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GEOGRAPHY AND CLIMATE
Morocco is a North African country that lies in the northwest of Africa. It is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, the Strait of Gibraltar and the Mediterranean Sea. Deserts, plains and mountains make up the majority of this area 446,550 square kilometers, which includes nearly 34 million Moroccans. Besides the climate dry Sahara desert, Morocco has an Atlantic climate as Mediterranean as Casablanca and Al Hoceima.
HISTORY AND ADMINISTRATION
Morocco has long been occupied by Capsian ancestors of modern Berbers followed by Phoenician traders from the XIth century BC The Arabs arrived in Morocco in 649 and Berber convert to Islam. This constitutional monarchy is the only African country not party to the African Union, but attempts since 1987 to access the European Union.


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Islamists take to the beaches


Islamists take to the beaches

Morocco's beaches are popular with locals and tourists
By Nick Pelham
The crowds heading for Morocco's beaches this summer are not just going to flaunt their bodies, they are going to flaunt their souls too.

The beach towels they will tuck under their arms will double as prayer mats. Their picnic hampers will hide banners.

And when they reach the sands, they will not bother to change. They will wade into the waters fully clothed in scenes reminiscent of Victorian Britain.

They are Morocco's Islamists and they are taking their struggle for an Islamic state to the beach.


Morocco's Islamists do not approve of stripping off

Preachers like prophets in gabardines prowl the coastline, calling on less modest Moroccans to put their clothes on.

"Why debauch yourselves in nudity?" they cry, as if all the women were topless. "Repent and Return to Islam."

The ice-cream boy peddles Koranic injunctions with his Cornettos.

The fire and brimstone pulls the crowds. After years of suppression, leaders of Morocco's largest Islamist movement, Justice and Charity claims the people are so happy to see them emerge from the underground, that on one beach they threw rose petals.

Under the long, harsh reign of Hassan II, Justice and Charity was forced to advance its ambitions for power in secret. Under the more lax rule of his son, Mohammed, the movement feels free to challenge the ban and proselytise in public.


Worshipping in an outdoors mosque
At midday the beach turns into an open-air mosque, revealing just how numerous the ranks of Morocco's Islamists have grown.

Lines of believers several rows deep stretch hundreds of yards along the beach. Women line up behind.

It is a scene repeated up and down the kingdom from the Algerian border on the Mediterranean to the south where the Atlantic laps the Sahara.

Sectarianism on the beaches

There is resistance. Morocco's more provocative hedonists strut in front of the rows of prostrating worshippers. In a desperate attempt to resist, believers bury their heads deeper into the sands.

At the sight of an approaching Islamist, Munir shouts: "We're not Iran, we'll stay modern Muslims"

His girlfriend snaps at the ice-cream boy, she will well wear what she likes.

Un-Islamic or not, young Moroccans are not about to let these spoilsports sacrifice just about the only leisure activity open to both rich and poor.

Unlike elsewhere in the Arab world, Morocco's beach culture is homegrown, not just for tourists.

But slowly, slowly, the beach boys are in retreat. You have to trek a fair distance down from the main beach before the beards grow thinner, and the lovers more courageous.


The authorities fear the growing Islamist movement
Moroccans call it a two-state solution. The authorities are nervous. They have denounced what they call sectarianism on the beaches.

And they fear the growing Islamist presence could mark an indirect challenge to the king, as he tries to reconcile his role as Commander of the Faithful with that of celebrated jet-skier.

Banning litter and beards

Last month, the minister of interior went on national television to announce an anti-litter campaign for the beaches, and he then broadened its range to say his police would target all forms of pollution, apparently ideological as well as material.

His police have erected checkpoints along the main roads leading to the seaside to bar men who sport beards. Repeatedly, riot police have made arrests on the sands.

Like the tide though, next day the Islamists come back. All of which is beginning to scare the travel agents - all too wary of North Africa's precarious record on tourism.

In Egypt, religious fanatics crippled the country's tourist trade, after taking pot-shots at foreigners who they blamed for spreading Aids and encouraging alcohol.

In Tunisia, a bomb blew the legs off a British tourist. And in neighbouring Algeria -- well, in Algeria. the arrival of a hundred tourists is enough to make a headline.

