Loading ...Blame and Prejudice: How the Maccabi Riots Fueled Anti-Maghreb Discrimination
By: Nissrine Bedda / Arab America Contributing Writer
For the past month, European media outlets have been amplifying anti-Moroccan and anti-Maghreb rhetoric following events in November linked to the Israeli-led Maccabi Tel Aviv soccer match in Amsterdam. While the anti-Arab sentiment expressed during the match itself largely went unnoticed, much of the blame for the subsequent riot has been directed at the Maghreb population in the Netherlands, which exceeds 400,000 people. This group has been accused of inciting “violence” and engaging in anti-Semitic speech during the incident.
According to the Middle East Eye, “…fans were also seen removing at least two Palestinian flags from what appeared to be residential buildings the night before the match. Following such provocations, confrontations erupted between Maccabi fans and Dutch youths, before and after the match, and late into the night.” When statements were later released by the right-winged Dutch parliament, it was no surprise to Moroccans for the slander that was received afterwards. From Anti-Moroccan hate speech to remarks made against the Muslim population, the hateful filibustering speech made by the Dutch Prime Minister, including Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema used the term “pogrom” which is often used in The Hague…to discriminate against Moroccan Amsterdammers, Muslims.
Anti-Maghreb Discrimination in Europe
Anti-Maghreb rhetoric is more prevalent than we often realize today. From the French Parliament’s adoption of a so-called “war on Islamism” to the Dutch Parliament’s hostile discourse and Spain’s ongoing issues with issuing visas to Moroccans, this sentiment is deeply ingrained. The violence at the Ceuta and Melilla borders further underscores the troubling trend. It is evident that members of the European Union are increasingly embracing this hateful rhetoric and perpetuating a superiority complex rooted in Western colonization. This shift, particularly within right-wing European society, poses a significant threat to the Maghreb population across Europe.
MVN.EN on Instagram mentions in a caption of a post: “They allegedly sang genocidal chants, damaged Moroccan property and attacked Moroccan taxi drivers…These Moroccans have been subjected to slander and defamation since yesterday (November 7th), including being an anti-semite while the term itself is used incorrectly by the West”.
Maghreb Population Demonstrate Unwavering Love for Palestine
The Moroccan people have always stood in unwavering solidarity with Palestine, a bond that gained widespread recognition during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. As the Moroccan National Team made their historic journey to the semi-finals, capturing hearts worldwide as the tournament’s underdog, one symbol stood out: the Palestinian flag. Whether waved passionately by soccer fans in the stadiums or held proudly by the players alongside the Moroccan flag during celebrations, this act of solidarity highlighted Morocco’s deep-rooted loyalty to the Palestinian cause.
Through this global event, the world witnessed not just Morocco’s soccer triumphs but also the profound connection Moroccans feel toward Palestine, their identity, and the call for a free Palestine.
Despite the slander aimed at the hundreds of thousands of Maghreb immigrants across Europe, the cry for justice from the Palestinian people resonates deeply within our communities. Our unwavering solidarity with our Palestinian brothers and sisters, united in the hope for a free Palestine, stands as an unshakable force. While Western ideology of supremacy rooted by colonization seeks to show their true colors of racism and Islamophobia towards right-winged EU citizens, our Arab/Maghreb communities continue to show up and resist the slander in order to help preserve the Palestinian identity.
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