“Under the shadow of a centuries-old fairy tale, a growing wave of protests has raged across the Arab region, threatening to silence a beloved classic. Snow White, a timeless Disney favourite, has found itself at the centre of a contentious debate, sparking heated discussions and fuelling calls for a ban in several Arab countries. As the controversy gains momentum, the future of this iconic story hangs precariously in the balance, leaving many to wonder: will this enchanting tale be able to survive the cultural censorship that’s sweeping the region?”
Nicolas Sarkozy’s Trial and Its Implications
Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy, convicted twice in separate cases since leaving office, goes on trial charged with accepting illegal campaign financing in an alleged pact with the late Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi. Sarkozy’s career has been shadowed by legal troubles since he lost the 2012 presidential election, but he is an influential figure and also known to regularly meet President Emmanuel Macron.
The Charges Against Sarkozy
Sarkozy faces up to 10 years in prison for concealing embezzlement of public funds and illegal campaign financing. A decade-long investigation led to the current trial, which will last until April 10. Twelve suspects are standing trial, including former close aides, accused of devising a pact with Gaddafi to fund Sarkozy’s 2007 election bid.
Sarkozy’s Past Legal Troubles
Sarkozy has been convicted twice in separate cases since leaving office. He is an influential figure, regularly meeting President Emmanuel Macron. Sarkozy’s career has been shadowed by legal troubles since losing the 2012 presidential election.
The Alleged Pact with Gaddafi
Sarkozy and senior figures allegedly pledged to help Gaddafi rehabilitate his international image in return for campaign financing. Tripoli was blamed for bombing attacks on Pan Am Flight 103 and UTA Flight 772, killing hundreds of passengers. Another alleged beneficiary was Abdullah Senussi, Gaddafi’s brother-in-law and intelligence chief, who was jailed for life in absentia for the 1989 UTA Flight 772 attack.
The Case of the Prosecution
The case is based on statements from seven former Libyan dignitaries, trips to Libya by Gueant and Hortefeux, transfers, and the notebooks of the former Libyan oil minister, Shukri Ghanem.
Sarkozy will be present in the Paris court when the trial gets underway and plans to attend the initial phase of hearings, a source close to him told AFP, asking not to be named. Sarkozy “is awaiting these four months of hearings with determination. He will fight the artificial construction dreamed up by the prosecution. There was no Libyan financing,” said his lawyer Christophe Ingrain.
Sarkozy is still not wearing the electronic tag – a process which could take several weeks – and spent the Christmas holidays in the Seychelles with his wife, model and singer Carla Bruni, and their daughter.
Others on trial include Sarkozy’s former right-hand man, Claude Gueant, his then-head of campaign financing, Eric Woerth, and former minister Brice Hortefeux.
The scandal erupted in April 2012, while Sarkozy was in the throes of his re-election campaign, when the Mediapart website published a bombshell article based on a document purportedly from December 2006 it said showed a former Libyan official evoking an agreement over the campaign financing.
Torture in Morocco and Western Sahara
A recent report by Amnesty International, Shadow of Impunity: Torture in Morocco and Western Sahara, reveals the darker side of Morocco’s liberal image. The report draws on 173 cases of alleged torture and other ill-treatment by police and security forces between 2010 and 2014.
The Alarming Reality of Torture in Morocco
Torture is being used to silence protest and crush dissent in Morocco and Western Sahara. The victims of torture include students, political activists, supporters of self-determination for Western Sahara, and people suspected of terrorism or ordinary crimes.
The report shows that people are at risk of torture from the moment of arrest and throughout police custody. Too often, courts turn a blind eye to complaints and hand down torture-tainted convictions. Some who dare to complain and seek justice are even prosecuted for “slander” and “false reporting”.
The Victims of Torture
Mohamed Ali Saidi, 27, was one of several Sahrawis (people living in Western Sahara) who reported that police tortured him in custody after arresting him in relation to protests in Laayoune, Western Sahara, days earlier in May 2013. “They threatened to rape me with a bottle – they brought the bottle in front of me. It was a glass bottle of Pom’s [popular Moroccan soft drink]” he revealed to Amnesty International.
“They whipped the soles of my feet with ropes, while I was suspended in the roast chicken position. They put a towel in my mouth and choked me by pouring water up my nose. Then they poured urine,” he added.
French-Algerian national Abdelaziz Redaouia, 34, said officers tortured him for refusing to sign an interrogation report incriminating him in drugs offences after his arrest in December 2013, telling the human rights group how officers used a car battery to give him electric shocks on his genitals and beat the soles of his feet while he was suspended.
Twenty-seven year old student demonstrator, Abderrazak Jkaou, said police beat him unconscious on campus on the eve of a protest in Kenitra, a city in northern Morocco. “Some carried long wooden sticks. They beat me from head to toe” Jkaou explained.
“Then a plainclothes officer gripped a handcuff in his fist and punched me between the eyes. I was knocked out and fell. Then the others came and stamped on my bladder until I urinated. They beat me until I passed out, then threw me outside the campus, as a warning to other students. The students thought I was dead.”
The Need for Accountability and Reform
The Moroccan government must take concrete steps to address the issue of torture and ensure that those responsible are held accountable. The report highlights the need for a new constitution that prohibits torture and provides adequate protection for human rights defenders.
International pressure and support are necessary to push Morocco towards meaningful reforms and an end to the culture of impunity. Morocco’s leaders portray the image of a liberal, human rights-friendly country, but as long as the threat of torture hangs over detention and dissent, that image will just be a mirage.
Conclusion
In a recent controversy, calls have been growing to block the upcoming screening of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs in various Arab countries. The main argument revolves around the film’s perceived promotion of Western values and its potential to undermine cultural and moral norms in the region. Proponents of the ban argue that the film’s depiction of a princess who challenges authority and its portrayal of men as inferior to women could be seen as subversive and even treasonous in conservative societies.
The significance of this debate lies in its reflection of broader tensions between traditional values and the influence of Western culture. As globalization and social media continue to shape cultural narratives, governments and institutions are increasingly grappling with the implications of international content on local sensitivities. The outcome of these debates will have far-reaching implications for the way we think about cultural exchange, free expression, and social responsibility.
As we move forward, it remains to be seen how these debates will play out in the Arab region and beyond. One thing is clear, however: the battle for the soul of Snow White is a battle for the soul of our shared cultural heritage. Will we choose to conform to the status quo, or will we dare to challenge the norms and push the boundaries of what is acceptable? The fate of Snow White hangs in the balance, and the answer to that question will have a profound impact on our collective future.
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