Education/Droits humains : Bourqia, Bouayach et Belkouch pour incarner la vision Royale    Les pensions vieillesse au menu du Conseil de gouvernement    Tebboune revient sur ses pas face à la France malgré la reconnaissance de la marocanité du Sahara    Les Forces Armées Royales... Un œil vigilant pour protéger les frontières du Maroc    Comment soumettre l'ennemi algérien sans combattre    Sahara : Le Conseil de sécurité programme une session pour la mi-avril    Présidence marocaine du CPS de l'UA pour le mois de mars: Un engagement renouvelé en faveur de la paix et de la stabilité en Afrique    6e Conférence Franco-Marocaine des Notaires : investir au Maroc en toute sécurité    Tamwilcom : un volume de financements de plus de 47,5 MMDH en 2024    Maroc : Après le ramadan, la date du retour à l'heure GMT+1    Suez Maroc : Soufiane Jakani nommé directeur général    Sommet de l'élevage 2025 : Le Maroc invité d'honneur en France    L'Algérie revendique l'abattage d'un drone malien Akinci    Europe. Les tribunaux contre la démocratie?    Le gouvernement kabyle en exil reçu au sénat français    Droits de douane: que signifie la réciprocité voulue par Donald Trump?    Espagne : Le PSOE refuse de reconnaitre le Polisario seul représentant des Sahraouis    France : François Bayrou fait marche arrière sur l'interdiction du voile dans le sport    Equipe nationale : Regragui, out? Simple fake news!    Ligue 1 : Hakimi et Ben Seghir en lice pour le prix Marc-Vivien Foé    1⁄4 de finale. LDC / Aujourd'hui ''Pyramids - AS FAR'': Horaire ? Chaîne ?    Migration : Le Maroc renforce la surveillance des frontières avec Ceuta    Aïd al-Fitr : Attention aux excès alimentaires après le jeûne !    Ligue 1: Hakimi y Ben Seghir en carrera por el premio Marc-Vivien Foé    Francia: François Bayrou da marcha atrás sobre la prohibición del velo en el deporte    Khénifra: El cuerpo de un niño hallado 13 días después de su ahogamiento en el Oum Er-Rbia    Accidents de la circulation : 19 morts et plus de 3.000 blessés en une semaine dans nos villes    Une chanson qui relie le passé au présent... Quand la voix de Hassan II rencontre les rythmes d'aujourd'hui    Lancement de "Visions Théâtres", nouvelle revue scientifique spécialisée dans la pratique théâtrale    Maroc : Le Festival On Marche, du 4 au 12 avril à Marrakech    Zineb Hattab : première cheffe végane étoilée en Suisse, une révolution gastronomique    Le Chinois Lingyun Industrial, spécialiste des équipements automobiles, prépare son implantation au Maroc    Accords migratoires UE-Maroc : Bruxelles examine le 7 avril sa coopération avec Rabat sur les retours et la gestion des flux    Maroc : repli temporaire des exportations de tomates cerises malgré une production abondante    L'or délaissé par les ménages marocains, victime de sa récente envolée fulgurante    Maroc : nouvelles exigences d'homologation et d'étiquetage pour les équipements télécoms bientôt en vigueur    Charbon thermique : repli des importations mondiales au premier trimestre, hausse notable au Maroc    Muay Thai : deux combattants marocains en lice lors du ONE Fight Night 30 à Bangkok    Le «Kruzenshtern» russe en escale à Agadir du 2 au 4 avril    En Algérie, Boualem Sansal puni pour avoir pensé de travers, la solidarité des militants marocains en congé    La Compagnie chinoise de construction et de communication (région Centre-Sud) décroche un nouveau contrat d'infrastructures au Maroc    Amir Al-Mouminine accomplit la prière de l'Aïd Al-Fitr à la mosquée « Ahl Fès » à Rabat    Coupe du Trône : le dernier carré en ligne de mire, des affiches alléchantes en huitièmes de finale    Des vestiges vieux de 3 000 ans, découvert à Kach Kouch au Maroc, réécrivent l'histoire du Maghreb    CAN U17 : L'Afrique du Sud renverse l'Egypte au bout d'un match à 7 buts !    Maroc – Algérie : Après la bataille Wikipédia, l'affrontement numérique via Grok sur X    Rabat : Cérémonie en célébration de la Journée mondiale du théâtre    Ramadan 2025 : Les Marocains préfèrent le pôle audiovisuel public    







Merci d'avoir signalé!
Cette image sera automatiquement bloquée après qu'elle soit signalée par plusieurs personnes.



