French consulate in Rabat says it was unfairly blamed for not granting visa to Moroccan poet-writer

The French General Consulate in Rabat said to have been "unfairly blamed" for not granting a visa to a Moroccan Poet-writer, member of the Moroccan Writers' Union, who was invited by a French association to take part to "Maghreb des Livres," a literary event held in Paris, on October 19-20, and featuring Morocco as honorary guest.

In a communique on Tuesday, the French General Consulate said that its refusal was based on the European regulations applied within the Schengen Space and that require for any visa applicant to submit identity card, repatriation insurance, address in France, bank statement and job document.

The fact that Jalal Hokeimi had a recommendation from the French Embassy doesn't exempt him from producing the other required documents, added the communique, stressing that the refusal was in no way motivated by "red tape zeal."

The Moroccan Writers' Union voiced, on October 22nd, its "astonishment" and "deep regret" following the French Consulate refusal to grant a visa to Hokeimi, saying that "our institution was denied participation to an event of capital importance to French-Moroccan cooperation."