Morocco files complaint against the "appropriation" of zellige by Algeria

Represented by several ministries and its permanent delegation, the country firmly opposes the Algerian file dedicated to "the art of architectural decoration in zellige". This approach constitutes a "flagrant attack" on the national heritage and calls into question the credibility of the 2003 Convention.

On Bladi.net: Algeria is again appropriating Moroccan zellige, this time in Japan

To circumvent the regulations, the opposing party would have used a semantic modification by adding a "d" to the original term, transforming it into "zellidge". This strategy attempts to ignore that this art is already registered in the name of Morocco with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), which lists in particular the specific variants of Fez and Tetouan.

The Moroccan state also holds a patent describing in detail the assembly process of these mosaics. Its complaint is also based on academic evidence, including a work by the Marçais brothers dating from 1903. This document attests that the appellation is of Moroccan origin and that its presence in the city of Tlemcen is the result of a simple linguistic and cultural borrowing.

On Bladi.net: Morocco forces Algeria to back down

Refusing any concession, the authorities have alerted the international organization to a potential "internal contradiction" that would tarnish its credibility, as UNESCO has already recognized zellige as an integral component of Moroccan heritage. The national representatives say they are determined to block any attempt to dispossess their cultural identity.