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12 February 19, 2016 News & Analysis East West Three ministers of Moroccan origin in new French cabinet Saad Guerraoui where she was in charge of the au- diovisual sector. In 2011, she served as assistant director of the National Casablanca Film Centre where she attracted the attention of French President Fran- hree ministers of Moroc- çois Hollande, who appointed her can origin have joined his cultural adviser in 2014. French Prime Minister The nomination of the three fe- Manuel Valls’ reshuffled male ministers could be a political cabinet. card played by the socialist govern- TAfter Najat Vallaud-Belkacem ment to lure the votes of both the and Myriam El Khomri, Audrey Muslim and Jewish communities in Azoulay was appointed France’s the forthcoming presidential elec- Minister of Culture and Communi- tion, especially at a time when Is- cation in the government reshuffle lamophobia is on the rise in France on February 11th, 15 months ahead after the deadly Paris terrorist at- of presidential elections. tacks last November. “The appointment of the three “It is possible that the socialist female ministers of Moroccan ori- government is trying to gain more gin shows Moroccans’ capacities popularity among these communi- when they achieve the objectives ties,” Elouadie said. “But the main they set,” political analyst Salah El- thing here is that the experience ouadie said. and skills were key to these ap- French-Moroccan Culture Minister Audrey Azoulay (L) listens to former French Culture Minister “It’s clear the French PM nomi- pointments.” Fleur Pellerin during the transfer of powers on February 12th, in Paris. nated them for their qualities. It’s a Myriam El Khomri is the second message for ambitious immigrants French-Moroccan to hold a minis- that it’s possible to hold top gov- terial function in Paris. Born in 1978 cial dialogue. Youth and Sports in the Valls gov- France is trying to fight terrorism ernmental positions if they believe in Rabat to a French mother and a Her appointment was highly ernment. on its own turf while also integrat- in themselves.” Moroccan father, Khomri spent her important as she was tasked with Almost five months later, she ing immigrants from the Muslim childhood in Tangier. Her family reducing unemployment, an objec- became the first female education world. The nomination of moved to France when she was 9. tive that Hollande set among his minister in French history in the “Valls’ diversified government the three female In a portrait that was dedicated to top priorities as he seeks to boost first government reshuffle under might also be a stepping stone to her in 2009 by the magazine Jeune his re-election chances in 2017. Valls. a successful integration of Muslim ministers could be a Afrique, she said: “My mother The first French-Moroccan to be This is the first time that three and Jewish immigrants in society,” political card played taught me to rely on myself.” She appointed in the French socialist women of the same national origin said Elouadie by the socialist financed her own studies to obtain government was Najat Vallaud- are part of the French government, The appointment of Azoulay as a DESS degree in political adminis- Belkacem. Born in 1977 in Beni which may further consolidate ties minister of Culture has reportedly government. tration from the University of Paris Chiker in the Rif region, the educa- between Paris and Rabat. angered Algeria. (Sorbonne) and joined the team of tion minister is a Hollande loyalist France has a long and difficult Said Bouteflika, brother and spe- Azoulay, who is a Moroccan Jew, Paris mayor Bertrand Delanoe in after having long been very close to relationship with its own Muslim cial adviser to Algerian President is the daughter of Moroccan King 2001 and became project manager Segolene Royal. In 1982, she moved immigrant population, especially Abdelaziz Bouteflika, deplored Mohammed VI’s adviser Andre for academic affairs, prevention, with her mother and older sister to those from North Africa. a manoeuvre of Morocco’s “lob- Azoulay and author Katia Brami. safety and toxicomania in the 18th join her father in France. The French government recently bying” in a French media scene Born in Essaouira in 1972, Azoulay arrondissement of Paris. She has gradually risen through said it would explore options to that he considers “infested” with is a graduate of the Paris Institute In 2008, she was elected deputy the ranks since the arrival of Hol- strip the citizenship of dual-na- politicians, journalists and stars of of Political Studies and the National mayor of Paris and was in charge of lande as president. She first served tionals convicted of terrorism. This Moroccan origin, according to the School of Administration. child protection. In 2014, Khomri as minister of Women’s Rights and announcement