Battle for the beaches

But Morocco has two million of them. Tourism is the kingdom's top earner. It is a solitary bright spot in a country gripped by depression and until recently, there was no cloud on the horizon.

But now there is the question emblazoned on Morocco's best selling newspaper: "Battle for the beaches, or war on tourism?"


Tourism earns vital revenue for Morocco
The organisers of the beach campaign, Justice and Charity, reject violence. They say that unlike their Egyptian and Algerian brothers they have no problem with tourists, whether Muslim or not.

They say they just cannot see why a Muslim state should discriminate against men who sport beards. God's creation, they say, should be open to all.

Call me naïve, but I wonder whether it could just be that Morocco's Islamists are taking to the beaches because they do not want to be left out of the fun of the country's distinctive beach culture.

Okay, they want segregated swimming, and their women bathe fully clothed. But they too can be found playing beach ball with girls in bikinis.



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Morocco Beaches


Morocco Beaches
Beaches in Morocco
The Morocco beaches are many, and travelers who are interested in visiting them will be happy to know that most are very clean. More often than not, strong currents will be all that will dissuade beachgoers from swimming at a given beach. In addition to being clean, most of the beaches in Morocco are beautiful. The country's warm weather only helps to make a beach vacation in Morocco more attractive, and while July and August are the most popular months for a Moroccan beach visit, the country's coastal strips of sand can also be enjoyed in late spring and early fall.

Morocco's coastline is long, and it borders both the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. The Mediterranean beaches stretch from Saidia to Tangier, and there are more than 100 to choose from. Many travelers who are looking to enjoy one of the northern Mediterranean beaches in Morocco head to Tamuda Bay, which is home to some excellent beaches and a range of lodging options. The luxurious villas and other vacation rentals complement the hotels at Tamuda Bay, and the environment is extremely family friendly. Back in Saidia, the wide beach also attracts its fair share of holidaymakers, especially during the peak summer months.


Getting to the northernmost Morocco beaches will prove less tempting to travelers who are hanging out in other parts of the country. For Casablanca and Rabat visitors who are interested in some beach time on the side, a trip to El Jadida might be in order. The fine beaches in this attractive outpost on the Atlantic are more popular with Moroccans than they are with tourists, which can make for a unique experience. El Jadida boasts attractive architecture and a medina that doesn't fail to impress, which helps to make it worthy of a visit. The beaches begin where the town ends, so mixing some in-town sightseeing with some beach time won't be hard.

Heading further south along Morocco's Atlantic coast, travelers will eventually come to the city of Essaouira. Much like El Jadid, Essaouira boasts fantastic architecture and an inviting medina, and the wide beach is ideal for strolling and various watersports. Thanks to the consistently strong winds at the beach in Essaouira, windsurfing and kitesurfing figure among the most popular watersports. Lessons can be arranged for these activities, and visitors can also get some surfing lessons.

The Atlantic Ocean beaches in Morocco are the best for surfing, and the peak season is September through April, though good surf occurs throughout the year. Good conditions can be expected north of Rabat and in the El Jadida area. The Morocco beaches in and around Safi are also known for their quality when it comes to surfing. Down towards Essaouira, some good breaks are usually easy to find, and travelers who head further south towards Agadir will only find more spots to hang ten.

Agadir is the main beach resort in Morocco, and its beach is one of the most ideal in the country for swimming. While enjoying a beach vacation in Morocco that is based in the southern Agadir area, Agadir Beach won't be the only beach worth checking out. To the north, the laid-back village of Taghazout and its relaxing beach await, while those who venture further north will find some of the most pristine beaches in the country. There aren't as many beach hotels to be found in the less-spoiled Morocco beach destinations, which helps to keep things quiet.

One of the great things about a beach vacation in Morocco is that travelers can enjoy an array of other tantalizing experiences when they aren't hanging out with their feet in the sand. Heading inland to go hiking in the mountains can be an ideal complement to time on the beach in Morocco, and the country's towns and cities can fill hours on end with their medinas, Kasbahs, restaurants, shops, and overall atmosphere. Morocco vacation packages are available, and many offer discounts on beach hotels and resorts. They can also include things such as surfing lessons and meals, or even some yoga sessions.


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