Kidnapped by Raisuni, The Times journalist Walter Harris recalls his forced stay in Zinat
Publié dans Yabiladi le 23 - 05 - 2018

Sent to Morocco with a diplomatic delegation, Walter Harris was one of the several expatriates Jbala leader Ahmed Raisuni kidnapped to challenge the government. In his book 'Morocco that Was', The Times special correspondent narrates his fascinating account when captured by Raisuni's bandits.
In Northern Morocco, Jbala leader Mulai Ahmed Raisuni was of great strength. The mountain chieftain had a huge bandit that opposed the Makhzen and did everything to defend its territory, Zinat. In two previous articles, Yabiladi recalled how Raisuni kidnapped Ion Perdicaris, a Greek American expatriate, and Kaid Maclean, a Scottish general and instructor of the Moroccan army.
Raisuni's first victim however was Walter Burton Harris, an Englishman, journalist and writer who accompanied a diplomatic mission to Morocco in 1887. The Times' special correspondent was held by the Raisuni's men in 1903, an experience that he thoroughly narrates in his book «Morocco That Was» (1921).
Walter Burton Harris by John Lavery.
And just like Ion Perdicaris had openly declared that he did not «regret having been Raisuni's prisoner for some time», Harris also befriended his kidnapper and was generous enough to draw attention to the human side of the brigand.
Meeting Raisuni
The Londoner's story with Mulai Raisuni started way before his abduction. «I was camping on a shooting expedition near Arzeila, he and his men paid a visit and spent and spent the night at my camp», wrote Harris describing his first meeting with Raisuni. At the time, the latter was still tormented by his arrest and imprisonment by Abd-el-Rahman Abd el-Saduk, the Pasha of Tangier, and his cousin and foster brother, a significant incident that made of him a tougher man.
For Harris Raisuni had a fascinating personality, he was «tall, remarkably handsome, with the whitest of skins, a short dark beard and moustache and black eyes with profile Greek rather Semitic».
During their first meeting, Raisuni was hurt, sad and barely smiled. Harris was all ears as the Zinat-native was recalling his painful experience in prison.
Burning Zinat
The two men did not know they would meet again in different circumstances. «On the 16th of June 1903, the Shereefian troops attacked and burnt Zinat», in an attempt to arrest Raisuni, wrote The Times journalist. On the same day, Harris had to visit the village with his groom, whose parents lived there. Anxious about the safety of his stableman's family, the British man had to tour the burnt village where he was trapped by Raisuni's men.
«Flight was impossible, and as I was unarmed, resistance was out of the question», explained the journalist, adding : «From every side sprung out tribesmen and in a second or two I was a prisoner surrounded by thirty or forty men, one and all armed with European rifles».
Walter B. Harris
Nine days in Zinat
Unexpectedly Walter B. Harris received no rough treatment in the hands of the bandits but was kept in Zinat for nine days. Although he was received pleasantly by Raisuni who protected him against the angry tribesmen, Harris endured a considerable amount of hardship when kidnapped by the bandits.
«The room in which I found myself was very dark, light being admitted only by one small window near the roof, and it was some time before my eyes became accustomed to the gloom», he recalled.
Harris stayed nine days in his dark and gloomy room, where he was visited once by Raisuni. Reassuring his prisoner, the bandit told Harris that «his sole desire was to cause the Moorish Government as much trouble and humiliation as possible and he argued that there would be no easier way to do this than by causing death».
Raisuni promised to protect Harris but negotiations were underway to ensure his release. On the 4th of July and after Harris tried his best to put an end to his situation, a large tribal meeting was held to discuss the Englishman's release. The meeting was attended by «the Shereef of Wazzan», who managed to same Harris' life.
«His opportune presence settled my fate and the negotiations were brought to a conclusion… the following day a large contingent of tribesmen, the Shereef and I set out for Tangier», wrote Walter Harris.


Cliquez ici pour lire l'article depuis sa source.