Morocco’s Commemorative Stamp Sparks Controversy with Spanish Military

Among the stamps produced by the Moroccan company are stamps featuring the image of Mohamed Abdelkrim al-Khattabi, the Riffian leader who fought against the Spanish occupation of Morocco in 1921, and Mouha Ou Hammou Zayani, who fought the French occupation forces at the Battle of Lahri in Khénifra in 1914. But the one commemorating the centenary of the Battle of Anoual (1921-2021), which caused more than ten thousand casualties in the ranks of the Spanish military and caused the sinking of the command of the city of Melilla, is causing a major controversy within the Spanish army, reports El Español.

On this postage stamp, we see Abdelkrim al-Khattabi, on a rearing horse passing over the remains of several dead Spanish soldiers on the battlefield, his fist raised in the direction of Melilla. The stamp "illustrates the battlefield of Anoual" and "contributes to the celebration of an important event in the history of the Moroccan resistance," the Barid Al-Maghrib group said in a statement.

"You don’t have to be an expert to see that it is an exact reproduction of the painting of Saint James the Apostle, ’Santiago’, the patron saint of Spain," observes an army colonel. Another military expert specifies "that in reality, Abdelkrim and the Republic of the Rif he had founded, were not at all in favor of the Moroccan monarchy".

In Morocco, it is explained that the stamp was issued to pay tribute to "Abdelkrim, who was with the monarchy because at the time he had never failed to praise King Mohammed V in the mosques". Spain, for its part, has stated that it is not commemorating this centenary. Yet the National Archives have organized an exhibition in this context and the Institute of Historical and Military Studies, an army body, has also organized several conferences. The activities ended last week with a parade by the Chief of the Defense Staff and the Army Command of Melilla.