut-off map of Morocco, which then necessitated a quick intervention by the local authorities. According to local data, the tourists in the recent incident were among a tourist group coming from Tangier, and they were wearing shirts with a design that combines the map of Spain, Portugal and Morocco, but the latter appeared missing its Sahara. Observers believe that such stances reflect the increasing national awareness of Moroccan citizens, especially in tourist areas that receive large numbers of foreign visitors, stressing that defending national symbols is a collective responsibility deeply rooted in the conscience of Moroccans.
