Morocco acts to protect historic manuscripts

Moroccan culture and communication minister, Mohamed Achaari, announced on Monday his department will allocate part of the culture-support fund budget to purchase old manuscripts.

The minister, who did not disclose the amount, said his department also pledges to rehabilitate manuscripts in its three existing labs and a new one to be built in Marrakesh.

He called owners of manuscripts to participate in an annual competition held for best manuscripts, deploring the decrease in the number of competitors.

He also warned persons who own the historic documents not to fall in the trap of profit-seeking and sell the precious documents to foreign sides, insisting that the ministry is best entitled to buy the items that make national memory.