Tragedy in Meknes
Meknes, Morocco.
I was deeply sad to read this news this weekend: a 400-year-old minaret collapsed during a prayer service in Meknes, Morocco, killing 41 worshippers and injuring scores more.
I spent a day in January wandering the labyrinth streets of the Meknes medina, the ancient part of the city where this mosque was. After several hours of wandering, I found myself hopelessly lost. When I stopped to ask a woman for directions, she paused and then motioned for me to follow her. I thought she would just walk me to the next corner and point; instead, she led me through turn after turn, expertly navigating the twisted streets, until we reached the open square. She smiled, waved, and walked away.
The minaret, in the heart of the UNESCO-recognized medina, was reportedly in bad shape for years. Moroccan authorities are working now to determine the cause of the collapse, and locals are furious that it took this tragedy for someone to listen to their concerns. The king has promised to review the safety of all the country's aging mosques - and to pay for the victims' funerals from his personal accounts.
Posted on Monday, Feb 22, 2010