is likely to increase Mondafrique news website. She started her political career as was appointed secretary of state for spokeswoman for the former gov- the controversy since several of the magistrate of the Court of Auditors. urban policy and in 2015 she was ernment of prime minister Jean- militants who took part in Char- Saad Guerraoui is a frequent In 2000, she joined the Culture Min- named minister of labour, employ- Marc Ayrault. In 2014, she served as lie Hebdo and Paris attacks in 2015 contributor to The Arab Weekly on istry’s media management team, ment, vocational training and so- minister for Women’s Rights, City, were French-born citizens. Maghreb issues. Syrian-Americans want their voices heard in 2016 race Amal Mudallali itself stuck between an administra- They are alarmed by Trump’s tion that it believes has “lost hope” views on Muslim immigrants and for Syria and Republican presiden- his professed admiration for Rus- Washington tial campaigns that reduced Syrians sian President Vladimir Putin. They to refugees and terrorists. say they have tried to reach out to he Syrian-American com- Kenan Rahmani, a Syrian activist, his campaign and have suggested munity and its activists said, “Now we are moving beyond that he visit a Syrian refugee camp hope to do their part in this administration, we are looking in Jordan to see first-hand the con- electing a US president for the next administration.” dition of Syrian refugees. who will help their coun- Mohammed Ghanem of the Syr- As for the Democratic candi- Ttry end its civil war and establish a ian American Council agreed. dates, Syrian-American leaders say political system based on democ- “We have low expectations of the Hillary Clinton is most knowledge- racy, transparency and the rule of Obama administration. There is a able about the realities in Syria and law. widespread dismay in the commu- the person with the most experi- Syria has become one of the US nity,” he said, adding that he did ence on the issue, having worked presidential campaign’s major is- not foresee major changes in the on the Geneva communiqué for a sues but not in the way many ac- policy of President Barack Obama’s peaceful democratic transition. tivists were hoping it would be. administration towards Syria “bar- A delegation from the major The Syrian crisis was transformed ring a major event like a large-scale Syrian-American organisations met by Donald Trump and some of his use of chemical weapons”. with Clinton at a fundraiser and its fellow Republican candidates into The Syrian-American community members said they were happy to an anti-refugee issue and an anti- was investing in the presidential hear her say she supports the no- Islamic State (ISIS) issue. campaigns to help shape the think- US Republican presidential candidate Jeb Bush talks to a Syrian fly zone and understands that the ing of the US government, Rahmani refugee at a town hall meeting in Bedford, N.H., in September issue of how long Assad remains Former Florida said, explaining that its outreach to 2015. in power needs to be addressed in governor Jeb Bush the presidential campaigns and to order to put an end to ISIS. They scored highest the Obama administration “are not also noted that she was trying to mutually exclusive”. American community would not Bassam Barabandi, a former Syr- distance herself from the Obama among the The major Syrian-American or- endorse a candidate, preferring to ian diplomat and founder of People administration’s policy on Syria. Republican ganisations released a presidential remain non-political. Casino said Demand Change, said the commu- Syrian-Americans know that they presidential campaign scorecard, assessing each none of the Republican candidates nity’s strategy is to keep Syria on have to work on two tracks: keep- candidate’s policy on Syria, based received a perfect score and some, the front burner of the campaigns. ing their lines of communication candidates. on whether the candidate supports such as Ted Cruz and Rand Paul, He also wants candidates to under- with the Obama administration protecting civilians from the As- failed. stand that to most Syrians, the As- open while focusing their eyes on Lost in the rhetoric were the suf- sad regime and Russian bombing, Former Florida governor Jeb sad regime, ISIS, Iran and Russia the 2016 elections to make sure fering of the Syrian people and whether he or she supports the Bush, who supports a no-fly zone are “one package”. that the next American presidential their yearning for freedom and a Free Syrian Army and whether the in Syria, has spoken out against The Syrian-American community administration takes a different ap- peaceful transfer of power. candidate supports fighting both barrel bombing and backs allow- leaders say they have found Trump, proach to Syria’s crisis.

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