Harun Nasrullah
Moroccan youths living in Europe complain of difficulties finding employment, housing and in practising their religion, according to the Council of the Moroccan Communities Abroad.
The survey titled ‘Moroccan youths across Europe: equality and discrimination’ revealed that the majority of young Moroccans (ages 18-35) experienced discrimination in Europe.
The poll surveyed 1,433 Moroccans living in France, Spain, Italy, Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands – the six main European countries where Moroccans reside. Sixty-four per cent of respondents said they experienced difficulties finding work, 57 per cent finding housing and 42 per cent practising their religion.
The survey conducted in collaboration with the Paris-based International Institute for Opinion Studies exposed ‘the invisible difficulties that young Moroccans, living in Europe, are facing in Europe, especially regarding access to the job market and finding housing or requesting a bank loan.’
In Germany, 69 per cent of young Moroccans said they had trouble finding housing, compared to 50 per cent in Belgium, 50 per cent in Spain, 69 per cent in France, 57 per cent in Italy and 35 per cent in the Netherlands.
The Council of the Moroccan Communities Abroad Secretary General, Abdellah Boussouf, believes its findings ‘highlights figures and realities useful in guiding Moroccan public policies towards Moroccans living abroad’.
The Council of the Moroccan Communities Abroad called on the Moroccan Government to, ‘draw the attention of European countries to the different forms of discrimination against young people of Moroccan origin during exchanges and negotiations with these countries’ and ‘to strengthen cultural diplomacy’.
It also advocates for the restructuring of the associations created by Moroccans living abroad and the strengthening of their presence within Non-Governmental Organizations established in host countries.
The Council of the Moroccan Communities Abroad called on the host countries to ‘protect minorities and respect the principle of equal opportunities’, while responding to the political and media discourse which fuels feelings of fear and enhances stigmas.’
It also highlighted the importance of Moroccans of being active in political life to influence public opinion.
The council also called on European countries to ensure laws are implemented to preserve equal rights, protect minorities, uphold the principle of equal opportunity for all segments of society and strengthen the educational sector’s role in promoting the values of diversity and coexistence.
