HIBAPRESS
Reports circulating on social media have sparked widespread controversy after news emerged that around 400 Moroccan traditional artisans have secured employment contracts in Algeria with attractive salaries, to participate in projects related to traditional industry and handicrafts.
According to what is being circulated, the role of some of these artisans was not limited to working on new projects only, but they also obtained privileges and financial bonuses in exchange for training local artisans and transferring their expertise in the fields of traditional industry. This stirred controversy in Morocco, where a number of followers considered that the matter might raise questions about the protection of Moroccan cultural heritage and traditional crafts, especially in light of the competition between countries in the region to register elements of heritage with international organizations. A number of Moroccan activists stressed the need for the concerned authorities to intervene urgently in order to protect the national heritage, calling for the imposition of stricter controls on the movement of artisans and traditional craftsmen abroad, especially with regard to transferring their expertise related to the Moroccan zellige craft. They emphasized that the absence of clear mechanisms to protect this heritage could open the door to its exploitation or reproduction outside Morocco, especially in Algeria, raising fears of undermining its originality and cultural identity.
