Latest from Catherine Phipps
The Lost Daughters of Bousbir
In 1930s Casablanca, a walled district called Bousbir drew European tourists with promises of “exotic” pleasure. But behind its ornate gates, hundreds of Moroccan women and girls were imprisoned by the French colonial authorities. Their stories are preserved in the desperate letters of families who tried to free them.
After France Outlawed Brothels, Its Army Kept North African Women Selling Sex in Secret
After World War II, France outlawed prostitution and shut more than a thousand brothels within its borders. But the army, which had thousands of North African troops to demobilize, set up its own secret brothels and trafficked women, often against their will, to service the troops.
How Morocco’s World Cup Run Reignited a Debate on Soccer Colonialism
Morocco may have lost to France in last week's semifinals, but in a colonial-era head-to-head, the Maghrebi team came out on top.